On Saturday, 30 August 2025, a ceremonial academy was held in honour of the great Croatian actor, Ivo Gregurević. The programme featured about 50 members of the Symphony Orchestra of the Croatian National Theatre of Osijek, whereas the audience was guided through the story of the life and work of Ivo Gregurević by the actors, Sandra Lončarić and Duško Modrinić.
Three awards were presented at the ceremony for great contributions to the creation of film and theatre art, and this year’s laureates are actors Goran Višnjić and Igor Galo and theatre director Dražen Ferenčina
During the programme, the President of the Festival Organizing Committee Iljo Benković, the Special Envoy of the Government of the Republic of Croatia, the State Secretary of the Central State Office for Croats Abroad, Zvonko Milas, and Minister Sanja Vlaisavljević spoke about Ivo Gregurević. This largest cultural event in Posavina was officially opened by Darijana Filipović, a member of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH.
Minister Vlaisavljević greeted the guests by announcing a letter of thanks to Ivo Gregurević, which we are quoting in its entirety:
Dear Ivo,
Here we are after three decades in your Posavina, and your Iljo is nervous just like he was in the very first years. This year, he is perhaps particularly nervous, because this is a jubilee. It was not easy to hold this Festival in difficult times, showing glory for acting, for you, for us and for the sublime art.
You would say that “acting is not a profession, it is a way of life.” And that is right! Acting was not your calling, just as this Festival is not just another Iljo’s project, but the life of Croatian cinema that you left as an unwritten imperative for everyone around you. Honestly, the number of those who celebrate your way of life is growing. There are more and more young people. Isn’t that the greatest thanks and praise to a teacher?
Here we are today, united around one place, just as you would have told us when you started this Festival back in 1995, “Art must be a bridge that connects people!” And look at us today! From everywhere here and not only now but also when the curtain falls, we leave united by new ideas to the next Festival because “Life is too short to live it superficially.” Here, we don’t live your film superficially, we don’t miss the opportunity to feel the beauty of the moment, to truly love, learn, and grow – because as you would say, only when we live honestly and deeply, our life, although short, gains meaning and may leave a mark.
And finally, we send you our best wishes knowing that you know every little detail about what and how we have prepared for these jubilee 30th Festival. We will not stop, and your Iljo, who is every year younger in spirit, knows that he must achieve your shared dream. We will follow him!
P. S.:
Don’t be offended if you see that we have exaggerated a bit with our words, we know that you don’t like it, but it’s your fault! You have left us so much to do that it cannot be shorter.
Signed: everyone who is here tonight because of you!
