Croatian Audiovisual Center Under Fire for Alleged “Censorship” of LGBT-Themed Oscar-Contending Film

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As a seasoned gamer of life and cinema, I find myself deeply troubled by the ongoing controversy surrounding ‘Beautiful Evening, Beautiful Day.’ Having witnessed the power of art to heal, provoke thought, and challenge societal norms, it’s disheartening to see such a compelling piece potentially undermined due to its courageous exploration of difficult topics.

As a gaming enthusiast switching gears for a bit, here’s my take: With the Oscars just around the corner, it’s only natural that we’ll be hearing more about the buzz and debates surrounding the awards. The latest stir comes from an international contender, ‘Beautiful Evening, Beautiful Day,’ or as it’s known in its native Croatia, ‘Lijepa Večer, Lijep Dan.’

2024’s ‘Gorgeous Evening, Gorgeous Day’, directed by Ivona Juka, is a Croatian drama that boasts actors such as Emir Hadžihafizbegović and Elmir Krivalić. This film, chosen to represent Croatia in the category of Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards, tells the story of four friends who bravely opposed the Nazi regime and went on to achieve fame as renowned artists.

In contrast to their former glory as war heroes, they encounter scrutiny from the government over their movies and personal conduct, resulting in the hiring of an agent whose mission is to sabotage their professional endeavors.

In the situation where life mirrors art, the producer of Ivona Juka’s film claims that the Croatian government overlooked their Oscar contender ‘Beautiful Evening, Beautiful Day’ due to its LGBTQ+ themes, providing significantly less funding for promotion compared to the previous year’s candidate.

The movie only got €69,550 ($73,250), which is significantly less than the €153,000 ($161,140) granted to ‘Traces’ for their campaign, despite not being nominated.

Anita Juka, the film’s producer asserts that the budget is “unreasonably high” and biased.

I have a strong suspicion that the Croatian Ministry of Culture and the Croatian Audiovisual Center may have deliberately reduced our film’s budget, given its handling of sensitive historical themes and explicit LGBTIQ+ content, potentially undermining our opportunities for an Oscar nomination.

At this point, we find ourselves requiring some significant reductions in our overall strategy and advertising, especially since the Oscar voting is almost upon us. It’s hard to fathom why the Croatian Audiovisual Center would distribute their promotional budget so unevenly between a full-length film and a short film.

In Croatia, the storyline of the film may touch on a delicate subject due to the lingering effects that the communist era continues to have on the country.

The storyline of this film revolves around approximately 500 real-life accounts of gay men who suffered persecution and imprisonment under Tito’s rule in Yugoslavia. Some of these individuals were transferred to Barren Island, known as Goli Otok in Croatian, a penal colony for political detainees.

Back in the ’50s, being openly gay wasn’t an option where I come from, as it was illegalized. But thankfully, things started changing in the late ’70s, with Croatia and Slovenia decriminalizing homosexuality. The rest of Yugoslavia followed suit post-1990s, after the country’s dissolution. This progress towards acceptance is something I’m proud to see unfold.

Representatives from the Croatian Audiovisual Center were contacted regarding allegations of discrimination but denied these claims. As stated by a representative to The Hollywood Reporter, the film’s creators submitted their request for award funding at a late stage, and only a limited number of board members had viewed the movie before approving the financing.

Despite the funding being less compared to past years, they’re uncertain whether an increase in funds would have altered the Oscar outcomes. For over three decades since its independence in 1991, Croatia hasn’t received a single nomination in the Best International Feature Film category at the Academy Awards.

The Croatian Audiovisual Center further clarified that the reason ‘The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent’ received a larger grant was primarily due to its victory in the category of best short film at Cannes, earning it the Palme d’Or. Additionally, they pointed out that the producers had submitted a compelling application from the start. In other words, the film’s success and its significance as a source of national pride for Croatia, combined with a strong initial application, contributed to the larger grant allocation.

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2024-12-05 14:14