Bosnian film nominated for top award at Milano FICTS Fest

The documentary film “HŠK Zrinjski – A Story of Pride” has been officially nominated for the main award at the 43rd Milano International FICTS Fest 2025, the world’s most important sports cinematography festival, which will be held from October 7 to 11 in the Italian metropolis.

The international jury included the film in the final round of competition for the festival’s highest honor, the “Guirlande d’Honneur 2025”, in the category “MOVIES & TV FOOTBALL – FEATURE”. This represents the pinnacle of recognition and is popularly referred to as the Oscar of sports films, CE Report quotes FENA.

The Sport Movies & TV – Milano International FICTS Fest is considered the “Olympic Games of sports films” and the world’s most important festival dedicated to sports cinematography, television, and culture.

FICTS is the only international organization in the field of cinema and sport that, since 1983 and on behalf of the International Olympic Committee, promotes Olympic values through film and audiovisual content, with its headquarters in Milan.

The organization operates under the slogan “Culture through Sport” and has 130 member countries.

“Being nominated for the Guirlande d’Honneur means that we are among the best sports films in the world. This is the largest possible platform for a sports film, and FICTS’ official recognition speaks to the value of our work,” said the film’s producer, Neven Jerkić, in an interview with Fena.

The documentary “HŠK Zrinjski – A Story of Pride” portrays the club’s history and the era in which it was founded, from its beginnings in the turbulent 20th century to the celebration of its first title in 2005. The film features, among others, Luka Modrić, Blaž Baka Slišković, Ivan Ćurković, and Jadran Topić, as well as descendants of former Zrinjski players.

In addition to football, the film provides a broader social and cultural portrait of Mostar, especially in the first half of the 20th century.

The director is Dragan Komadina, who also co-wrote the script with Nina Rotim and Josip Marinović. Editing was done by Slavko Lasić, sound design by Luka Rupčić, cinematography by Zoran Drmać and Ivan Raguž, music composed by Josip Bošnjak, and assistant director was Zdravko Terkeš.

Since its inception in 1983, the Milano International FICTS Fest has, over its 42-year history, honored numerous prominent figures from the worlds of sports, cinema, and television, including Pope John Paul II, Pelé, Johan Cruyff, Mike Tyson, Alberto Tomba, Paul Newman, Paolo Sorrentino, Sylvester Stallone, Ennio Morricone, and Martin Scorsese.

The awards ceremony will take place on October 11 at the Grande Auditorium, Palazzo Lombardia, in Milan.