Human Rights Film Festival Selection within the Silent Cinema Program

The Human Rights Film Festival is a non-profit initiative by two prominent independent cultural organizations – the Multimedia Institute and the Association for the Development of Culture URK. Since its founding in 2002, the festival has focused on increasing the visibility of human rights issues through the medium of film. At INmusic Festival #17, HRFF brings a powerful selection of films to Jarun – from the dramatic thriller Banija, to the experimental Postcards and the animated short Hedgehog’s Home, this program is designed for open eyes and open minds. Through emotion, irony, and critique, these films invite reflection, not passive viewing. For over two decades, HRFF has actively championed a human rights culture through film, establishing itself as one of the region’s key platforms connecting cinema and civil society.

As part of the Silent Cinema program, a new feature of INmusic Festival #17, the Human Rights Film Festival will present the following curated film selections:

Banija (Nebojša Slijepčević)

Narrative short film

Croatia, Serbia, 2022, 17’

Banija is a thriller based on the true story of Milan Radić, the last remaining resident of a small village deep in the forest—forgotten by both people and the state. His fate serves as a synecdoche for our times. Some say civilization was born of solidarity, when early humans first began helping one another. So the question remains: can a country that fails to support its citizens still be called civilized?

Postcards (Ana Hušman)

Experimental film

Croatia, 2013, 23’

The Croatian language curriculum and its teaching methodology for non-native speakers highlight techniques such as role-playing, dramatizations, expressive reading, staging of fairy tales, and the writing and reading of postcards. Combined with a Croatian language learning handbook for foreigners and real postcards sent from the U.S. to Croatia, these methods serve as a starting point for improvised and performative situations involving both professional actors and amateurs.

Microcassette – The Smallest Cassette I've Ever Seen (Igor Bezinović, Ivana Pipal)
Documentary, Animated
Croatia, Serbia, 2020, 19’

Zoki accidentally stumbles upon a microcassette in the piles of waste at a large landfill on the island of Lošinj. Through a detailed exploration of the discarded object, the film pays tribute to coincidence and imagination.

Hedgehog's Home (Eva Cvijanović)

Animated

Croatia, Canada, 2017, 10’

In a lush forest lives a hedgehog admired—but also envied—by the other animals. However, his unwavering devotion to his home irritates four greedy beasts who set off toward his house, leading to an exciting and prickly showdown. Based on the classic poem by Branko Ćopić, Hedgehog's Home is a warm and universal story for both young and old, reminding us that there truly is no place like home.