ZagrebDox: the Best of the World Production of Documentaries
In the second half of April, Zagreb will become a gathering place for some of the best authors of documentaries and host approximately a hundred of screenings, many of which are premiers.
Around a hundred most interesting Croatian and international films will be shown at this year’s edition of the International Documentary Film Festival ZagrebDox. The 22nd edition of this prestigious festival with world acclaim will take place in Zagreb from 19 to 26 April. It will welcome a number of renowned authors, producers and experts from the world of documentary films.
The fact that as of 2022 ZagrebDox has been a part of a small group of similar events whose winners but also other screened films compete for the annual European Film Academy award in the category of documentary film proves its excellent reputation.
During eight days of the festival, visitors will get a chance to watch more than 100 films whose authors come from around fifty world countries.
ZagrebDox consists of more than 15 programmes. In addition to the International and Regional Competition, there are also other programmes such as Controversial Dox, Happy Dox, Music Globe, State of Affairs, Teen Dox, Masters of Dox, Factumentaries, Biographical Dox as well as special thematic programmes which change every year, depending on current issues. This year’s edition of ZagrebDox will involve winning titles from the most prominent world’s festivals. The programme consists of world, European and Croatian premieres, with the exception of several retrospective films.
The programme of ZagrebDox continues to evolve and become more diverse. This year, an exhibition of documentary photographs will be added to the programme AudioDox, which was introduced in 2025 as an overview of documentary radio reports.
The Industry part of ZagrebDox is entitled Slow Pitch and has the motto: “Pitching of the art, not the art of pitching”. It focuses on the content that is promoted rather than the manner in which it is promoted. Within the framework of this programme, eight projects are thoroughly discussed with four mentors during five days in various city locations – at museums, restaurants, cafés and parks.
ZagrebDox was established in 2005, with the aim of providing an insight in the new documentary production to spectators and experts, boosting and emphasizing Croatian documentary production and strengthening international and regional cooperation. The fact that in the first 21 editions more than 400 000 spectators attended the festival and more than 3000 films were shown in 3200 screenings testifies to the success of the idea and the international acclaim of the festival. The festival has so far been attended by more than 6800 Croatian and foreign visitors, professionals and journalists.
Photo credit: Samir Cerić Kovačević