In this year’s fierce competition in the 2020 CSF sponsorship scheme, whose goals are to provide financial assistance to individuals and community groups for activities that promote and encourage the study of Croatian language in Australia, promote knowledge and awareness of Croatia and scholarship related to the Croatian past and present, the CSF Governing Council has decided to award the following projects:

Croatia House Inc.

Croatian Film Festival 2020

Following the success of last year’s film festival held at The Ritz Cinema, Randwick between 19 – 22 September 2019, the second annual Croatian Film Festival 2020 will build upon the relationships developed with our partners and the community. Once again, as part of the Festival we are including children’s films, which we’ll be screening at community clubs around Sydney. Croatia is well recognised across the world for its incredible landscape and beaches, and features highly on people’s travel bucket list. Croatia has also developed a reputation as a nation that punches above its weight in the sporting sphere, for example Croatia are the 2018 tennis Davis Cup champions and 2018 FIFA World Cup runners up. But Croatia also has rich traditions and a vibrant culture, which extends to music and the performing arts, however this is less well recognised. The Film Festival provides the opportunity for an Australian audience to experience the culture and creativity of Croatia and its film industry. The films are contemporary, and appeal to a broad range of audiences incorporating comedy and drama.

Ewan Coopey

Master of Research Candidate, Dept. of Ancient History at Macquarie University
“Fratres Romani in Dalmatia: Community and Identity in the Roman Seventh Legion”

This project will conduct research in Croatia (COVID-19 permitting) on Roman military identity and community in Dalmatia (1st century AD) using tombstones and archaeological material held in Croatian museums. If COVID-19 prevents travel, the grant will be used to pay for applications, resources and digital material which will contribute towards publishing this research as a freely accessibly database and academic paper(s). All of this will develop a greater understanding of Croatia’s Roman past.

Jeneffa Soldatic

Writer & Director,
“Myths and Legends”, theatre play

“Myths and Legends” is a play to be written for the National Theatre of Parramatta. The play will be about modernising three myths/legends from three different cultures, the Croatian part to be written by Jeneffa Soldatic. The production is for 2022 and will also include performances for schools of greater Sydney. It will be created for Riverside Theatre Parramatta to promote and include cultures that reflect the residents of Western Sydney that have been overlook in the arts.

Flame Tree Entertainment

Madeleine Barlow, Co-Producer,
“Hidden Behind the Flame Tree”, short film

A homage to the untold narrative of migrant Croatian families in 1970’s Australia, Hidden Behind the Flame Tree explores its themes of identity, belonging and community through the catalyst of one family. Though fictional in nature, writer Kat Dominis was inspired by her own lineage- ‘This is my history, my story’, and the iconic regional setting of the Illawarra. This bilingual production aims to enhance Croatian representation in popular media.

Congratulations to all successful applicants! We are pleased to be able to help you develop your projects, all of which will significantly contribute to the promotion of Croatian culture, knowledge and language.