Croatian films 'Koke' and 'Lijepa večer, lijep dan' begin domestic screenings

Igor Jelinović’s feature debut Koke, after its world premiere at the Rotterdam International Film Festival, opened in Croatia on 11 June at the Split Mediterranean Film Festival’s outdoor venue. The film, a humor‑drama about family property disputes in Dalmatia, will continue on the festival circuit at Ponta Lopud and the Pula Film Festival before entering nationwide theatrical distribution on 23 July.

Ivona Juka’s Lijepa večer, lijep dan, which has already earned 20 awards and was Croatia’s Oscar entry for best international feature, is touring the country’s cinemas. After strong audience response in Zagreb, it will play in Rijeka, Karlovac, Daruvar, Novigrad, Buzet and other cities, and has been selected for the main programme of this year’s Pula Film Festival.

Both films spotlight historic and social themes – Koke examines post‑socialist family dynamics amid tourism‑driven wealth, while Lijepa večer, lijep dan portrays the personal risks of love under 1950s Yugoslav political repression – and mark significant additions to the current Croatian cinematic season.