The prosecutor convinced the jury, the rabbit dam audience

The third edition of the European Film Festival Brežice concluded in Brežice with the Ukrainian film Dva tožilca (Two Prosecutors), directed by Sergei Loznitsa, winning the top prize, the Golden Eye award. The festival, held over several days, saw the presentation of four Silver Eye awards and special mentions. The event took place on August 30, 2026, and drew attention for its focus on European cinema beyond major cultural hubs. The festival's program director, Aleš Pavlin, emphasized that this year’s edition demonstrated that high-quality European cinema can engage audiences even outside large urban centers. He noted that the festival brought together films shown at the world’s biggest festivals, Slovenian premieres, and works by notable figures in contemporary European cinematography. A key part of the program included meetings and discussions with filmmakers. Dva tožilca, which won the Golden Eye, was praised by the jury for its tense and relevant story about bureaucratic mechanisms that enable the functioning of totalitarian regimes. The film follows a young idealistic prosecutor in the Soviet Union in 1937 who attempts to expose injustices against political prisoners. It portrays his struggle against corruption, dishonesty, and the dangers of a system that punishes individuals who challenge its boundaries. Anna Geislerová received the Silver Eye award for Best Actress for her role in the film Karavan. The jury commended her performance as an authentic and subtle portrayal of a mother whose identity becomes increasingly defined by her care for her son, loneliness, and self-sacrifice. Lav Novosel and Andrija Žunac were awarded the Silver Eye for Best Acting Performance for their roles in Zajčji nasip (Rabbit Hill). Novosel plays a character caught between societal expectations and suppressed emotions, while Žunac portrays an outsider returning to his hometown. The jury highlighted how their performances carry the emotional depth of the film with both subtlety and intensity. Hlynur Pálmason received the Silver Eye for Best Direction for Love That Remains. The jury praised his exploration of intimacy, vulnerability, and imperfection in human relationships, interwoven with everyday family moments set against the Icelandic landscape, reality, and dreams. A special mention for direction went to Andreea Cristina Borțun for her film Reflection of the River. The jury was impressed by her subtle approach, distinct sound and visual atmosphere, and a documentary-like feel. The film examines the relationship between a mother and son, the absence of a father figure, and entrapment within cycles of poverty. One of the highlights of the festival was the opening evening, during which the honorary award of the European Film Festival Brežice was presented for the first time. The award went to Boris Cavazza, one of Slovenia’s most prominent actors, directors, and film creators. Cavazza has made a significant contribution to Slovenian, former Yugoslav, and broader European cultural spaces over more than six decades of creative work. The festival featured an international jury composed of Croatian actress Leona Paraminski, Slovenian director Marko Naberšnik, and Cypriot director Petros Charalambous. The importance of European cinema was also underscored by Culture Minister Dr. Ignacija Fridl Jarc during the opening ceremony. The festival’s success in attracting European filmmakers and engaging local audiences was highlighted by Pavlin, who stated that the event positioned Brežice as a vibrant space for art, discussion, and encounters. The presence of renowned European filmmakers placed the festival on the map of European cinema.