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Today, the European Film Academy announced the nominees for the European Film Awards. Among them are three Slovenian films, which is a first in the history of Slovenian cinema!
The nominees are: Urška Djukić with Little Trouble Girls for the European Discovery – Prix FIPRESCI in the Feature Film category; Tales from the Magic Garden, directed by Leon Vidmar, David Súkup, Patrik Pašša, and Jean-Claude Rozec, for Best Animated Feature Film and Best European Film in the Animated Feature Film category; and Fiume o morte!, a Slovenian minority co-production by the Croatian director Igor Bezinović in the categories of Best Documentary and Best European Film.
Nataša Bučar, the Director of the Slovenian Film Centre, stated: “This year’s nominations for the European Film Awards demonstrate that Slovenian film is at the very forefront of European cinema. In Europe, between 1500 and 2000 feature films are produced each year. In 2025, we managed to create one of the top five European debuts (Little Trouble Girls), one of the top five animated feature films and European films (Tales from the Magic Garden), and one of the top five European documentaries (Fiume o morte!). I believe this demonstrates the significant progress of Slovenian filmmaking, which has only been achievable through consistently improving the conditions in which our films are produced. The Slovenian Film Centre is very proud of this achievement, and we hope that in January, our filmmakers will win a best film award once more, as they did in 2022.”
Urška Djukić’s debut film Little Trouble Girls, which has already won several awards, follows 16-year-old Lucija as she joins a girls’ choir. Her friendship with her peer Ana-Marija is put to the test as she navigates a world of awakening sexuality and searches for her own identity. The film had its world premiere at this year’s 75th Berlinale, where it won the FIPRESCI Award for Best Film in the official competition programme Perspectives. The screenplay was written by the director and Maria Bohr.
The film stars Jara Sofija Ostan, Mina Švajger, Saša Tabaković, Nataša Burger, Staša Popović, Mateja Strle, Saša Pavček, and others. It is produced by Jožko Rutar and Miha Černec from the production company Spok Films. Regarding the nomination, Rutar stated: “The European Film Academy nomination for best debut film of the year is a significant recognition and honour for the director as well as the entire creative and production team of Little Trouble Girls. It is an encouragement for more dedicated work and a sign that Slovenian film creativity can achieve outstanding results, even when compared to European countries with more developed production and financing. It puts Slovenian auteur film on the European and global map, providing greater visibility and long-term opportunities for other Slovenian filmmakers and producers to achieve their breakthrough.
Little Trouble Girls received financial support from the Slovenian Film Centre, Eurimages – European Cinema Support Fund, RTV Slovenija, Viba Film Studio, and other international supporters. This year, Slovenian audiences can also see the film in Ljubljana’s Kinodvor cinema on 25 November at 5.30 pm, the Kino Velenje cinema on 1 December at 7 pm, the Gledališče Park theatre in Murska Sobota on 6 December at 8 pm, and the Kosovelov dom cultural centre in Sežana on 3 December at 9.30 pm. Some dates for latecomers will also be available throughout Slovenia early next year.
The director already won the European Film Award for Best European Short Film in 2022 for Granny’s Sexual Life.
Tales from the Magic Garden is a Slovenian-Czech-Slovak-French co-production, directed by Leon Vidmar, David Súkup, Patrik Pašš, and Jean-Claude Rozec. The director Leon Vidmar commented on the nomination: “This nomination is a significant recognition for me, as it confirms that our work reaches a broader audience and is also acknowledged by the professional community. At the same time, it serves as a strong motivation for future projects and encourages ongoing content creation that promotes positive change. Such awards clearly confirm that perseverance, commitment, and cooperation truly pay off over time.”
When four-year-old Tomi, eight-year-old Suzana, and ten-year-old Darko visit their grandfather for the first time since the loss of their beloved grandmother, his house is plunged into silence, and he seems distant. Inspired by her memories, Suzana assumes her grandmother’s role as the storyteller. With vivid stories and imagination, she creates a magical world featuring a mysterious cat, a seemingly scary monster, and a daring flying gentleman. That way, she brings vital warmth back to her grandfather’s home and their relationship. The stories are not only mysterious, dramatic, sad, and funny, but they also help all family members cope with loss.
The production results from an equal collaboration between the production companies Maurfilm (Czech Republic), Artichoke (Slovakia), ZVVIKS (Slovenia), and Vivement Lundi! (France). The Slovenian producer is Kolja Saksida, who commented on the two nominations: “The two nominations for the European Film Academy Awards are a significant achievement for our film and the entire creative team. They confirm that we have addressed the theme of loss with honesty, compassion, and a refined aesthetic sensitivity. Producers from four countries collaborated seamlessly, efficiently managing a diverse team of talented authors and co-authors. This collaboration results in a film that excels in both artistic and production quality. I am really excited about the awards ceremony in Berlin, where the film had its world premiere at the 75th Berlinale.”
The film is a co-production with Czech Television, Slovak Television and Radio, RTV Slovenija, and Pictanovo, with support from Région Hauts-de-France, the Personne n’est parfait! studio, and financial support from Creative Europe MEDIA, Eurimages, the Czech Film Fund, the Slovak Audiovisual Fund, the Slovenian Film Centre, Viba Film Ljubljana, Région Bretagne / Bretagne Cinéma, CNC France, TVR Tempo – Rennes Métropole, Gebeka Films, Tébéo, TébéSud, France Télévisions – France 3 Bretagne, and NuFrame.
The award-winning docufiction Fiume o morte! by the Croatian screenwriter and director Igor Bezinović is an unconventional documentary produced by the Zagreb-based Restart production company and co-produced by the Slovenian production studio NOSOROGI, led by producer and screenwriter Marina Gumzi. “From the very beginning, the creators of Fiume o morte! aimed to involve, connect with, and reach as many people as possible. This is why we do not view the exceptional double nomination by the European Film Academy as any different from other successes connected with the community. The film’s success lies in its being largely co-created by the citizens of Rijeka, its acceptance by the Croatian audiences as their own, and its status as the most-watched Croatian documentary ever. It is also a success that the Slovenian audiences have received it so well and that it continues to inspire viewers worldwide.
Rather than as an expression of exclusivity, we see the members of the European Film Academy honouring the film as a success for the community or as recognition of the values it embodies. We live in deeply divisive times in which the dominant structures of capitalism subtly elevate the individual above the community and hierarchy above solidarity. On such foundations, fragile and unreliable stories form more quickly, reinforcing fears and doubts. Fiume o morte! strongly resists this state of mind – with a strong, playful resolve to responsibly empower the community,” Gumzi commented on the nomination.
Besides the co-producer, the project also involved Julij Zornik as re-recording mixer and Gregor Božič as cinematographer. The film examines a fascinating historical event that most people are unaware of: the Italian poet and war supporter Gabriele D’Annunzio seizing the city of Rijeka about a hundred years ago. The film had its world premiere at the International Film Festival Rotterdam, where it won the festival’s main prize and the FIPRESCI Award. It was made with the financial support of the Slovenian Film Centre.
The European Film Awards ceremony will take place on 17 January 2026 in Berlin.
Source: Slovenian Film Centre
