The world premiere of THE HIGH SUN, Croatia's first film in Un Certain Regard since 1981, took place on May 18 & May 19. Director Dalibor Matanić, actors Tihana Lazović and Goran Marković

After premiering his shorts DROUGHT (Directors Fortnight 2003) and PARTY (Critics' Week 2009), Dalibor Matanić (1975) returns to Cannes with his latest feature film, THE HIGH SUN (ZVIZDAN).

The film follows three pairs of lovers in 1991, 2001 and 2011 as they fight to be together in the face of toxic ethnic tensions. By highlighting their passion for each other and for life, Matanić charts the trajectory that Croatia and its neighbors have gone through: pre-war violence, post-war wounds too fresh to heal and finally the potential for love to take root. All three pairs are played by newcomers Tihana Lazović (photo) and Goran Marković, who portray different characters, yet in each segment they convey the fragility – and intensity – of forbidden love.

Director Dalibor Matanić: "My aim as a director was to contrast the lush natural world and the carefree certainty of youth with human actions borne out of long-standing hatreds.THE HIGH SUN celebrates selflessness and love – the very best of human nature that is still struggling to re-emerge victorious in our region. Because there is one thing I am sure about: at the end of the day, politics and extreme nationalism never win. Love does."

Dalibor Matanić (1975) graduated in Film and Television Directing from the Academy of Dramatic Art in Zagreb. His award-winning feature debut THE CASHIER WANTS TO GO TO THE SEASIDE (2000) was followed by FINE DEAD GIRLS (2002), which won the Grand Prix, Audience Award and Critics’ Award at the national film festival. Other features include 100 MINUTES OF GLORY (2004); THE LIKA CINEMA (awarded at Montpelier 2008, Lecce Festival of European Cinema); MOTHER OF ASPHALT (Grand Prix and two other awards at FIPA Biarritz 2011), DADDY (2011) and HANDYMEN (2013). His short TULUM/PARTY (2009) premiered in the Critic’s Week in Cannes and later won 18 film awards at national and international festivals. THE HIGH SUN is his eighth feature film.

View Trailer here:

-Press Release Edited by Vanessa McMahon; May 22, 2015-