At the ceremonial session of the City Assembly of Zagreb held on the occasion of Zagreb Day, May 31, 2026, annual awards were presented to fifteen “outstanding individuals, associations, institutions, and societies from the fields of science, education, culture, sports, journalism, and activism.” On the recommendation of last year’s award winner, Prof. Nikica Gilić, one of the awards went to Restart. Eight members of Restart attended the session, and the award was accepted on behalf of the association by its president, producer Oliver Sertić. You can see the other awardees here, and we present the award’s justification below:
For almost two decades, it has been active in the production and distribution of audiovisual artistic works, the promotion of domestic and regional authors, and the development of film literacy and critical thinking. A distinctive feature of Restart’s work is its comprehensiveness, encompassing production, distribution, exhibition, and education, as well as its systematic development of documentary film as one of the most progressive art forms of our time.
In 2025, the Restart produced one of the year’s most significant films, ‘Fiume o morte!’, demonstrating how domestic film can act as a unifying force for the community and mark the turbulent era we live in through a powerful commitment to pacifist, humanistic, and antifascist values. The film won numerous awards, including six Golden Arenes in Pula and the EFA award for Best European Documentary Film. Along with critical acclaim, it was also a huge success in Croatian cinemas. Socially engaged and artistically inventive documentaries produced by Restart address important issues such as ecology and sustainability, workers’ rights, the social position of women and minorities, and contribute to the social development of Croatian society as a whole. As the only specialized Croatian distributor of creative documentaries, Restart Label makes relevant films available to a wide audience, Dokukino has become a central hub for documentary gatherings, and entire generations of filmmakers and enthusiasts have been educated through its educational programs. The School of Documentary Film is Restart’s most important educational program, currently celebrating its fifteenth year.
On the Day of the City of Zagreb, May 31, 2026.
