After five successful editions of the PROFilm Days conference, the Croatian film industry and the video game industry are 'blending' and creating a new platform for discussing current topics - Blender: Film & Games. The conference will take place on October 4, 2024, at Algebra University and the panels and workshops are free for all interested, with prior registration which is open until October 3, 2024, at 6:00 PM at this link. The program will take place on two stages, and in the workshop rooms, while the lobby of Algebra University will host an AV Career Day to inform all interested participants about career opportunities in the audiovisual industry.
The panels and lectures that visitors will be able to attend on October 4, 2024, in two halls are:
- Crossmedia and Transmedia: from film to video games and from video games to film // speakers: Aleksandar Gavrilović, Cluster of Croatian Video Game Producers / Hrvoje Mitić, Games Scout, GamesCo London / Ivan Murat, Nanobit / Peđa Čačić, Protopixel / Dr. sc. Ilija Barišić // Moderator: Dunja Trojan, CEO, Broadcast.hr
- The First Croatian Feature Film about a Sports Legend – Dražen // speakers: Ivor Šiber, Jučer d.o.o / Ljubo Zdjelarević, Kinoteka // Moderator: Doc. Dr. sc. Boško Picula, Faculty of Political Science
- How We Create Sets for World Film Hits! // speakers: Naomi Liston (Belfast, Ireland) / Klaus Grosse Darrlemann (Berlin, Germany); Location managers of hits such as: The Grand Budapest Hotel, Game of Thrones, Avengers: Endgame, Game of Thrones: The Last Watch, and Red Sparrow // Moderator: Mia Pećina Drašković, Zagreb Film Office
- Narrative Design vs. Script Writing: writing for films and video games // speakers: Siniša Bahun, academic dramaturg / Jan Juračić, narrative designer / Sanja Adorea Valor, narrative designer / Velimir Grgić, screenwriter & author / Igor Margan, Algebra University // Moderator: Marin Pavelić, Netokracija
- Global Successes of Croatian Video Games // speakers: Boris Barbir, Pine Studio / Davor Hunski, Croteam / Tomislav Uzelac, 2X2 Games / Ivan Murat, Nanobit / Mario Mihoković, LGM & Overseer Games // Moderator: Dunja Trojan, Broadcast.hr
- Film Criticism in the Age of Social Media // speakers: Iva Rosandić, Dokumentarni.net / Milena Zajović, journalist and film critic / Josip Jurčić, Kinofilm / Marko Stojiljković, freelance journalist and film critic (Ormož, Slovenia) // Moderator: doc. dr. sc. Boško Picula, Faculty of Political Science.
- From Westeros to Middle Earth: Art and Exploration in 3D Set Design // lecturer: Doc.art. Predrag Šuka, Algebra University
- Animation - Similarities and Differences in Animation of Films and Video Games // speakers: Danijel Dizdarević, Gamepires / Sara Jurić, Gamempires / Mladen Đukić (Banja Luka, BiH), Aeon Production Ltd. // Moderator: Lucija Pilić, journalist
- Virtual Production: Using Game Engines in the Production of Feature Films, Series, TV Programs // speakers: Antonio Nuić, film director / Jurica Šimunković, Digital Dynamics & Novalis Europe / Hrvoje Boljkovac, Light Film International / Boris Hergešić, Livada Produkcija / Andrija Zorić, Algebra University / Armin Konjalić, LED Unit (Riga, Latvia) // Moderator: Velimir Grgić, Pulsar Produkcija
- How the Stage 32 Platform Can Help You Get Involved in Global Film Production; Sam Sokolow, Head of Certification and 2x Emmy Nominated Producer
- The Man Who Could Not Be Silent - Croatia's Candidate for the 97th Oscar and the First Croatian Film to Win the Palme d'Or in Cannes! // Nebojša Slijepčević, director // Moderator: dr. sc. Višnja Pentić / filmologist and film critic
- Sound Design and Music - Similarities and Differences in Shaping Sound and Music for Films and Video Games // speakers: Ivan Zelić, sound designer / Dalibor Grubačević, composer / Davor Manojlović, composer / Ana Krstajić, composer (Belgrade, Serbia) // Moderator: Damjan Mravunac, composer and sound designer
- Actor for All: Voice Acting, Motion Capture, and Performance Capture // Veselin Krstovski, Motion Capture Operations & Performer / Danijel Dizdar, voice actor / Admir Elezović, Croteam / Igor Pecotić, Rubikon SF / Petra Vukelić, Teatra Prima Vista / Erna Rudnički, actress // Moderator: Igor Belan, HCL.hr
- How to Promote Your Film on Roblox? // lecturer: Branko Ružić, screenwriter
- Where to educate for work in the audiovisual industry? // Representatives of VERN University, Academy of Dramatic Arts, Algebra University, and Inkubator Pismo (Novska)
- Game designer / Game director and film director: Creative blending of directing // Davor Hunski, Croteam / Boris Vuković, film director & game designer / Rea Budić, Tiny Meow studio / Filip Zadro, film director / Tea Stepanić, BlackMill Games // Moderator: Igor Belan, HCL.hr
- And they are not even 30 yet! // Presentation of young hopes of the Croatian AV scene; Screenwriters: Karla Leko, Filip Rutić, Marko Vukušić / Set designers: Matej Kniewald, Iva Stanković / Producers: Lucija Perić, Iris Tomić / Directors: Dina Uglešić, Lovro Badelj, Sara Alavanić
- The future of film and video game adaptations // Lecturer: Dr. Ilija Barišić
- SRAM: Recipe for a successful teen series // Ivan Lovreček, CGM Films / Maja Fišter, project editor (HRT) / Prof. Miranda Novak, Educational-Rehabilitation Faculty // Moderator: Milena Zajović, film critic
A special room will also host three workshops for which interested parties can apply no later than October 2, 2024, via email info@blenderzagreb.eu:
- How to realize a script for a hit film? // Workshop leader: Branko Ružić // from 9:45 to 13:15
- How to create a script for a hit video game? // Workshop leader: Siniša Bahun // from 14:30 to 18:00
- FILM & GAMING: From 2D photography to 3D world // Workshop leader: Ivan Šivak // from 10:00 to 13:30
AV Career Day is a special program within the conference aimed at everyone who wants a career in film or video game creation. The following companies and educational institutions will present their programs at the promo booths in the lobby of Algebra University:
- Presentation of video games: The Dunkers (Pet Rusa), Dark Queen (Downtown Game studio), Bura: The Way the Wind Blows (Tiny Meow studio), Professor Balthazar (Gamechuck)
- Academy of Dramatic Arts (ADU) / VERN University / Algebra University / Inkubator PISMO / Games Croatia, HAVC
The Blender conference is organized by Zagreb Film Office and Games Croatia (HAVC). The Games Croatia project is aimed at promoting and further developing the Croatian video game industry at the national, European, and global levels, all with the goal of developing and growing this rapidly expanding sector through promotion at international fairs and conferences. The conference is also held with the support of partners Algebra University, the City Office for Culture and Civil Society, and the Zagreb Tourist Board. Significant support has also been provided by film and gaming associations: HDFK, HDFD, CGDA, Croatian Esports Federation, Reboot, Hu-iz-vi, Pismo, as well as the brewery Međimurski lepi dečki, Free Spirit Distillery, and GameBoost Energy.
Registration starts at 8:30 AM, and the program runs from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and all news about the conference can be followed on Instagram and the Facebook page of the conference.
