Culture
Ohio University’s Rajko Grlić Receives Grand Prize Of The Americas
< < Back toThe School of Dance, Film, and Theater proudly shares the good news that The Montreal World Film Festival’s prestigious Grand Prize of the Americas, the top award of the festival, recognized The Constitution (Ustav Republike Hrvatske), a new feature film by Rajko Grlić, Ohio eminent scholar in film.
“It’s always nice to receive such an award. On a personal level it simultaneously feeds your ego and helps the film be better equipped for the world of distribution,” said Grlić.
The festival, which closed Sept. 5 in Montreal, Canada, aims to encourage cultural diversity and understanding between nations through fostering cinema and filmmakers of all continents. The high profile Grand Prize of the Americas is the top prize in the World Competition, reviewed by an international jury of high profile individuals.
The Constitution, which Grlić directed and co-wrote with Ante Tomić, and filmed in Croatia, was Produced by Zagreb’s Inter Film.
The film presents four very different people living in the same building but avoiding each other because of their differences. Eventually, their lives entangle in ways that profoundly challenge deep-held beliefs and prejudices surrounding material status, sexual orientation, nationality and religion.
Slowly, and even painfully, they begin to open up to each other and recognize the essential humanity each of them possesses. Three OHIO Film Division students had the opportunity to work on the set in Croatia, serving as crew members; including electrician, photographer and third camera assistant.
“They were diligent, they acted professionally and the crew loved them,” said Grlić.
As for what’s on the horizon, Grlić recently finished a documentary feature called Every Good Story is a Love Story, produced with support from the Office of the Vice President for Research & Creative Activity.
Grlics film, The Constitution, will open here in Athens Nov. 1.