PULA FILM FESTIVAL - Golden Arena Awards Winners

Born in Belgrade, Dravic was involved with the performing arts from the age of four: first with dance and later classical ballet. In 1959, while in high school, director Frantisek Cap saw her on the cover of a youth magazine in a ballet dancers group photo and decided on the spot to approach her about being in his film Vrata ostaju otvorena. After appearing in few more films she decided to pursue acting full-time and successfully enrolled in Belgrade's Dramatic Arts Academy.

Her big break came in 1962 when she won the Golden Arena for Best Actress award (which was the Yugoslav equivalent of Academy Award) for her role in Branko Bauer's film Prekobrojna. This was the moment that sent her on the way to becoming Yugoslavia's first and arguably the biggest female movie star.

Milena Dravic continued with long and prolific career during which she showed great talent and versatility. She was equally memorable and believable as the tragic heroine in state-sponsored World War II epics, eccentric protagonist of experimental art-house films like WR: Mysteries of the Organism and romantic comedies. She especially excelled in the latter during the 1970s and 1980s. She won the Cannes Best Supporting Actress Award in 1980 for Special Treatment.

For her roles and contributions to domestic cinematography, she received the prestigious Pavle Vujisic Award in August 1994.

Ljubisa Samardzic was born into a miner's family. His acting talent was discovered very early and he won a scholarship with respected director Bojan Stupica. After graduating Belgrade Drama Arts Academy and playing a few theater roles, Ljubisa Samardzic was given the part in Igre na skelama (1961). After that experience, he decided to quit theater and try his luck in movies. In a few years he got the leading roles in some of the most popular or influential movies ever made in former Yugoslavia and soon became one of the movie icons in that country, together with 'Velimir 'Bata' Zivojinovic', Milena Dravic and Boris Dvornik. In the 1980s and during the break-up of Yugoslavia his acting star began to fade but he managed to switch careers by founding his own movie production company together with his son Dragan Samardzic. The company not only survived the harsh times of UN sanctions against rump Yugoslavia, but managed to produce few successful movies that became popular in many of the former Yugoslav republics. Ljubisa Samardzic now lives and works in Belgrade, is married and has two children and two grandchildren.

Ivo Gregurevic was born on 7 October 1952 in Orasje, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Yugoslavia. He was an actor, known for Ne dao Bog veceg zla (2002), Tri muskarca Melite Zganjer (1998) and The Reaper (2014). He was married to Dubravka Ostojic. He died on 1 January 2019 in Zagreb, Croatia.

Ljuba Tadic was born on 31 May 1929 in Urosevac, Serbia, Yugoslavia. He was an actor and writer, known for Doktor Mladen (1975), Mars na Drinu (1964) and Uka i Bjeshkëve të nemura (1968). He was married to Visnja Djordjevic and Snezana Niksic. He died on 28 October 2005 in Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro.

Velimir 'Bata' Zivojinovic was born on 5 June 1933 in Koracica near Mladenovac, Serbia, Yugoslavia. He was an actor, known for Walter Defends Sarajevo (1972), I Even Met Happy Gypsies (1967) and Moment (1978). He was married to Julijana 'Lula' Zivojinovic. He died on 22 May 2016 in Belgrade, Serbia.

Filip Sovagovic was born on 13 September 1966 in Zagreb, Croatia, Yugoslavia. He is an actor and director, known for No Man's Land (2001), Fashion Tension (2013) and Transatlantik (1998). He was previously married to Ruza Grizelj.

Rade Serbedzija was born in Bunic (Korenica) in 1946. Graduated from the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Zagreb. Still a student, he started to play the leading roles in films and theater productions. He is remembered as an outstanding Peer Gynt, Don Juan, Georgij, Melkior, Oedipus, Hamlet, Leon and Richard III. He wrote and published four books of poetry and released four albums, as well as directed 12 plays (Balade Petrice Kerempuha, Kazu da je sova nekad bila pekareva kci, Judita, Hrvatski slavuj...). He shot more than seventy films (Rdece klasje (1970), Zadah tela (1983), Hajka (1977), Vecernja zvona (1986), Bravo maestro (1978), Variola Vera (1982), Una (1984), Usijanje (1979), Life Is Beautiful (1985), Cyclops (1982), Povratak (1979), Horvatov izbor (1985), Dreaming the Rose (1986), Kontesa Dora (1993)...), and starred in leading roles of several TV-series (Sam covjek, U registraturi (1974), Prosjaci i sinovi (1971), Bombaski proces (1977), Nikola Tesla (1977), Putovanje u Vucjak (1986)...). He joined Vanessa Redgrave to found a theater that produced plays such as Brecht in exile, Liberation of Skopje, Smoke, Opera Sarajevo. He took part in many charity and peace initiatives. After a world famous film Before the Rain (1994) where he played the leading role, he was cast in films by prominent directors of the world (P. Noyce, J. Woo, S. Kubrick, F. Rossi...), in films such as The Saint (1997) (P. Noyce), The Truce (1997) (F. Rossi), Prague Duet (1998), Broken English (1996), Eyes Wide Shut (1999) (S. Kubrick), Polish Wedding (1998), Stigmata (1999), Mighty Joe Young (1998), The Sweet Sounds of Life (1999), Open Sea (1999), Mission: Impossible II (2000), Space Cowboys (2000), Snatch (2000), and in South Pacific (2001), Hermano (2007), Quicksand (2003), currently in post-production. He starred alongside Val Kilmer, Elisabeth Shue, John Turturro, Tom Cruise, Glenn Close. He lives in London.

Majda Potokar was born on 1 March 1930 in Ljubljana, Slovenia. She was an actress, known for The Wild Growth (1963), Don't Cry Peter (1964) and Na svoji zemlji (1948). She died on 24 April 2001 in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Milena Zupancic was born on 18 December 1946 in Jesenice, Slovenia, Yugoslavia. She is an actress, known for Blossoms in Autumn (1973), The Widowhood of Karolina Zasler (1976) and A Breath of Air (1983). She is married to Dusan Jovanovic. They have one child. She was previously married to Radko Polic .

Boris Dvornik was born to the family of a carpenter. His acting experience started at the age of 8 when he took parts in plays for children. In his high school days he was learning to be electrician, but soon decided to pursue full-time acting career instead. After finishing National Acting School in Novi Sad he enrolled in Drama Academy in Zagreb. While on the first academic year, he began his movie career in The Ninth Circle (1960). His film debut was instant success, and in his second movie, Martin u oblacima (1961), he proved his abilities in comic roles. Dvornik soon became on of the movie icons of former Yugoslavia, together with 'Bata Zivojinovic', Milena Dravic and Ljubisa Samardzic. However, the zenith of popularity was reached by his role in humorous cult series "Malo misto" (mini) and some other light pieces that followed in the 1970s. However, although still being one of the most prolific actors in history of former Yugoslav and Croatian cinema and TV, Boris Dvornik in 1980s mostly used to work in the Croatian National Theatre in Split. In 1992, due to the friendship with Antun Vrdoljak, he flirted with politics for a couple of months. Dvornik is married, has a daughter and four granchildren, while two of his sons - Dean Dvornik and 'Dino Dvornik', who used to cameo as children in his movies - are now major pop stars in Croatia.

Dusica Zegarac was born on 15 April 1944 in Belgrade, Serbia, Yugoslavia. She was an actress and writer, known for The Ninth Circle (1960), The Bet (1971) and Poseban tretman (1980). She died on 24 May 2019 in Belgrade, Serbia.

Alma Prica was born on 17 September 1962 in Zagreb, Croatia, Yugoslavia. She is an actress, known for Halima's Path (2012), Kontesa Dora (1993) and Treca zena (1997).

Emir Hadzihafisbegovic was born on 20th of August 1961 in Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina. He graduated acting at the Academy of performing arts in Sarajevo in 1986. From 1989 to 1992 he worked at the Folk theater in Tuzla. The war years he spent (1991 - 1995) in the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (ARBiH) and Croatian Defence Council (HVO). In 1996 he started to work at the National Theater of Sarajevo. Achieved more than 80 roles in theater and on TV. He is working as the theatre, television and film actor.

From 1998 to 2005 he was a professor of acting at the Academy of drama arts in Tuzla and from 2007 to 2011 he was a Minister of Sport and Culture of Sarajevo Canton. He is a member of Bosniak nationalist Party of Democratic Action (SDA). He lives in Sarajevo and Tuzla, he is married and has 2 children.

Mira continues active as an Actor and Story teller and live stage performances. Mira traveled to Canada with Jovan Radovanovic and performed on live stage in 2001 in Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver B.C. Mira's Film and Television appearances spanned over many generations and stood the test of time. Like the Timex, she takes the licking and keeps on ticking.

Olivera Markovic has prevailed in the Yugoslav theater, film and television scene since she first appeared in modern American stage plays by such authors as Arthur Miller, Tennessee Williams and William Inge in the early 1950s, and was also able to impress audiences and critics alike in more light-hearted roles.

In addition, she has figured in plays by Labiche and Priestly, Shaw and William Shakespeare, Goldoni and Dostoyevsky, Anouilh and O'Neil and Moliere and Chekov including "The Three Sisters", "Crime and Punishment" and "Marriage" by Gogolj, more often than not at the Belgrade Drama Theatre and the National Theatre.

She appeared in over a hundred stage plays, was the star of many popular television series such as A Better Life (1987) , and acted in 74 feature films:Vlak bez voznog reda (1959), Boom Town (1961), Drug predsednik centarfor (1960), to name but a few. She was also well-known as a singer of Russian romances.

After some time away from films, she returned more recently as a special guest star in Peasants (2001) and Frozen Stiff (2002).

Rade Markovic was born in Belgrade where he studied at the College of Engineering and Philosophical Faculty. For the first time he set his foot on the stage as a member of a cultural artistic company "Ivo Lola Ribar" and the Youth Theatre and since the season 1946 to 1949 he was acting in performances of the Academic Theatre. Since 1959 he is a professional actor, attached to Belgrade Drama Theatre (to 1961). Thereafter, as an independent artist he appears on Atelje 212, National Theatre and Yugoslav Drama Theatre stages. During his sixty years long and fruitful artistic career, he has created over hundred (100) theater roles, took part in seventy eight (78) national and international film productions, acted in over sixty dramas and series made by TV Belgrade. Some of his outstanding roles in theater in "A Dubious Character" by Branislav Nusic, "Nikoletina Bursac" by Branko Copic (also TV drama Nikoletina Bursac (1958)), "Lodgings" by Milos Crnjanski, "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" by Tennessee Williams, "Oblomov" by Goncharov and, finally, Pozzo in "En attendant Godot" by Samuel Beckett in which he was appeared with Ljuba Tadic, Mihajlo 'Bata' Paskaljevic and Milivoje 'Mica' Tomic and that was first performance of Bekcett's play in East Europe (1956, Atelje 212).

He was a professor of acting at Novi Sad Academy of Arts (since September 1981) and at "Braca Karic" Academy in Belgrade (since 1997). For his theatre creations he repeatedly received recognition: Belgrade October Award (1963), award for acting at Sterija's Theatre Festival (1958), two awards for acting at Festival of Small Scenes in Sarajevo (1962, 1971), three "Arena" awards at Yugoslav Film Festival in Pula (1955, 1957, 1963), award at the Festival of Bulgarian Film in Varna (1964), Seventh July Award (1981), "Slavica" award for life work at Film Encounters in Nis (1989) etc.

Rade Markovic was one of the most distinguished protagonists of modern acting expression that made crucial influence of development of Yugoslav and Serbian theatre arts after WW II and he is a model of a successful multimedia artist.

Olga Pakalovic was born on 8 November 1978 in Zagreb, Yugoslavia [now Croatia]. She is an actress and writer, known for Halima's Path (2012), Fine mrtve djevojke (2002) and Moram spavat', andjele (2007).

Mira Stupica was born on 17 August 1923 in Gnjilane, Serbia, Yugoslavia. She was an actress, known for Stojan Mutikasa (1954), Roj (1966) and Herrenpartie (1964). She was married to Cvijetin Mijatovic, Bojan Stupica and Milivoje Popovic-Mavid. She died on 19 August 2016 in Zemun, Serbia.

Pavle Vuisic was born on 10 July 1926 in Belgrade, Serbia, Yugoslavia. He was an actor, known for Who's Singin' Over There? (1980), The Written Off Return (1976) and Maratonci trce pocasni krug (1982). He died on 1 October 1988 in Belgrade, Serbia, Yugoslavia.

Mirjana Karanovic was born on 28 January 1957 in Belgrade, Serbia, Yugoslavia. She is an actress and director, known for A Good Wife (2016), Grbavica (2006) and Requiem for Mrs. J (2017).

Predrag 'Miki' Manojlovic was born on 5 April 1950 in Nis, Serbia, Yugoslavia. He is an actor and director, known for Underground (1995), The Heir Apparent: Largo Winch (2008) and The Bra (2018). He is married to Tamara Vuckovic. They have one child.

Ilija Ivezic was born on 20 July 1926 in Ricice near Lovinac, Croatia, Yugoslavia. He was an actor and producer, known for Zlatne godine (1994), Marsal (1999) and Mathias Sandorf (1979). He died on 14 April 2016 in Zagreb, Croatia.

Lucija Serbedzija was born on 8 June 1973 in Zagreb, Croatia, Yugoslavia. She is an actress, known for The Saint (1997), Polagana predaja (2001) and Bogorodica (1999). She is married to Filip Gajic. They have two children.

Natasa Dorcic was born on 9 June 1968 in Rijeka, Croatia, Yugoslavia [now Croatia]. She is an actress, known for Lada Kamenski (2018), Moram spavat', andjele (2007) and Prepoznavanje (1996).

Rene Bitorajac is a Croatian actor. He has appeared in a number of Croatian and Bosnian films since the 1980s. Most notably, he starred in the 2001 Academy Award-winning Bosnian film "No Man's Land". He is also known for starring in popular Croatian television sitcoms "Bitange i princeze" (2005-2010) and "Nasa mala klinika" (2004-2007). In 2009, he won the Golden Arena for Best Actor at the 56th Pula Film Festival for his role in the 2009 film "Metastases", in which he portrayed the character of a sociopathic football hooligan named Krpa. He again won the Golden Arena for Best Actor in 2012 for his role of Dr. Babic in the same year's film "Cannibal Vegetarian" and, still in 2012, he has been awarded as "Best actor" at the Fantastic film festival in Austin, Texas, USA, 2013 Best actor Bruxelles and Paris Mediteraneo film festival ("Cannibal Vegetarian").

Bitorajac also worked prominently in Croatian-language versions of animated features. He provided voice acting for Syndrome in "The Incredibles", Buck in "Home on the Range" (both 2004), Ham in "Space Chimps" (2008), Gru in the "Despicable Me" franchise (2010-present) and Red in "The Angry Birds Movie" (2016) complete with its 2019 sequel.