Panel: Creating transmedia worlds using toys, films, and video games / 12:30 – 13:15h
Discussion on the integration of various media formats to create immersive storytelling experiences.
Panelists: [Names to be announced]. Panel moderated by [Moderator's Name].
Panelists: Albert Gajšak, innovator and founder of CircuitMess; Damir Šlogar, game developer, collector, and entrepreneur; Ivan Kosovec, founder of Magic Omens. Moderator: Igor Margan, Head of the Game Development Studio, Algebra University Bernays
Panel: Croatian Candidate for Goya and Oscar Awards: Fiume e Morte / 14:30 – 15:15h
The panel will present the Croatian film ‘Fiume o Morte’ and its nominations for two prestigious film awards: the Spanish Goya Award and the American Oscar.
Panelists: Vanja Jambrović (producer), Tibor Kesser (producer), and Slobodanka Mišković (Art Cinema Rijeka/Film Office of the City of Rijeka). The panel is moderated by Filip Zadro, director.
Keynote: Crossing Worlds: Film and Video Games / 15:30 – 16:15h
How film language and interactive media enrich the audience experience and what awaits us in the near future.
Speaker: Thierry Van Gyseghem (Belgium), lead animator on the video games Baldur’s Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin 2.
Keynote: ‘Fireside chat’ about the film Flow / 16:30 – 17:30h
The creative and technical processes that created the latest hit in animation, the Oscar-winning film Flow!
Speaker: Martins Upitis (Latvia), co-founder of Physical Addons studio and key animator of the film. The panel is moderated by Lucija Pilić, journalist and producer. After the discussion, there will be a screening of the film from 18:00 to 20:00.
Second Day – October 3
Presentation: From Script to Final Video All with AI / 9:00 – 9:45h
The use of artificial intelligence and all its advantages in the video creation process, from the initial script to the final product.
Speaker: doc.art. Predrag Šuka (Algebra University Bernays)
Panel: AI in Creative Industries / 10:00 – 11:00h
The potential of artificial intelligence in transforming film and gaming production.
Panelists: Damir Firšt (technology strategist and consultant for AI and gamification), Vlaho Hrdalo (lawyer / Partner at Hrdalo & Krnic law firm), Anđelo Jurkas (director), and Ivan Murat (director of Nanobit). The panel is moderated by doc.art. Predrag Šuka (Algebra University Bernays).
Keynote: The Future of Video Games and Film Beyond Content Itself / 11:15 – 12:00h
What tomorrow will look like in the film and video game industry!
Speaker: Jorg Tittel (director, screenwriter, producer, and designer, UK; author of the video game The Last Worker).
Keynote: Fernando Machado / 12:15 – 13:15h
How creativity and creative campaigns shape global brands and video games.
Speaker: Fernando Machado (Marketing guru! Former CMO of Burger King and Activision Blizzard, two-time winner of the Adweek Grand Brand Genius award). The panel is moderated by Lovro Belošević, public relations (Algebra University Bernays).
Panel: How Virtual Production Transforms Independent Film Making / 14:15 – 15:15h
New methods and tools that open up great opportunities for independent creators.
Panelists: Hrvoje Kordić (Producer, Digital kinetics), Xavier Rombaut (Producer – Polar Bear, Belgium), Basia Karpinski (virtual production specialist, Poland), Matko Burić (Producer, Antitalent) and Josip Čajić (stYpe). The panel is moderated by Benjamin Noah Maričak (Games Croatia).
Panel: How to Achieve Global Success in Animation Without a Hollywood Budget / 15:30 – 16:15h
Innovative approaches and strategies in animation for independent feature film productions.
Panelists: Martins Upitis, animator of the Oscar-winning film Flow (LV); Dino Krpan, producer, Diedra production; Draško Ivezić, animator, Adriatic Animation; Irena Jukić Pranjić, animator and illustrator
Moderator: Janja Pilić, producer
Panel: Transmedia Talk on Video Games Based on Series and Films:
Moomins and Paws of Fury / 16:30 – 17:30h
How films and series are transformed into successful video games and vice versa.
Panelists: Hrvoje Mitić (producer of the game based on the Paws of Fury animated film), Pontus Rundqvist (senior brand manager, Raw Fury, Sweden) and Dimitrije Đokić (Raw Fury). The panel is moderated by Dunja Trojan (Broadcast.hr & GameHub TV).
Hall 2
Presentation: How to Enhance Your Skills, Network, and Work Globally in Film and TV with Stage 32
Speaker: Ewan Dunbar, International Producer, Stage 32 Brand Ambassador
Moderator: Petar Vučetić, Head of Multimedia Department, University Vern’
Panel: And They Aren't Even 30 Yet! / 10:00 – 11:00h
Presentation of talented and promising individuals who are at the beginning of their careers in the AV industry.
Direction: Karlo Vorih, ADU + Vida Žagar, Vern; DOP: Filip Šarić, Vern; Reina Krumm; Production: Karlo Gagulić, Vern + Laura Pribanić, ADU; Game developers: Tea Stepanić + Dominik Cvetkovski + Patrik Burnić, Algebra Bernays. Moderator: Benjamin Noah Maričak, Games Croatia /HAVC
Panel: Junior / Senior / Veteran – Three Perspectives on Music for Video Games / 14:15 – 15:15h
Three generations of composers share experiences in creating music for games.
Panelists: Nikola Nikita Jeremić (SRB – composer for Aliens: Dark Descent, Warhammer 40k, Destiny 2, Cyberpunk 2077), Matija Malatestinić (composer and lecturer at ADU); panelist and moderator Damjan Mravunac (composer and sound designer at Croteam; Serious Sam, Talos Principle).
Panel: What Happened in Production After the Introduction of Sustainability Incentives in Austria? / 15:30 – 16:15h
The impact of sustainability incentives in Austria on film production and green practices has changed a lot!
Speaker: Florisse Anu Kaaripuro (director HQ7 Studios, Austria)
The panel is moderated by Morana Ikić Komljenović (producer and sustainability expert).
Workshops
- Directing and Shooting Narrative Driven Animation – Thierry Van Gyseghem (October 2 and 3)
- How to Effectively Integrate Greening and Sustainability into Film Project Preparation and Pre-production – Morana Ikić Komljenović, producer, sustainability expert (October 2)
- Project Architecture in Unity – Andrija Zorić, game developer, Unity expert (October 3)
- From 2D Image to 3D World – Ivan Šivak, Algebra University Bernays, multimedia artist (October 3)
- Be afraid. Be very afraid. But do it. – Fernandom Machado, marketing wizard! (October 3)
Additional Content
- Screenings of student films in hall 5 on both days of the conference (VERN University and Academy of Dramatic Arts)
- Exhibition space for Croatian gaming studios in the university lobby (Bura, Balthazar, Dark Queen, and Inkubator Pismo), along with Red Bull Tetris
- Loan Your Voice – Cartoon Dubbing, open activation for visitors (October 3)
The program advisors for the Blend: Film & Games conference for film are: Danilo Šerbedžija, director and president of DHFA; Morana Ikić Komljenović, producer, film and media expert; Hrvoje Osvadić, producer and president of HRUP; while for the video game sector, the advisors are Tea Stepanić, producer and video game designer; Hrvoje Mitić, Biz Dev at GamesCo London and secretary of the Cluster of Croatian Video Game Producers (CGDA); and Juraj Hrvoje Krašković, producer at video game publisher Raw Fury and artistic advisor at the Croatian Audiovisual Centre (HAVC).
The Blend conference is organized by the Zagreb Film Office and Games Croatia (HAVC) along with academic partner Algebra University Bernays, with support from the City Office for Culture and Civil Society and with the backing of film and gaming associations.
