ŠIPAN SUMMER FILM SCHOOL 2026
This summer, the island of Šipan once again becomes a place of filmmaking, education, and community. From 4 to 14 August 2026, the 23rd Šipan Summer Film School will take place – a long-standing film education programme that brings together children and young people, film mentors, filmmakers, and audiences, creating a unique atmosphere where film is not only something to watch, but also a space for learning, self-expression, and collaborative creativity.
This year, the Šipan Film School Association continues its mission of fostering film and media literacy among young people through hands-on workshops, direct collaboration with film professionals, and an open-air evening cinema programme accessible to the island community, visitors, and all film enthusiasts.
Four Creative Film Workshops
This year's workshop programme includes four creative film courses:
Animated Film Workshop – led by Ivana Šerić
(Play)Film Workshop – led by Klara Rihtar and Marko Bičanić
Live-Action Film Workshop – led by Jan Kožić and Filip Šarić
Specialised Workshop "Creativity Without Borders" – led by Dean Zulich
Through these workshops, participants will experience the entire filmmaking process—from concept to premiere. They will develop ideas, write screenplays, prepare productions, work both in front of and behind the camera, edit their films, and finally present their completed works. The films created during the workshops will premiere on the final day of the programme at a special public screening.
A traditional highlight of the programme is the evening open-air cinema, transforming Šipan into an outdoor film venue and a meeting place for audiences and filmmakers. Alongside screenings of Croatian and international films, the programme features discussions with directors, producers, and film professionals, offering audiences insight into the creative process behind the films.
The official opening will take place on 5 August, featuring the presentation of the 23rd Šipan Summer Film School and screenings of the documentaries "Emir – The Last Dalmatian Farmer" (new version with English subtitles, Šipan Film School 2026) and "How the Rebellion Began on My Island", directed by Nikola Duper, who will attend the screening and participate in a discussion with the audience.
Throughout the programme, visitors will have the opportunity to meet numerous filmmakers. Following the screening of the feature film "Glavonja", director and producer Marina Andree Škop will join the audience for a discussion. After the documentary "Perast – The Wounded Ship", directors and producers Paula and Đelo Jusić will be guests of the festival, while actor Roko Sikavica will meet the audience following the screening of "Wedding", directed by Igor Šeregi.
In addition to these films, audiences at the open-air cinema by the old laundry will also enjoy The Second Diary of Paulina P, directed by Neven Hitrec, as well as the beloved musical hit Mamma Mia!, followed by a "Dancing Queen Party" at the Youth Centre featuring timeless ABBA classics.
The 23rd Šipan Summer Film School also offers a rich accompanying programme, including screenings of films produced during previous workshops, films presented as part of the Dubrovnik Cinemas Reel Project – "A Cinematic Journey Through Italy and Croatia", the theatre performance "The Bridegrooms" by Ritam Igre Theatre, a large open-air LJŠFŠ quiz, and the closing evening featuring premieres of newly created films and a live music programme.
The official closing ceremony will be held on 14 August, when films from all workshops of the 23rd Šipan Summer Film School will be screened, followed by an awards ceremony. The festival finale will conclude with a concert by Daleka Obala – Jakša & Hrepa and a DJ set by DJ Miro.
Organiser and Team of the 23rd Šipan Summer Film School
The programme is organised by the Šipan Film School Association.
The organising team consists of:
Nils Neubert – President of the Šipan Film School Association, Programme Director and Producer
Miro Bronzić – Secretary of the Šipan Film School Association, Programme Director and Producer
Sara Dolički – Executive Producer
Marijan Urđević – Executive Producer
Igor Lušić (HIPERPRODUKCIJA) – Technical Production and Programme Support
For more than two decades, the Šipan Summer Film School has established itself as one of Croatia's longest-running film education programmes for children and young people. Its uniqueness lies in the combination of creativity, learning, and community—because on Šipan, film is not confined to the screen during the summer; it becomes part of everyday island life and a meeting point for emerging filmmakers, industry professionals, and audiences.
The work of the Šipan Film School Association and the Šipan Summer Film School is supported by the City of Dubrovnik, the Dubrovnik Tourist Board, the Dubrovnik-Neretva County, the Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds, the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia, the Croatian Audiovisual Centre, the Technical Culture Associations of the City of Dubrovnik and Dubrovnik-Neretva County, while part of the programme is carried out in partnership with Dubrovnik Cinemas and the Croatian Film Association.
