Exclusive Interview with Marina Tetarić Prusec – Director & Screenwriter
Marina Tetarić Prusec is a Croatian film director. Born in Zagreb, Croatia. She graduated from Drama, Film and Television Academy in Zagreb – film and television directing (mentor: Dušan Vukotić), also studied sociology. Two times she won prizes for screenplays in Sarajevo, so she went there and directed two films. A few years she directs a series of documentary and documentary-feature films for the Croatian National Television. She is developing in writing screenplays and in directing of all kinds of forms (she created short forms, commercial spots, documentaries and features). A few years she works in the Ministry of Defense RH – in Public Relations Department which includes film-TV studio. There she works as civil person in developing production of documentaries, documentary-features, spots, clips, coverages. She works as director, writer, in production. In 2001 and 2003 she went to Rome in Italy, where she presents Croatia at the International Film Festival Eserciti e Popoli. There, in 2001 for her documentary “Under The Horizon“ she won First prize for the best film in its category (in competition of 70 countries from all over the world). Today she works in the independent productions. For directing film “Tunnel”, she received the Silver Award at So You Think You Can Act, a competition exclusively targeted to recognize the talent of directors and actors from around the world, USA, 2019. With the same she entered the Official Selection of The Hollywood First-Time Filmmaker Showcase, 2020, and also the New York Lift-Off Film Festival, 2021.Her screenplays for feature films are at the top of film festivals in the USA, Russia and India: “Wild Time” is selected in Top 10 finalists at the European International Film Festival in St. Petersburg, Russia, 2019 (in competition of more than 600 projects), and also is nominated at Jaipur IFF, India, 2020. “Superincognito” is selected into the Official Selection of Film Festival LA Under the Stars, Los Angeles, 2020 (in competition of more than 1500 submissions), and also is nominated at New Delhi Film Festival-NDFF, India, 2021. SF “Connection” won as Best Treatment at the Script and Storyboard Showcase, Los Angeles, 2020. “Flyby” is the finalist of the European International Film Festival in St. Petersburg, Russia, 2020 (in competition of more than 800 projects), and also is selected in Top 7 finalists of the Film Festival Hollywood Art and Movie Awards, 2021. “The Smile” is nominated at International Screenplay Competition ISC@JIFF (Mind to Audience), Jaipur, India, 2021, and also is selected in Top 10 finalists of Film Festival LA Under the Stars, Los Angeles, 2021 (in competition of more than 1000 submissions). “Flight to Eternity” won as Best Treatment at the World Film Carnival, Singapore, 2021. “Flyby” and “The Smile” entered the Hot 100 Best Screenplays at the Capital Fund Screenplay Competition, LA, 2021. At invitation of the festival organizers, she participated in a script panel at the Hollywood Art and Movie Awards, 2021. For directing film “Flight of the Sky Masters” she received the Exceptional Merit Award at the Nature Without Borders film festival, USA, 2022. For the third time, she entered the prestigious list of Hot 100 Best Screenplays, this time with the project “Range”, at the Capital Fund SC, LA, 2022. “Wild Time” is the finalist, “Flyby” and “The Smile” are semifinalists of the International Screenwriting Competition (between 1846 submissions), New York, 2023.
NY Glam: What projects are you currently working on?
I am currently developing several feature projects, as a director and screenwriter. Flyby is a story that happens during one plane flight where five female characters remember the situations that led them to the present state, and find a new path and solutions for themselves. Wild Time is a story about father and the son-boy who stayed alone after the accident in which they’ve lost their loved woman – wife and mother. Father’s charming sister helps them, but she also passes rises and falls in her private life. Their relationships develop in their own spectacular way.Flight to Eternity is based on true story, during Croatian War of Independence. On May 15, 1992, two Croatian pilots in the Yugoslav Army, flew with two planes MIG-21 into the free Croatian territory. Months prepared action was achieved in almost impossible conditions and in a very complex situation. It’s amazing story about great challenges, endurance, courage.I create projects that are universal, many people can identify with it. My stories can happen anywhere in the world, in almost every country (with a little adjustments). Therefore, I am looking for a producer and investors interested in my projects, for making film from them, either in Croatia or elsewhere in the world.
NY Glam: What makes a film great for you? Are there certain qualities that make a film better for you?
Movies that touch the heart are always the best. Genre is not so important, but openness to the human soul.
NY Glam: As a screenwriter, what is the most important aspect of building a character?
Connection with real life, that’s why the writer should always be awake and observe the people and events around him in order to build a convincing character.
NY Glam: Top 3 favorite projects that you have been involved in?
1. “Flight of the Sky Masters”, a film about fighter pilots and personnel working in aviation. I received the Exceptional Merit Award for directing at the Nature Without Borders film festival, US, 2022
2. “Tunnel”, a film about PTSD, for the direction of which I won the Silver Award at So You Think You Can Act, a competition exclusively targeted to recognize the talent of directors and actors from around the world, US, 2019
3. All my feature screenplays (Flyby, Wild Time, The Smile, Superincognito, Range, Flight to Eternity) which are at the top of film festivals most in the US, then in India, Russia, Singapore.
NY Glam: Do you express yourself creatively in any other ways?
I love nature, which is beautiful here in Croatia. From time to time I pick and collect plants, which I dry and we happily drink tea from them.
NY Glam: What advice would you give to someone who wants to have a career in filmmaking?
Be who you are, believe in yourself and never give up. Also, be patient.
NY Glam: What can we expect from you in this actual year?
It all depends on whether I will find investors for my projects, but in any case I push on.
NY Glam: Where can everyone keep up with you to learn more? …social media…website
Loglines, Showreel, CV, photos, some my films and contact mail are available for review here:
https://filmfreeway.com/MarinaTetaricPrusec
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