Zagreb cinema had its serious beginnings in the 1940s. Zagreb films lately have been awarded at the highest levels and nominated on numerous occasions in the foreign language film category at the Academy Awards. Cinema in Zagreb have particularly been significant in the animation category.
The development of Films in Zagreb can be traced in various phases. Each phase has contributed significantly to the growth of the Zagreb film industry. The different stages are:
- Early History – The beginnings of the film industry in Zagreb was in the early 20th century. Serious films, particularly of the educational type were produced around 2nd World War. Josip Karaman, Oktavijan Miletic, and later Skola Narodnog Zdravlja were renowned film producers of the early period.
- War Period - After Croatia was eatablished as an independent state in 1941, the need for a film industry was felt and consequently it achieved the status of a serious institution. The documentary film Straza na Drini produced by Branko Marjanovic in 1943 was awarded
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the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival.
- Early Communist Period - The Jadran Film studio was set up in Zagreb in 1947.
- First Golden Era: Late 1950s – Don't Turn Around Son by Branko Bauer in 1956, Tri Ane in 1959 directed by Bauer and produced by Macedonia, Face to Face by Bauer in 1962, were all made during this phase. Two Croatian films: A Road One Year Long in 1958, and Devet Krug - 9th Circle, 1960 were nominated in the foreign film category at the Academy awards during this era.
- Zagreb Animation Film Industry - Zagreb Animation Film industry started to emerge as a dominating industry towards the end of the 1950s. Dusan Vukotic won an Oscar award for his animated film Surogat in 1963. Vatroslav Mimica and Vlado Kristl were other contemporary animated film makers.
Zagreb cinema is going through a resurgence phase. More and more productions in the normal and animated versions are gradually making their presence felt in the international film market.
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