Bill Murray attending Croatia International Film Festival 2025 will mark a significant moment in the event’s brief but ambitious history, as the acclaimed actor is set to present his latest film, “The Friend,” during the festival’s opening night on August 8 in Sibenik, Croatia. With this high-profile appearance, and the film adaptation of Sigrid Nunez’s acclaimed novel, CIFF aims to further solidify Croatia’s emergence as a thriving center for film and culture on the global stage.
Murray Headlines Festival With The Friend Premiere
Bill Murray’s participation at the Croatia International Film Festival represents a major milestone for both the event and the Croatian city of Sibenik, which will serve as host to the August opening. “The Friend” features Naomi Watts as Iris, a writer whose life is turned upside down after her mentor, portrayed by Murray, leaves her with his cherished Great Dane. The screening will kick off CIFF’s four-day celebration of cinema and cultural exchange along Croatia’s Adriatic coast.
Directors Scott McGhee and David Siegel, who helmed “The Friend,” will join Murray at the festival. Their film debuted at the Telluride Film Festival in 2023, was later showcased at the Toronto International Film Festival, and received a North American release by Bleecker Street in March.
“We’ve been yearning to visit Croatia ever since working with the great Croatian actor Goran Visnjic in our film ‘The Deep End,’”
—Scott McGhee and David Siegel, directors
“We couldn’t be more excited about now bringing ‘The Friend’ to CIFF.”
—Scott McGhee and David Siegel, directors
For its inaugural edition last year, CIFF screened “Sasquatch Sunset,” a Bleecker Street release starring Jesse Eisenberg. Building on this foundation, organizers are focused on drawing international attention and premiering films with global resonance.
“Bleecker Street is very appreciative of new forums and opportunities for global voices within cinema to be heard,”
—Tyler DiNapoli, Bleecker Street marketing president
“We loved being a small part of the festival last year with ‘Sasquatch Sunset’ and are excited for international audiences to discover ‘The Friend’ as the opening night selection, this time around.”
—Tyler DiNapoli, Bleecker Street marketing president
Festival’s Mission to Boost Croatia’s Global Profile
CIFF was conceived by Ella Mische, a Croatia-born, America-based creative with a two-decade entertainment resume that includes work on the casting team for Adam Sandler’s “Hustle.” The festival took shape during the industry’s 2023 writers’ and actors’ strikes, as Mische recognized the void and uncertainty facing her colleagues.
“During that time I saw a lot of my friends become depressed,”
—Ella Mische, CIFF founder
“With friends in New York and L.A., the topic of conversation was about how there was no work. I thought to myself, ‘Now is the time to create.’ I needed to figure something out.”
—Ella Mische, CIFF founder
Mische’s stated hope is to elevate Croatia’s reputation within the international film community, attracting top-tier talent like Murray, McGhee, and Siegel. The opening of CIFF 2025 follows the long-running Pula Film Festival and precedes the Sarajevo Film Festival, a key event in Southeast European cinema. Mische imagines a future where Sarajevo festival visitors first experience CIFF in Sibenik, helping further cement Croatia’s credibility in the arts.
Year Two Brings Expanded Screenings and Prestigious Guests
CIFF’s second edition boasts a roster of narrative and documentary films from around the globe. In total, 27 films, narrowed down from 500 submissions—up from 150 last year—will screen during the festival. Seven feature films will represent diverse countries, including Croatia, Spain, Australia, the United Kingdom, France, Austria, and the United States.
One marquee title among this year’s selection is “Wisdom of Happiness,” a documentary by Barbara Miller and Philip Delaquis that spotlights the Dalai Lama discussing lasting peace and inner joy. The film, which previously premiered at Zurich Film Festival, will be presented as CIFF’s centerpiece, with Miller scheduled to participate in a post-screening Q&A.
“I’m looking very much forward as a director to offer the ‘Wisdom of Happiness’ from the Dalai Lama to the wonderful public at CIFF 2025,”
—Barbara Miller, director
The Dalai Lama, the Nobel Peace Prize winner as the exiled spiritual and political head of Tibet, provides insight in the film on the balance between Buddhist tradition and present-day global challenges. The documentary carries additional prestige through executive producer Richard Gere, though he will not attend the event.
“This is a movie and a document for all time,”
—Richard Gere, executive producer
“His Holiness the Dalai Lama is speaking from his heart directly into the camera, into all our minds and hearts.”
—Richard Gere, executive producer
Seven feature films will headline CIFF 2025, including:
1. THE FRIEND – directed by Scott McGhee and David Siegel
2. WISDOM OF HAPPINESS – directed by Barbara Miller and Philip Delaquis
3. AN AMERICAN ABROAD – directed by Marcia Kimpton
4. THE ROOTS – directed by Omar Budemez
5. BEHIND THE LENS – directed by John Benitz
6. STOLEN DOUGH – directed by Stefano Da Fre
7. TRUST IN LOVE – directed by Mick Davis
Initiatives for Students and Diverse Perspectives
CIFF 2025 will once again focus on nurturing new talent through its Student Film Corner, where college students from Croatia and its neighbors can showcase their thesis films. Among the twenty short films featured this year, “Harfa,” directed by Miche and commissioned by Mastercard, will stand out as a notable entry.
“What I love about producing in Croatia, particularly my film festival, is that my production office is located in the middle of the old City of Sibenik, where you bump into everybody you need for the production every few steps you take,”
—Ella Mische, CIFF founder
“It’s like being in a gigantic Paramount studio lot, the whole city becomes a part of the production, from locals to international visitors.”
—Ella Mische, CIFF founder
The festival’s audience has also grown, with the first edition drawing 5,000 in-person attendees. Mische and her team are intent on leveraging this growth, expanding both film programming and international engagement.
Industry Panels and Historic Venues Enrich Experience
CIFF 2025 places a spotlight on film distribution, with official panels and industry talks featuring leading distributors such as Bleecker Street. The festival will host five key panel discussions: Directors on Directing, Actors Round Table, Demystifying Distribution International, Behind the Lens, and Women in Business. These sessions will not only connect professionals but also provide audiences and aspiring filmmakers insights into both American and European market dynamics.
“Working bi-continentally means having a unique perspective on the huge American film market and the European,”
—Ella Mische, CIFF founder
“It has given me a specific lens to look at the business from a birds perspective, helping me to translate markets and translate cultures in order to obtain broader audiences.”
—Ella Mische, CIFF founder
Film screenings are set across historic Sibenik, in venues including the Square of the Republic of Croatia, the Barone Fortress —a UNESCO heritage site— and St James Cathedral. The event enjoys support and sponsorship from the Croatian Ministry of Culture and the Croatian Audiovisual Center, underlining its value to both the city and the nation.
Looking Ahead: Legacy and Global Reach
Bill Murray’s eagerly anticipated presence at the Croatia International Film Festival 2025 signals the festival’s growing reputation and ambition. With films such as “The Friend” and “Wisdom of Happiness” on the roster, and a diverse slate of industry panels, CIFF is positioned to attract both regional and international attention. As CIFF develops its identity, organizers hope the festival will contribute to putting Croatia and its creative professionals firmly on the world cultural map—offering audiences a rich blend of distinguished cinema, historic venues, and unique perspectives drawn from both American and European traditions.
