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Music and film spectacle "Birdman" with Antonio Sanchez live and "Burn After Reading" for the end of this year's Ponta Lopud Festival

The last festival night ended with the Last Dance party on the Šunj beach, held under the auspices of the Sarajevo Film Festival and the Tourist Board of the Canton of Sarajevo

On the fifth and final day of the Ponta Lopud Festival, three masterclasses were held in the lovely island locations for participants of all categories – directing masterclass by Oscar winner Joel Coen moderated by Ognjen Glavonić, acting masterclass by Oscar winner Frances McDormand moderated by Danis Tanović, while Brian Swardstrom, one of the partners in United Talent Agency, which represents actors, many Oscar winners working in film, television and theatre, gave an interesting lecture with Peter Spears, Oscar-winning producer of Nomadland. Monika Lenczewska delivered a masterclass for female cinematographers, which was moderated by Nanu Segal. It was created in collaboration with the Croatian Audiovisual Centre (HAVC) and supports female cinematographers from Croatia and the region. In this way, the Ponta Lopud Festival contributes to gender equality in the film Industry. The masterclass was also special as it included the practical part as well, where cinematographers created some original content during the festival for the first time.

Since training as a cinematographer at the NFTS in the UK, Nanu Segal has shot a wide range of feature films (most recently wrapping Emily for Frances O’Connor and Hoard for Luna Carmoon), as well as numerous short films, which have received many awards at film festivals across the globe (such as Cannes Cinefondation / BAFTA / Rhode Island). She also worked as a cinematographer on the Oscar-winning film Bohemian Rhapsody.

In the unique Đorđić Mayneri Park, Oscar winner Frances McDormand and other leading masters, lecturers and participants planted the second palm tree of the Ponta Lopud Festival, leaving a lasting mark on the island, as did last year's leading master Pawel Pawlikowski. Planting palm tree seedlings symbolises creating a deep connection between all participants, lecturers, moderators and masters, as well as a lasting connection between the island and the Ponta Lopud Festival. This year’s participants will always have their own Lopud palm tree to remind them of masterclasses with Frances McDormand and Joel Coen that will unquestionably contribute to the success of their future projects and lead some of them to winning important film awards.

Festival guests enjoyed themselves at a cocktail party hosted by Viktor Dodig, a member of the Ponta Lopud Club. It was a great opportunity to marvel at the magnificent views from one of the most beautiful villas on the island, bathed in the sunset.

On the last evening of the festival, the guests enjoyed film screenings at two locations. At the La Baja Beach of the RMH Lopud Hotel Lafodia Resort & Wellness, Burn After Reading, directed by the brothers Coen was shown, while the beautiful Franciscan monastery – Lopud 1483 was the perfect backdrop for the music and film spectacle Birdman, with four-time Grammy Award winner Antonio Sanchez, who played the drum score live. To the delight of the audience, Sanchez gave a short solo performance on drums after the film as well, performing some of his most beautiful compositions.

The evening ended with the Last Dance party in the Rajski kutak Bindo on the Šunj beach, held under the auspices of the Sarajevo Film Festival and the Tourist Board of the Canton of Sarajevo. Elma Tataragić, selector at the Sarajevo Film Festival and Kenan Magoda, President of the Tourist Board of the Canton of Sarajevo congratulated everyone on the very successful realization of the Ponta Lopud Festival and invited all visitors to join them at the Sarajevo Film Festival from August 12 to 19, which will be held for the twenty-eighth time in a row and to feel incredible energy that will inspire them to come back again and again. He also announced a rich SFF film program, cultural events and free concerts given by some of the biggest stars on open stages.