Croatia and the Oscars: small traces that have entered film history

Croatia is increasingly mentioned today as an attractive destination for filming major world productions, but the connection between domestic locations and the most prestigious film award goes back much longer than is often thought. Even decades ago, some Oscar-winning films were filmed in Croatia, and Croatian film professionals have left a direct mark on the history of the Oscars.

One of the most famous examples is the film Fiddler on the Roof (1971), which was partly filmed in the vicinity of Zagreb, in villages such as Lekenik and Mala Gorica. The production was looking for an authentic Eastern European setting at the time, and Croatian locations proved to be ideal. The film later won three Oscars – for cinematography, sound and adapted music – making it one of the most successful film musicals of that period.

The film Sophia’s Choice (1982), which brought Meryl Streep the award for best actress, is also associated with the Oscar. Although most of the film was shot in New York and London, some war scenes were shot in what was then Yugoslavia, including locations around Zagreb, which is another interesting connection between Croatia and Oscar-winning productions.

Croatia’s contribution to Oscar-winning films is also visible through its acting. In the Oscar-winning film No Man’s Land (2002), which won the award for best foreign film, notable roles were played by Croatian actors Rene Bitorajac and Filip Šovagović, confirming the presence of domestic artists in international projects that have marked world cinema.

In addition to film locations, Croatia also has its own Oscar winners. Producer Branko Lustig won two Oscars for the films Schindler’s List and Gladiator, while director Dušan Vukotić won an Oscar in 1962 for the animated film The Surrogate, achieving historic success as the first winner of the award outside the United States in its category.

Although the Croatian contribution often appears in smaller, at first glance imperceptible details – through locations, authors or actors, these very traces show that Croatia has been part of the great world film story for decades, including the Oscar-winning one.