DALIBOR MATANIĆ

21/01/1975. Zagreb

Father Tomo, building engineer.

Mother Anka, cashier.

1993. enters Academy of drama arts in Zagreb,

        film and TV directing.

        Graduated because of his patient parents.  

2000. made THE CASHIER WANTS TO GO TO THE SEASIDE which is one of the domestic blockbusters and had best results in TV broadcasting. Film received many awards including best European newcomer award in Cottbus, Germany. Film opened prestigious New directors/New films film festival in New York's MoMa. Till now film was shown on over 100 film festivals.

2002. FINE DEAD GIRLS was chosen for best Croatian film in last ten years. Film was extremely well accepted in whole region, it was the only film which had received on National film festival in Pula an award for best film by jury, by critics and by audience. Foreign critics pointed out that this film was a bravest step forward in defending human rights in this area. Film is part of almost all retrospectives of best films from region, including ones in New York, London, Munich and Paris. Film is still active on film festival's scene.

Same year made a short film SUSA (DROUGHT), first of six films, elements of omnibus about intimacy of women all around the world. Film was big success, it was the first Croatian film shown in Cannes, in section Quinzaine des réalisateurs.

2005. made HUNDRED MINUTES OF GLORY Script was written by famous Croatian writer Robert Perisic and it was story about forbidden love between two painters, Slava Raskaj and Bela Csikos. Famous international star Predrag Miki Manojlovic was playing leading male role. Variety pointed director's visual skills and some critics defined this film as one of the best in last 15 years, in any case it was big filmic step forward for this area.

2006. made I LOVE YOU about young man who gets infected by AIDS by accident and whole community rejects him. It was completely new system of presenting the film, first TV premiere, then DVD, then finally film festivals. Kreso Mikic received an award for best Croatian actor of the year. Film got awarded with Prix Circom as best european TV film in Strasbourg.

2008. made KINO LIKA based on one of the most acclaimed Croatian books, "Kino Lika" by Damir Karakas. The project is awarded with Cinelink award for developing a project on Sarajevo film festival. The project was acclaimed as one of the bravest films in the region and a "part of eastern european radical film movement" especially because controversial scene between young girl and a pig. Film won Matad'Or - Grand Prix and a student award on Noordelijk FF then young jury award in Montpellier, then 2 Golden Arenas in Pula and debut award for Areta Curkovic and best director award on Alexandria ff. 

The film was very successful in cinemas and audience chosen the film as the best film in 2008 on Jutarnji.hr. 

2009. made short film TULUM (PARTY) - second from six films omnibus. The film was shot in Vukovar and again in leading role is Leona Paraminski. Cannes Critic's week selection. Clermont-Ferrand competition. Telluride ff competition. Best director and best music award on Croatian film days. Grand Prix - Heart of Sarajevo - Sarajevo film festival. Grand Prix - Zinebi Bilbao ff. Grand Prix - Molisecinema. Grand Prix - Bruxelles short ff. Grand Prix - Vukovar ff. Grand Prix - Mediterranean ff Split. Special jury prize - Aix-en-Provence. Special mention - Bratislava ff. Best actress award - Nice ff. Film was selected in competition on over 40 international film festivals. 

2010. made MOTHER OF ASPHALT, co-written with Tomislav Zajec, winner of best script award on Balkan film fund on Thessaloniki ff. Film talks about separation of young family in modern Zagreb. Starring Marija Škaričić, Janko Popović Volarić, Krešimi Mikić and Noa Nikolić. The film won Golden Arena for Best actress (Marija Škaričić) on Pula film festival. Selected in Pusan IFF, Thessaloniki IFF, Auteurs ff Belgrade, Go East Wiesbaden and many others. Film won 3 awards on FIPA festival in Biarritz: Grand Prix FIPA d'Or for Best film, actress and music. Marija Škaričić was selected in Shooting stars - EFP's selection of 10 best young european actors and received the prize on Berlinale 2011.

2011. made short film MEZZANINE 3/6 again with Leona Paraminski in leading role. The film was shot in Rijeka and tells the story about young girl entering cruel business world.

2011. made first theatre play SJAJNO MJESTO ZA NESREĆU (GREAT PLACE FOR UNHAPINESS) based on book by Damir Karakaš in Croatian national theatre Ivan pl. Zajc in Rijeka, about Croatian writer who desperately tries to succeed in Paris. Starring Frano Mašković, Denis Brižić, Damir Orlić, Jelena Lopatić, Andreja Blagojević, Tanja Smoje and many others.

2011. made psycho thriller DADDY (ĆAĆA) shot in Lika, about shocking reveal of hidden family secrets. Starring Judita Franković, Iva MIhalić, Igor Kovač and Ivo Gregurević.

Developing new project ZVIZDAN (HIGH SUN) about love and hate on Balkan and ESKIMOS, possible adaptation of book by Damir Karakaš.   

Received Breza by Vjesnik – award for best debut, Golden Arena for directing, Award of Croatian Actors for best director, Ruza by Vecernji list for best film, 5 awards Oktavijan from Croatian critics association (1 for feature, 1 for short, and 3 for commercials) and Award for Culture by City of Zagreb.

Member of European film academy (EFA).

filmography:

2011 ĆAĆA / DADDY, feature  

2011 MEZZANINE, short film  

2010 MOTHER OF ASPHALT, feature

2009 TULUM / PARTY, short film

2008 KINO LIKA, feature

2006 I LOVE YOU, feature

2005 100 MINUTES OF GLORY, feature

2002 SUSA / DROUGHT, short film

2002 FINE DEAD GIRLS, feature

2000 THE CASHIER WANTS TO GO TO THE SEASIDE, feature