Gault&Millau Croatia and Kvarner – the European Region of Gastronomy 2026 - at the Sarajevo Film Festival: chefs Michael Gollenz and Deni Srdoč cooked for the protagonists of the best TV series
The most important film festival of Eastern Europe is celebrating its 30th birthday! More than 250 films are included in the programme of the Festival (August 16 to 23, 2024), followed by 784 accredited journalists from all over the world. “The Heart of Sarajevo”, the award ceremony for TV series and the accompanying gala dinner organised by Gault&Millau Croatia at Hills Hotel in Ilidža was one of the most attractive events of this year’s Festival. The dinner was prepared by two top chefs from two excellent restaurants from the region of Kvarner, on the Croatian coast. Chef Michael Gollenz (Trophy Great Chef of Tomorrow by Gault&Millau Croatia 2022), chef of the restaurant Alfred Keller (1 Michelin*) in the luxurious Boutique Hotel Alhambra in Mali Lošinj, and chef Deni Srdoč (Trophy Young talent of the year by Gault&Millau Croatia 2018) owner of Nebo restaurant (1 Michelin*) and Hidden Wine Bistro in Rijeka cooked together a delicious meal. The beef tartare with vinaigrette made from herbs from Lošinj and the steak with grilled kale delighted the meat lovers while the vegetarians enjoyed the marinated quinoa tartare with carrots and the beetroot steak with beetroot and apple chutney. The amazing dessert of caramelized cereals with figs in Porto wine was the peak of the dinner whose courses were served with the superb wines from Saints Hills winery.
For the second time the Tourist Board of the region of Kvarner is the main partner of the most prestigious dinner of the Sarajevo Film Festival. This year they were joined by the island of Lošinj and Lošinj Hotels@Villas. Kvarner is a region at the crossroad of cultures and civilizations, with a rich history and even a richer gastronomic heritage. They constantly upgrade the quality of their autochthonous food that their creative chefs turn into a rhapsody of unforgettable smells and tastes. That’s why Kvarner was chosen as the European Gastronomy Region for 2026. As many as 46 restaurants and POP places from Kvarner are included in the Croatian edition of the gastronomic guide Gault&Millau, which four years ago started to organize those outstanding dinners during the Sarajevo Film Festival.
"The reputation and popularity of the Sarajevo Film Festival offers us an exceptional opportunity to link the promotion of the tourist offer of Kvarner with the film festival. For us it is very important to present Kvarner as the destination of the European region of gastronomy in 2026. In addition to the promotion through the culinary creations of two great Kvarner chefs, Deni Srdoč and Michael Gollenz, and their teams, we present our region on a daily base by showing the promotional video "It's all about the taste" before each film screening in the city's 3,000-seat open-air cinema. Gastronomy and film industry are an ideal combination in the promotion of any tourist destination, and Sarajevo Film Festival is an exceptional opportunity for meeting the representatives of the global film industry, the media, and for presenting our region to a wide range of international audiences. For Kvarner, which is becoming an increasingly sought-after "film set" throughout the year, but also a region that hosts numerous film festivals, this promotion is a step forward to a targeted, global market," said Dr. sc. Irena Peršić Živadinov, the Director of the Kvarner Tourist Board.
The dinner guests had the opportunity to taste Kvarner, and see a small part of its beauties. Namely, the new music video of the violinist star Stjepan Hauser - "Secret Garden" - had its world premiere at the Heart of Sarajevo award ceremony for TV series. The video, shot in the wild, culturally significant and glamorous locations of Lošinj, reveals the fascinating appeal of the island of vitality. But, as Hauser says: "1 visit is worth 1000 pictures".
"We are especially proud that this world-famous cellist found inspiration for his new musical story on our island. This video not only shows the beauty of Lošinj, but invites all the lovers of nature, music and unique experiences to personally explore and discover everything that Lošinj has to offer" - said Dalibor Cvitković, director of the Tourist board of the town of Mali Lošinj.
Lošinj Hotels & Villas, which have always strived for the highest level in hotel and catering participated in the joint promotion at the jubilee Sarajevo Film Festival.
"This is exactly what we are presenting in Sarajevo, where Michael Gollenz, Executive Chef of Boutique Hotel Alhambra, together with famous Kvarner chef Deni Srdoč, prepared a gourmet dinner at this unforgettable event. I believe that this is a way to get to know Lošinj Hotels&Villas, and an invitation to everyone to visit us" - said Zoran Pejović, the Chief of Growth and Strategy Officer of Jadranka turizm.
The Heart of Sarajevo award for TV series brought together 180 protagonists - actors, directors, screenwriters and producers from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Slovenia and Serbia. The Jury, made up of 500 professionals, nominated eight series in 14 categories.
"I know how you breathe" by Jasmila Žbanić and Damir Ibrahimović won seven awards in the category Drama series for the best drama series, for the best actress (Jasna Đuričić), for the best supporting actress (Jelena Kordić Kuret), the best supporting actor (Mirsad Kurić), the rising star (Lazar Dragojević), the best screenplay (Jasmila Žbanić and Elma Tataragić) and the best director (Nermin Hamzagić).
The heart of Sarajevo for the best actor went posthumously to Žarko Laušević (1960 - 2023), for the role of Živojin Mišić in the series "Time of Death".
The Heart of Sarajevo for the best comedy was won by the series "Prince from Elej" created by Elma Tataragić, Dušan Vranić, Enes Zlatar and Amra Bakšić Čamo. This series won the Heart of Sarajevo in the category Comedy series for the best actor (Alen Muratović) and for the best screenplay (Elma Tataragić, Dušan Vranić, Enes Zlatar).
"Radio Mileva", Nebojsa Garić's series, won three Hearts of Sarajevo in the category Comedy series for the best actress (Olga Odanović), the rising star (Kris Gavrić) and the best director (Elmir Jukić).
At the award ceremony in Hotel Hills, the Honorary Hearts of Sarajevo for supporting the development of the Sarajevo Film Festival went to the French producer Philippe Bober and the Austrian Christof Papousek - co-owner of Constantin Film-Holding. The awards were presented by the president of the Sarajevo Film Festival, Mirsad Purivatra, while the ceremony was masterfully hosted by actor Tarik Filipović.
"TV Series from different countries within the region are increasingly attracting a wider audience: this is due to traditional broadcasters who recognize the value of such content for their programmes, but also to the global streamers present in our market who are buying more and more local content. We believe that the role of these professional awards is to additionally promote the highest quality that this content offers and thereby encourage the entire sector to constantly raise the quality" - said Jovan Marjanović, director of the Sarajevo Film Festival.
After the official part of the ceremony, the guests relaxed at a party organized by Porsche Center Sarajevo, and were joined by chefs Gollenz and Srdoč who were applauded by the audience.
Photo: Festival TV, Jasmin Čizmović - food, Ermin Selimović - awards
