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41-518: The Motovun Film Festival is an annual film festival established in 1999 and held in the small town of Motovun , Croatia until 2023, when it moved to a new location, Petehovac in Gorski Kotar . It usually takes place over five or six days in late July or early August. Motovun Film Festival is entirely dedicated to films made in small studios and independent film productions. Founded by film director Rajko Grlić and producer Boris T. Matić , it

82-401: A total of 983 residents in the municipality in 2001; 192 of the residents speak Italian as their mother tongue. Pore%C4%8D Poreč ( Croatian pronunciation: [ˈpɔrɛtʃ] ; Italian : Parenzo ; Venetian : Parenso ; Latin : Parens or Parentium ; Ancient Greek : Πάρενθος , romanized :  Párenthos ) is a town and municipality on the western coast of

123-512: Is a Roman square with two temples attached. One of them, erected in the first century AD , is dedicated to the Roman god Neptune ; its dimensions are 30 by 11 m (98.43 by 36.09  ft ). A few houses from the Romanesque period have been preserved and beautiful Venetian Gothic palaces can be seen here. Originally a Gothic Franciscan church built in the 13th century, the 'Dieta Istriana' hall

164-572: Is gathered with the aid of specially trained dogs. The most common tree in the forest is the English or brown oak ( Quercus robur ). To preserve natural conditions for the development of the Motovun forest, the protected area is occasionally flooded, even though the River Mirna is controlled and its entire valley protected from flooding. On the slopes of the hill, grapes for famous Istrian wines are grown:

205-409: Is known today throughout Croatia, while the character of Veli Jože is quite correctly linked with the city. Since 1999, Motovun has hosted the international Motovun Film Festival for independent and avant-garde films from the U.S. and Europe. The biggest current local issue is the battle between foreign developers, who have proposed two 18-hole golf courses and a 500+-bed resort in the valley below

246-625: Is said to resemble the Virgin Mary , another the Leaning Tower of Pisa . Lim Bay is a 12-km long estuary with the aspect of a narrow canal, created by the river Pazinčica by eroding the ground on its way to the Adriatic Sea . Quartz boulders are occasionally found here, exposed by the sea. The landscape is rich in Mediterranean vegetation , with pine woods and green bushes, mostly of

287-444: Is the coldest with an average of 6 °C (43 °F). There are more than 2,400 hours of sun a year, an average of more than 10 hours of sunshine during the summer days. Sea temperatures can reach 28 °C (82 °F), higher than one might expect compared to the coast of southern Croatia where the air temperatures are higher. The average annual rainfall of 920 mm (36.2 in) is more or less equally distributed throughout

328-508: Is the primary form of transportation. Poreč is well-connected with the rest of Istria and with larger cities such as Trieste , Rijeka (Fiume), Ljubljana and Zagreb . The nearest commercial airport is in Pula (Pola). Sea traffic is less important today than it was in previous centuries; these days it is primarily used for tourist excursions. The closest railway station is in Pazin (Pisino), which

369-569: Is the seat of the Istria County local authority . Between 1902 and 1937 the Parenzana , a narrow-gauge railway line connected the town to Trieste. Traditionally, economic activities have always been connected with the land and sea. The only significant industry in the area is food processing , but Croatia's ongoing integration into the broader European economy has led to Poreč seeing growth in its trade , finance and communication sectors. However,

410-449: The Istrian peninsula , in Istria County , west Croatia . Its major landmark is the 6th-century Euphrasian Basilica , which was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. The town is almost 2,000 years old, and is set around a harbour protected from the sea by the small island of Sveti Nikola/San Nicola (Saint Nicholas). Its population of approximately 12,000 resides mostly on

451-499: The Kingdom of Italy . In 1944, the city was bombed by the Allies 34 times, damaging 75% of the city. In 1947, two years after World War II , it was occupied by Yugoslavia and the city name was changed into Poreč . The Italian population left the city and was replaced by Slavic people from different regions of Yugoslavia. From 1945 to 1991, Poreč was a city of Croatia , then part of

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492-697: The Republic of Venice , whose rule lasted for more than five centuries. During this period several palaces, squares and religious buildings in Venetian style were built. In 1354 the city was destroyed by the Genoese . In 1363 the town was given the City Statute. The population was decimated by plague at the end of the 16th and the beginning of the 17th century. After the fall of the Venetian Republic , Parenzo came under

533-518: The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia . In 1991 Croatia became an independent state. Today, the city's Italian name ( Parenzo ) is also used in an official capacity. Situated on the western coast of Istria and cooled by sea breezes, the local climate is relatively mild and free of oppressive summer heat. The month of July is the hottest, with a maximum air temperature of 30°C in conditions of low humidity , while January

574-595: The Teran and the Malvazija wine. Motovun is known among today's population of Istria as the city of Veli Jože , the good gentle giant , written by the nationalist Vladimir Nazor , one of the most important Croatian writers of the 20th century. The story was based on local folktales as a response to the national struggles of the Croats for equality with the politically dominant ethnic German and Italian community (1900–1914). The tale

615-411: The holm oak and strawberry tree . For generations, the fertile blood -red land ( crljenica ) has been used for agriculture , with cereals , orchards , olive groves and vegetables the main crops. Today the production of organic food is significant, including olives , grapes , and popular wines such as Malvazija , Borgonja , Merlot , Pinot , Cabernet Sauvignon and Teran . Road traffic

656-472: The 24th edition). For the 2022 festival, the last one held exclusively in Motovun, the skipped numbering was abandoned, so that it was officially designated 24th as well. And the 2023 edition - held in both Motovun and in Gorski Kotar, was officially designated as the "25th." In 2023 it was announced that the festival would expand to another location, the mountain lodge settlement of Petehovac near Delnice in

697-486: The 37 km (23 mi) long coastline , between the Mirna River and the deep Lim valley . The south hosts self-contained centres like Plava Laguna ("Blue Lagoon"), Zelena Laguna ("Green Lagoon"), Bijela Uvala ("White Cove") and Brulo. To the north, mirroring centres are Materada, Červar Porat, Ulika and Lanterna. In the high season, the area's temporary population can exceed 120,000. Poreč's heritage can be seen in

738-482: The 3rd century the settlement had an organised Christian community with an early-Christian complex of sacral buildings. The earliest basilica contained the remains of and was dedicated to Saint Maurus of Parentium and dates back to the second half of the 4th century. The floor mosaic from its oratory , originally part of a large Roman house, is still preserved in the garden of the Euphrasian Basilica . With

779-428: The common use Italian is spoken by 15% of the local population. According to the 2011 census, there are 9,790 residents of the town of Poreč-Parenzo, and with all settlements included, municipality of Poreč-Parenzo has a total of 16,696 residents: The town plan still shows the ancient Roman Castrum structure . The main streets are Decumanus and Cardo Maximus , still preserved in their original forms. Marafor

820-455: The development as a year-round aid to jobs and local tourist revenues. An environmental impact study has now been completed. Motovun's ground plan was depicted on the reverse of the Croatian 10 kuna banknote, issued in 1993, 1995, 2001 and 2004. According to the 2021 census, its population was 912, with 397 living in the village proper. The population of the village itself was 531, with

861-676: The fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476, different rulers and powers governed. First, it was held by the Ostrogoths and after 539 was part of the Byzantine Empire . From 788 it was ruled by the Franks . A short independence period followed in the 12th century and later it was ruled by the Patriarchate of Aquileia . In 1267 Parenzo became the first Istrian city that chose to become part of

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902-474: The festival is called Propeler Motovuna (English: The Propeller of Motovun , inspired by the prominent wind turbines located near Motovun). Other awards at the festival are the Motovun Online award for best short film, the odAdoA (From 'A' to 'A') award for best film in the regional competition (the name of the award is short for From Austria to Albania , roughly describing the region covered), and

943-465: The festival, a camp for visitors is organized next to the festival site. The festivalgoers' camp has become one of the hallmarks of the festival. In January 2007, the British newspaper The Guardian described the festival as "a cross between Glastonbury and Sundance ." It is often referred to as "a Woodstock of film festivals". The festival also grew in status on the festival circuit. From an event that

984-464: The festival, given to the best film screened in the main feature film program. Renamed Cinehill Propeller after the festival's rebranding in 2023 and move to its new location in the Gorski Kotar mountains in 2024. People who visited the festival include: Motovun Motovun is a medieval town that grew up on the site of an ancient city called Castellieri. It is on a hill 270 metres (886 feet) above sea level with houses scattered all over

1025-472: The film critics' FIPRESCI Award . In 2008, the Motovun Maverick Award was introduced, given to notable filmmakers for lifetime achievement. Its first recipient was Ken Russell . In 2013, Mohsen Makhmalbaf and The Gardener were given the award. Known as Propeller of Motovun from 2000 to 2022, in reference to windmills dotting the festival's former location at Motovun, this is the main award of

1066-510: The hill and on the other side of the river is the famous Motovun forest, an area of about 10 square kilometres (4 sq mi) in the valley of the river Mirna, of which 280 hectares (690 acres) is specially protected. This area differs completely not only from the nearby forests, but also from those of the entire surrounding karst region because of its wildlife, moist soil and prized black and white truffles ( Tuber magnatum ), which grow successfully there. Since this fungus grows underground, it

1107-426: The hill. On the inner walls are several coats-of-arms of different Motovun ruling families and two gravestones of Roman inhabitants (dating from the 1st century). In the 10th and 11th centuries it belonged to the bishop of Poreč . From 1278 it was taken over by Venice and surrounded by solid walls which are still intact today, and used as a walkway with unique views over the four corners of Istria. The three parts of

1148-524: The most visited tourist destination in Croatia. During the 2nd century BC, a Roman castrum was built on a tiny peninsula with approximate dimensions of 400 m × 200 m (1,312.34  ft × 656.17 ft) where the town centre is now. During the reign of Emperor Augustus in the 1st century BC, it officially became a city and was part of the Roman colony of Colonia Iulia Parentium . In

1189-406: The mountainous region of Gorski Kotar , some 80 kilometers east of Motovun. That year the festival was held in both locations. The screenings at Petehovac were branded "Cinehill," in reference to the informal nickname given to the original MFF event, as the "hill of films." In 2024 the festival, now called Cinehill, was entirely moved to Petehovac, and is no longer held at Motovun. The main award at

1230-419: The outskirts, while the wider Poreč area has a population of approximately 16,600 inhabitants. The municipal area covers 142 square kilometres (55 sq mi), with the 37 kilometres (23 miles) long shoreline stretching from the Mirna River near Novigrad (Cittanova) to Funtana (Fontane) and Vrsar (Orsera) in the south. Ever since the 1970s, the coast of Poreč and neighboring Rovinj (Rovigno) has been

1271-538: The primary source of income is tourism . Real estate prices are very high due to the city's prime location. According to the 2011 census, the main ethnic groups in Poreč-Parenzo are Croats (74.8%), Istrian Italians (3.2%), Serbs (3.4%), Albanians (2.7%) and Bosniaks (1.95%). Also part of the Parentian people submitted the choice "regional" (as Istrian ), regardless of their Italian or Croatian origin. In

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1312-471: The seat of the regional Parliament, with schools, administrative and judiciary offices, and other services. During this time, it slowly became a shipbuilding center. It also became a popular tourist resort for the Austro-Hungarian aristocracy. Between 1902 and 1935 the Parenzana (from the name 'Parenzaner Bahn'), a narrow-gauge railway line connected the town to Trieste . After 1918, it became part of

1353-699: The smallest streets in Europe the Ulica Stjepana Konzula Istranina. In 1844, the Austrian Lloyd steamship company opened a tourist line which called at Parenzo. The first tourist guide describing and depicting the town was printed as early as 1845. The oldest hotel is the Riviera, constructed in 1910. Later came the Parentino and others. Today, tourist infrastructure is intentionally dispersed along

1394-843: The sovereignty of the Habsburg monarchy . Between 1805 and 1814, Parenzo was part of the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy and then of the Illyrian Provinces , nominally part of the First French Empire . After this period it was again annexed by the Habsburgs , with the Monarchy reorganized into the Austrian Empire . In 1844 a steamship connection was established between Parenzo and Trieste . In 1861, under Austrian Littoral Parenzo became

1435-403: The town are connected by a system of internal and external fortifications with towers and city gates containing elements of Romanesque , Gothic and Renaissance styles, built between the 14th and 17th centuries. It is a typical example of Venetian colonial architecture. The late-Renaissance church of St. Stephen was built at the beginning of the 17th century from sketches probably designed by

1476-418: The town, extending the existing 9-hole course and some of the local community, who are opposed to the proposals because of objections against the real estate speculation around the project, rejection of 123 building sites for villas in the protected natural environment and concerns about possible damage to their truffles growing on the other side of the river. The community is divided on the issue, as many welcome

1517-469: The well-known Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio (1508–1580). The church contains several works of art: the marble statues of St. Stephen and St. Laurence by Francesco Bonazzo and the 17th-century painting of the Last Supper over the altar by an unknown Venetian artist. The water cisterns in the square in front of the church date from the 14th and 15th centuries. The river Mirna or Quieto flows below

1558-619: The year, although July and August are very dry. Winds here are the Bora , bringing the cold, clear weather from the north in the winter, and the Jugo , a warm southern wind bringing rain. The summer breeze that blows from the sea to the land is called the Maestral . The Baredine Cave , the only open geological monument in Istria, is in the vicinity. Stalagmites in the cave are known for their curious shapes. One

1599-491: Was first organized in the late 1990s to fill the gap in cinema repertoire as there were almost no non-Hollywood films in wide distribution in Croatia at the time. Every year, the festival program consists of around 70 titles from all over the world, from documentaries to feature films, short and feature-length films, from guerrilla-made films to co-productions. Over time the festival has become widely popular, especially among young people both locally and abroad. Every year during

1640-516: Was once considered a "backpacker's film festival," by 2007 it was recognized as one of the two most important film festivals held on the territory of the former Yugoslavia , along with the Sarajevo Film Festival . The 2011 festival, which was supposed to be its 13th edition, was re-numbered by organizers as the 14th, in order to skip the unlucky number 13 . The skipped year was maintained in all later festival editions, until 2021 (officially

1681-535: Was remodeled in the Baroque style in the 18th century. The Euphrasian Basilica , rebuilt in the 6th century under the Byzantine Empire and bishop Euphrasius, is the most important historical site in Parenzo. It is a protected World Heritage Site , so designated by UNESCO in 1997. Between the 12th and 19th centuries, the city had defensive walls , as the better-known Dubrovnik still does today. Porec also has one of

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