SANDBAG DAM, by Čejen Černić Čanak
Croatia, Lithuania, Slovenia, 2025, 88′, col.
WORLD PREMIERE
BERLINALE GENERATION
14PLUS COMPETITION
A story about a forbidden love, set in a village threatened by the swollen rivers. Upon his return home for his father’s funeral, Slaven revives relationship with his childhood friend, a young sportsman Marko, his teenage love and the reason his father kicked him out of the house. Now tempted to reunite, they need to make peace with their own decisions and struggle against the family restrains.
Director Čejen Černić Čanak Screenplay Tomislav Zajec Editing Slaven Zečević Photography Marko Brdar Art Director Tajana Čanić Stanković Music Domas Strupinskas Sound Julij Zornik Costume Design Selena Orb Cast Lav Novosel, Andrija Žunac, Leon Grgić, Franka Mikolaci, Tanja Smoje, Alma Prica, Filip Šovagović, Luka Baškarad Producers Ankica Jurić Tilić, Hrvoje Pervan, Dragan Jurić Production Kinorama (Croatia), Tremora (Lithuania), Perfo Production (Slovenia) International Sales The Open Reel National Press Madison Consulting, Josip Jurčić, Zinka Bardic International Press MadAVenue PR, Eva Herrero, Luca di Leonardo
Čejen Černić Čanak is a film and TV directing graduate from the Zagreb University Academy of Dramatic Art. She has directed a number of short films, animation, fiction and documentaries.In 2017, she directed her debut feature film: The Mystery of Green Hill, based on the children’s novel by Ivan Kušan. The film received excellent reviews and topped the boxoffice list in the first week of distribution. The film was seen 65,000 viewers in Croatian cinemas and distributed throughout the region but also in the USA, Canada, China, Austria, Germany, Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore. It was presented at more than 25 international film festivals. Sandbag Dam is her second feature.
“This is a story about gay love but also about any kind of misunderstood, condemned, ostracised love. I wanted to build the emotion by staying close to my characters, two very young man who because of their relationship feel family rejection, social condemnation and even existential thread. The external circumstances such as the flood that threatens the village are used as metaphorical image of the tightening of the hoop around them, but also as a metaphor of the society that keeps neglecting and ignoring problems, instead of facing them and moving forward. Being different, which in our story translates to being gay, is condemned without a second thought. Without trying to understand, acknowledge, or tolerate. This is why I find this subject very important and I hope I managed to film an emotional story that will reach and teach the hearts and minds of wider audiences.” Čejen Černić Čanak