The film Vitić Dances has been selected for the official selection of the Buenos Aires Underground Film Festival

The film Vitić Dances by director Boris Bakal has been selected for the official selection of the Buenos Aires Underground Film Festival.

This festival strives to give visibility to independent, alternative, and experimental filmmakers, and celebrates voices that challenge conventional narratives and explore forms of independent and low-budget audiovisual expression. It is a unique event that celebrates creativity and diversity in cinematic storytelling.

The program features films of various genres and styles, offering a unique and enriching cinematic experience for all film lovers, as well as events such as round tables with directors and interactive workshops – something for everyone who wishes to explore the world of film more deeply and meaningfully.

The film to be screened at the festival, “Vitić Dances”, was filmed over nearly 20 years and edited for almost 5. It dynamically explores the relationship between architecture and society through the example of the renovation of the mixed-use housing and office complex of the National Bank, designed by architect Ivo Vitić in Zagreb. The building was renovated from 2016 to 2018 as a result of the community art project of the same name, “Vitić Dances”, by Boris Bakal and Shadow Casters, and it represents the largest investment in residential renovation since World War II.

The film had its premiere at the 19th ZagrebDox in April 2023, and since then it has won numerous awards: a Special Mention at the 2023 Days of Croatian Film, a Special Mention for Memory and Cultural Heritage Preservation at the 18th Balkan New Film Festival in Stockholm (Sweden), the Main Award for Best Documentary at the Asian Talent International Film Festival 2024 in Ahmednagar (India), the Best Documentary Award at the festival in Ecuador (San Antonio), Best Film, Best Production, and Best Director awards at the festival in London, and the Grand Prix at the festival in Romania (Râșnov).

Director: Boris Bakal
Screenwriters: Boris Bakal, [Martin Semenčić]
Cameramans: Adam Luka Turjak, Ante Cvitanović, Bojana Burnać, Bojan Haron Markičević, Boris Bakal, Damjan Nenadić, Danko Vučinović, David Oguić, Davorin Fahn, Dubravka Kurobasa, Filip Tot, Ines Lambert, Jadran Boban, Jasenko Rasol, Katarina Pejović, Lovro Cepelak, Mark Modrić, Rino Barbir, Sandra Uskoković, Plakor Kovačević, Srđan Kovačević, Veno Mušinović, [Vedran Senjanović], Tamara Cesarac, Tomislav Sutlar, Tomaš Kratochvíl
Editor: [Martin Semenčić]
Composer: Stanko Juzbašić
Producers: Boris Bakal, Adrijana Prugovečki, Tibor Keser, Ivan Kelava
Production company: Multimedia Arts Organization Shadow Casters
Coproducers: Croatian Radiotelevision

The film was produced by the Multimedia Arts Organization Shadow Casters, in coproduction with Croatian Radiotelevision, and co-financed by the Croatian Audiovisual Centre, the City of Zagreb, and the MEDIA Sub-programme within Creative Europe.