Slovenia’s Oscar candidate is directed by Janez Burger who wrote the script along with Srdjan Koljević, Melin Koljević and Aleš Car. The cinematographer is Marko Brdar, and the editor is Miloš Kalusek. Music is by Damir Avdić, costume design is by Ana Savić Gecan, and the art director is Vasja Kokelj. The film stars Maruša Majer, Matjaž Tribušon, Leon Lučev, Branko Šturbej, Nataša Barbara Gračner and many more. Ivan is produced by Miha Černec (Staragara – Slovenia) and co-produced by Boris T. Matić (Propeler Film – Croatia). The film was made with support from the Croatian Audiovisual Centre, Slovenian Film Centre and Eurimages.

Ivan is a psychosocial drama about a woman finding her place in the world made for men. Mara is hopelessly in love with Roko, an unscrupulous businessman with whom she has a child out of wedlock. When he’s accused of corporate crimes, Roko is abandoned by all his friends and forces Mara to leave their son and run away with him.

The film had its Croatian premiere at the 15th Zagreb Film Festival. Ivan won Best Feature Film, Best Screenplay, Best Actress (Maruša Majer), Best Original Music (Damir Avdić), Best Cinematography (Marko Brdar) and Best Make-Up (Alenka Nahtigal) at the 2017 Festival of Slovenian Film. The film also won the Slovenian Film Critics Jury Award and the Slovenian Art Cinemas Network Award. Also in 2017, Maruša Majer was selected into the European Shooting Stars programme at the Berlin International Film Festival.

The Croatian candidate for an Oscar Award is Ivan Salaj’s debut feature film The Eighth Commissioner. 

Cover photos: scenes from Ivan