Branko Lustig was born in Osijek in 1932. He graduated as an actor at the Academy of Dramatic Arts, University of Zagreb, in 1955. He started his professional career in Jadran Film the same year and very soon he got involved in almost all foreign film productions in the territory of the former Yugoslavia. Some of the most significant films and series on which he collaborated are The Fiddler on the Roof, Sophie’s Choice, The Tin Drum, The Winds of War and War and Remembrance. Because of his Jewish origin, he was detained in the infamous concentration camps Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen during the Second World War. Most of his family members perished in concentration camps across Europe, including his grandmother who was killed in a gas chamber and father who was killed in Čakovec. His experience from the camps was embedded in Schindler’s List.

He spent over 50 years working in the film industry. He started by working on the films such as Don’t Look Back, My Son and Kozara. In the ‘70s, he worked on foreign film productions and that work, and his connections, enabled him to go to Los Angeles in the ‘80s. He soon met Steven Spielberg with whom he made Schindler’s List, won the Oscar and became a prominent Hollywood producer. After The Peacemaker with George Clooney and Nicole Kidman, he started working with Ridley Scott, with whom, after winning the Oscar for The Gladiator, he collaborated on Hannibal, Black Hawk Dawn, Kingdom of Heaven, A Good Year and American Gangster. During the making of the last movie, he had a row with Scott and they parted ways.  

Ten years ago, Lustig decided to come back to Croatia where he became the president of the Festival of Tolerance – Jewish Film Festival. This year, he was named as the honorary citizen of Zagreb for his exceptional contribution to promoting the values of a democratic society, the art of film and a culture of understanding between those who are different.

This was not the first time Lustig was named honorary citizen in Croatia. In 2010, he was named the honorary citizen of Osijek and in 2017, the honorary citizen of Čakovec. In 1994, Lustig received the Orders of Duke Trpimir and Danica by President Franjo Tuđman for his contribution in promoting the international position and reputation of the Republic of Croatia.

During his career, he won several international recognitions. For example, in 2014, he received the medal of the Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters and, in the same year, he was included among the 50 best film producers of all times and ranked as the 29th by the eminent magazine The Daily Beast.

Cover photo: Branko Lustig
(*news source: Nacional.hr and Hina)