Irena Škorić's film Unwanted Heritage invited to European Parliament
After the documentary film Otto and the Croats, by writer and director Vanja Vinković, was screened in the European Parliament in Strasbourg in early 2015, Unwanted Heritage is the second Croatian film which will screen at this prestigious institution. The screening will be held on Tuesday, December 5th, in the main building of the European Parliament in Brussels, and will be attended by the film's writer and director Irena Škorić.
The invitation came from European Parliament member Josep - Maria Terricabras, vice-president of the European Free Alliance / Group of the Greens in the European Parliament. Irena Škorić will introduce the film and a debate will be held, after the screening, on the strengthening of nationalism in the Balkan region.
To date, Unwanted Heritage has won: First Prize for Best Documentary Film at the 6th Balkan New Film Festival BaNeFF in Stockholm, Best Documentary Film at Ischia Festival in Italy, Special Mention at Accolade Global Film Festival in San Diego, Best Cinematography at San Gio’Verona Video Festival in Verona, Audience Award at Forteca International Film Festival in Perast, and the Gold Remi for Best Film in the category of History & Archaeology at WorldFest in Houston. The film had its world premiere at the Sarajevo International Film Festival last year, and it premiered in Croatia at this year’s ZagrebDox.
Between 1945 and 1990, more than a thousand monuments were installed across the former Yugoslav region commemorating the National Liberation War. Each monument, in its own way, represents events during WWII. These monuments, and especially some, are of high artistic value and affirm anti-fascism through educational processes, political gatherings and tourist projects. Half of them, approximately 3000, have been knocked down and destroyed in Croatia since the 1990s. Unwanted Heritage reflects on their destiny, changing social values, and new political circumstances which made the internationally recognized works of art targets of vandalism and unwanted. Through interviews with witnesses, experts, artists and politicians, even those who sold the remnants as secondary raw materials, the film speaks about these artistic works turned to waste, as well as the society which has rejected its history and artistic heritage.
Cinematographers Branko Cahun, Darko Krakar and Robert Krivec took turns behind the camera while shooting the film over the span of a few years. The editor is Silvije Magdić and the composer is Ivo Josipović. Production is by Artizan Film.
This week, the film is screening in official competition at the Mediterranean Film Festival in Cannes and is also screening on the opening day of the 12th Fibula Documentary Film Review Sisak.
Cover photos: Irena Škorić and scenes from Unwanted Heritage