Ivan, an uncompromising and intensely personal drama about a child born in precarious and adverse circumstances received it festival premiere in the sold-out Linhart Hall on 16 November. Co-written and directed by Janez Burger, Ivan stars the amazing Maruša Majer and Matjaž Tribušon, actors in the lead roles who attended the post-screening talk. Greeted with loud applause, members of the cast and the crew included: Melina Pota Koljević and Aleš Čar, producer Miha Černec, director of photography Lev Predan Kowarski, costume designer Emil Cerar, make-up artist Alenka Nahtigal, set design assistant Barbara Kapelj, sound recordist Marjan Bocevski, gaffer Drago Jarić, sound designers Julij Zornik, Boštjan Kačičnik and Jaka Batič, Teo Rižnar, choreographer Magdalena Reiter, photographer Marko Brdar, editor Miloš Kalusek as well as Joco Živec, David Agatič and Anja Vrdlovec, and actors Leon Lučev (who also plays a lead role in Men Don’t Cry), Dobrica Uglješič, Sara Žabota, Dušanka Visenjak, Polona Juh, Minca Lorenci, Ana Ruter, Aljoša Koltak, Eva Ropotar, Tadeja Horvat and Tribušon and Maruša Majer, who had the starring roles in the movie.

The screening of Ivan by Janez Burger was followed by an afterparty attended by the film crews of Ivan and Men Don’t Cry, including Leon Lučev and Sebastian Cavazza, who played a character named Ivan (!) in Men Don’t Cry. The star of the party, Maruša Majer, who played the character of Mara in Ivan, explained that the filming had been very intensive and that she had put her life and soul into the role. She also praised the work of make-up artist Alenka Nahtigal, who did a great job. Some of the guests we spotted at the party were bloggers Natalija Pihler and Marko Crnković as well as Ičo Vidmar, contemporary music connoisseur.

Andraž Jež

Photo Iztok Dimc