Arsen Anton Ostojic received his BA in film and TV directing from the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Zagreb, Croatia in 1991 and his MFA in filmmaking from the New York University in 1994, both with honors. Until 2020 he made 4 award-winning feature films, one long-running theater play and several successful documentaries and short films. He co-produced an animated feature film which was a box office hit and he associate produced a PBS feature-length documentary. He worked on about twenty feature films in Europe and in the United States as an assistant director, production manager or line producer. Besides developing new projects, both in Europe and in the United States, he is also teaching film production at the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Zagreb. He was the president of the Croatian Film Director’s Guild. He is a member of the European Film Academy since 2005.
SELECTED PROJECTS
“F20” in 2018, digital, 90-min., a low budget thriller shot in Croatia, starring Filip Mayer, Romina Tonkovic, Mladen Vulić, Lana Ujević, Alen Liverić, Robert Budak, Alma Prica, Alen Šalinović. The film premiered at 22nd Black Nights Film Festival in Tallinn, Estonia and until April 2020 it recevied 6 awards.
"HALIMA'S PATH", in 2012, super 16mm, 93-min. feature film shot in Croatia, in coproduction with Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, starring Alma Prica, Olga Pakalovic, Mijo Jurisic, Miraj Grbic, Mustafa Nadarevic. The film received the Audience Award at the 59th Pula Film Festival with then the highest vote in the recent history of the festival, in addition to several other awards. It was the Croatian candidate for the 86th Annual Academy Awards. The film participated in and out of competition at more than 50 film festivals around the world and was awarded with 31 awards and accolades, becoming one of Croatia's most awarded feature films.
"NO ONE’S SON", in 2008, super 35mm, 100-min. feature film shot in Croatia, starring Alen Liveric, Mustafa Nadarevic,Biserka Ipsa, Zdenko Jelcic . The film was the absolute winner of the 55th Croatian Film festival in Pula, winning 6 Gold Arenas (incl. for the Best film and the Best director) and the Critics' Award "Oktavijan". It was the official Croatian candidate for the 81st Annual Academy Awards. It is included in the Selection 2009 by the European Film Academy as one of the best European films in 2009.
"A WONDERFUL NIGHT IN SPLIT", in 2004, 35mm black&white, 100-min. feature film shot in Croatia, starring Coolio, Dino Dvornik, Mladen Vulić, Marija Skaricic, Marinko Prga. It received 24 domestic and international awards and acknowledgements and it participated at about 40 film festivals; it was the Croatian candidate for the 78th Annual Academy Awards; it was nominated for the European Film Academy Discovery Award in 2004; voted the best Croatian film in the past five years by a survey of 26 film critics ("Hollywood", January 2005).
"LIFE DRAWING", in 2001, 35mm, 15-min short film shot in New York City, awarded Best Short Film Award at the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival among other awards; it participated at 10 international film festivals.
"THE BIRD LOVER", in 1993, 16mm, 14-min short film shot in New York City, awarded the Audience Award at the Hamburg Short Film Festival, it participated at 15 international festivals, sold to several TV stations including Canal Plus and PBS.
"DECORATIONS", in 1988, 35mm, 20-min documentary shot in ex-Yugoslavia, awarded the Gold Medal for Directing at Belgrade Documentary and Short Film Festival.
He was born in Split, Croatia in 1965. He started making short films at the age of twelve, participating at various junior film festivals. At the age of fourteen his short film "The Stone Mason" was aired on TV as the best short by a teenager. From 1985 to 1990 he studied film and TV directing at the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Zagreb, Croatia, where he received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1991. During his studies he made eight short films and documentaries among which are: "The Lute" (12 min.; aired on TV), "The Day the Socks Dried" (12 min.- particip ated at the Student Film Festival in Munich) and "Decorations" (20 min.- participated at four international film festivals and was awarded the Gold Medal for Directing at the Short and Documentary Film Festival in Belgrade, 1991). He was recognized as one the best student of the Academy of Dramatic Arts in 1987 and awarded the Annual Rector's Award.
From 1991 to 1994 he studied at the well-known Graduate Film Department of the Tisch School of the Arts, New York University, where he received his Master of Fine Arts Degree. During his studies he received the prestigious W. T. Johnson Scholarship as the top student for his "superior academic record and exceptional creative ability". His 14-min. short film "The Bird Lover" successfully participated at 15 film festivals around the world. It was awarded the Audience Award at the Hamburg Short Film Festival in 1993 and Jury Award at the Schwenningen Film Festival in 1994.
His 15-min., 35mm short film called "Life Drawing", shot in New York in 2001, was screened at 10 film festivals around the world and received several awards.
In 2004 he wrote and directed a full-length feature film "A Wonderful Night in Split" starring rap singer Coolio and the late Croatian pop-star Dino Dvornik among others. The film was nominated for the European Film Academy Discovery-Fassbinder Award as the best first or second European film in 2004; it was the official Croatian entry for the 78th Academy Awards; it received a total of 24 awards and acknowledgements and it participated at about 40 film festivals.
In 2006 he co-wrote and directed an original theater play "Billie Holiday" about the life of the famed jazz singer for the Croatian National Theater in Split, starring Ksenija Prohaska and Robert Kurbasa. The play remained in the program for 4 seasons, afterwards successfully touring Croatia. Recently it has been staged in Italy, with Ms. Prohaska and Daniele Ciglia.
During 2007 and 2008 Arsen directed his second feature film “No One’s Son” based on a theater play by Mate Matisic, a well-known Croatian playwright. The film was the absolute winner of the 55th Croatian Film festival in Pula, winning 6 Gold Arenas (incl. for the Best film and the Best director) and the Critics' Award "Oktavijan". It was the official Croatian candidate for the 81st Annual Academy Awards. "No One's Son" was included in the Selection 2009 by the European Film Academy as one of the best European films in 2009. The film received a total of 16 awards and it participated in official programs of 20 film festivals.
In 2012 Arsen directed and produced his third feature film "Halima's Path" written by the well-known Bosnian screenwriter Fedja Isovic. Among a few other awards, the film received the Audience Award at the 59th Pula Film Festival with the record-breaking vote. The film was the Croatian candidate for the 85th Annual Academy Awards and it participated in and out of competition at more than 50 film festivals around the world, receiving a total of 31 awards.
In 2016 he associated produced an US feature documentary “Trezoros, the Lost Jews of Kastoria” about the holocaust in Greece. The film was running for the 89th Annual Academy Awards and aired on PBS channels throughout the US several times in 2018 and 2019.
In 2017 Arsen coproduced a Czech-Slovak-Croatian animated feature film “The Oddsockeaters” based on a popular children book by Pavel Srut. The film became the most successful Czech animated feature film in history and one of the most successful Croatian minority coproduction, according to cinema attendance.
In 2018 Arsen directed and produced his fourth feature film “F20” based on a screenplay for a psychological thriller by Hrvoje Sadaric. The film premiered at Black Nights Film festival in Tallinn and until April 2020 it received 6 awards.
Since 1988 he worked professionally on 20 feature films in Europe and in the United States as a first or second assistant director, a production manager or a line producer. He was the Second Unit Director on "The Hunting Party" in 2007, starring Richard Gere and Terence Howard, directed by Richard Shepard.
For two years he taught filmmaking at the University of Applied Science and Technology in Salzburg, Austria where he was also the Head of the Video department (2002-2003). He is now a Tenure Professor at the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Zagreb, Croatia, teaching film production. He also taught at the New York Film Academy and at the Susan Grace Cohen Acting Studio in New York City, as well as the University of Applied Science and Technology in St. Poelten, Austria.
Arsen was the president of the Croatian Film Directors’ Guild from 2008-2010 and is the member of the European Film Academy since 2005.
Arsen Anton Ostojic received his BA in film and TV directing from the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Zagreb, Croatia in 1991 and his MFA in filmmaking from the New York University in 1994, both with honors. Until 2020 he made 4 award-winning feature films, one long-running theater play and several successful documentaries and short films. He co-produced an animated feature film which was a box office hit and he associate produced a PBS feature-length documentary. He worked on about twenty feature films in Europe and in the United States as an assistant director, production manager or line producer. Besides developing new projects, both in Europe and in the United States, he is also teaching film production at the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Zagreb. He was the president of the Croatian Film Director’s Guild. He is a member of the European Film Academy since 2005.
SELECTED PROJECTS
“F20” in 2018, digital, 90-min., a low budget thriller shot in Croatia, starring Filip Mayer, Romina Tonkovic, Mladen Vulić, Lana Ujević, Alen Liverić, Robert Budak, Alma Prica, Alen Šalinović. The film premiered at 22nd Black Nights Film Festival in Tallinn, Estonia and until April 2020 it recevied 6 awards.
"HALIMA'S PATH", in 2012, super 16mm, 93-min. feature film shot in Croatia, in coproduction with Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, starring Alma Prica, Olga Pakalovic, Mijo Jurisic, Miraj Grbic, Mustafa Nadarevic. The film received the Audience Award at the 59th Pula Film Festival with then the highest vote in the recent history of the festival, in addition to several other awards. It was the Croatian candidate for the 86th Annual Academy Awards. The film participated in and out of competition at more than 50 film festivals around the world and was awarded with 31 awards and accolades, becoming one of Croatia's most awarded feature films.
"NO ONE’S SON", in 2008, super 35mm, 100-min. feature film shot in Croatia, starring Alen Liveric, Mustafa Nadarevic,Biserka Ipsa, Zdenko Jelcic . The film was the absolute winner of the 55th Croatian Film festival in Pula, winning 6 Gold Arenas (incl. for the Best film and the Best director) and the Critics' Award "Oktavijan". It was the official Croatian candidate for the 81st Annual Academy Awards. It is included in the Selection 2009 by the European Film Academy as one of the best European films in 2009.
"A WONDERFUL NIGHT IN SPLIT", in 2004, 35mm black&white, 100-min. feature film shot in Croatia, starring Coolio, Dino Dvornik, Mladen Vulić, Marija Skaricic, Marinko Prga. It received 24 domestic and international awards and acknowledgements and it participated at about 40 film festivals; it was the Croatian candidate for the 78th Annual Academy Awards; it was nominated for the European Film Academy Discovery Award in 2004; voted the best Croatian film in the past five years by a survey of 26 film critics ("Hollywood", January 2005).
"LIFE DRAWING", in 2001, 35mm, 15-min short film shot in New York City, awarded Best Short Film Award at the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival among other awards; it participated at 10 international film festivals.
"THE BIRD LOVER", in 1993, 16mm, 14-min short film shot in New York City, awarded the Audience Award at the Hamburg Short Film Festival, it participated at 15 international festivals, sold to several TV stations including Canal Plus and PBS.
"DECORATIONS", in 1988, 35mm, 20-min documentary shot in ex-Yugoslavia, awarded the Gold Medal for Directing at Belgrade Documentary and Short Film Festival.
Arsen Anton Ostojic received his BA in film and TV directing from the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Zagreb, Croatia in 1991 and his MFA in filmmaking from the New York University in 1994, both with honors. Until 2020 he made 4 award-winning feature films, one long-running theater play and several successful documentaries and short films. He co-produced an animated feature film which was a box office hit and he associate produced a PBS feature-length documentary. He worked on about twenty feature films in Europe and in the United States as an assistant director, production manager or line producer. Besides developing new projects, both in Europe and in the United States, he is also teaching film production at the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Zagreb. He was the president of the Croatian Film Director’s Guild. He is a member of the European Film Academy since 2005.
SELECTED PROJECTS
“F20” in 2018, digital, 90-min., a low budget thriller shot in Croatia, starring Filip Mayer, Romina Tonkovic, Mladen Vulić, Lana Ujević, Alen Liverić, Robert Budak, Alma Prica, Alen Šalinović. The film premiered at 22nd Black Nights Film Festival in Tallinn, Estonia and until April 2020 it recevied 6 awards.
"HALIMA'S PATH", in 2012, super 16mm, 93-min. feature film shot in Croatia, in coproduction with Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, starring Alma Prica, Olga Pakalovic, Mijo Jurisic, Miraj Grbic, Mustafa Nadarevic. The film received the Audience Award at the 59th Pula Film Festival with then the highest vote in the recent history of the festival, in addition to several other awards. It was the Croatian candidate for the 86th Annual Academy Awards. The film participated in and out of competition at more than 50 film festivals around the world and was awarded with 31 awards and accolades, becoming one of Croatia's most awarded feature films.
"NO ONE’S SON", in 2008, super 35mm, 100-min. feature film shot in Croatia, starring Alen Liveric, Mustafa Nadarevic,Biserka Ipsa, Zdenko Jelcic . The film was the absolute winner of the 55th Croatian Film festival in Pula, winning 6 Gold Arenas (incl. for the Best film and the Best director) and the Critics' Award "Oktavijan". It was the official Croatian candidate for the 81st Annual Academy Awards. It is included in the Selection 2009 by the European Film Academy as one of the best European films in 2009.
"A WONDERFUL NIGHT IN SPLIT", in 2004, 35mm black&white, 100-min. feature film shot in Croatia, starring Coolio, Dino Dvornik, Mladen Vulić, Marija Skaricic, Marinko Prga. It received 24 domestic and international awards and acknowledgements and it participated at about 40 film festivals; it was the Croatian candidate for the 78th Annual Academy Awards; it was nominated for the European Film Academy Discovery Award in 2004; voted the best Croatian film in the past five years by a survey of 26 film critics ("Hollywood", January 2005).
"LIFE DRAWING", in 2001, 35mm, 15-min short film shot in New York City, awarded Best Short Film Award at the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival among other awards; it participated at 10 international film festivals.
"THE BIRD LOVER", in 1993, 16mm, 14-min short film shot in New York City, awarded the Audience Award at the Hamburg Short Film Festival, it participated at 15 international festivals, sold to several TV stations including Canal Plus and PBS.
"DECORATIONS", in 1988, 35mm, 20-min documentary shot in ex-Yugoslavia, awarded the Gold Medal for Directing at Belgrade Documentary and Short Film Festival.
