05/06/2024 - The director’s fifth feature tells a story about two friends trying to leave a bar before their night takes a surreal turn

l-r: Antonio Nuić, Filip Šovagović and Franjo Dijak on the set of Looping (© Damir Žižić/Tin Ostrošić)

On Monday 3 June, principal photography for Antonio Nuić’s fifth feature, Looping, concluded in Zagreb. Most of the shoot took place at the CineCro studio and soundstage, and combined the use of classical techniques and new ones: LED screens and virtual scenery.

“Two years ago, while working on the development of another project, we tested the possibilities of LED screens and the Unreal Engine. That’s when I came up with the idea for this film,” Nuić said. “I am glad we are the first in this part of Europe to blend old and new technologies in the filmmaking process.”

Looping tells the story of the last customers in a bar, Filip and Franjo, whose attempts to leave the establishment prove to be futile. As the night drags on, they face personal crises, while their “journey” is about to take a surreal turn.

Nuić is a Bosnian-born Croatian filmmaker who garnered domestic attention for his student titles and his works in the short format, such as his collaboration with Boris T Matić and Zvonimir Jurić on the omnibus Sex, Booze and Bloodshed. His feature-length debut was All for Free (2006), while his sophomore effort, Donkey [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (2009), received multiple awards at Pula and Bergamo. His third effort, Life Is a Trumpet [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Antonio Nuić
film profile] (2015), was an urban romantic feel-good comedy, and his fourth, Mali [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Antonio Nuić
film profile] (2018), triumphed at the national film gathering in Pula in 2018. Apart from directing, Nuić also writes scripts and teaches at the Zagreb Film Festival’s My First Script workshop.

Nuić wrote and directed Looping. Ante Cvitanović served as the cinematographer, Morana Starčević handled the costume design and Matea Katunar the make-up. The crew also had two production designers, Nedjeljko Mikac Cak for the analogue part and Boris Hergešić for the virtual one. As for the cast, the two lead roles are played by Franjo Dijak (teaming up with Nuić once again after his shorts and Mali) and Filip Šovagović (of No Man’s Land [+see also:
trailer
film profile] fame). We will also see Andrija Tomić, Lidija Penić Grgaš, Jozo Schmuch and Ana Šiškov, among others, in supporting roles.

The film is being produced by Boris T Matić and Lana Matić for their company Propeler Film, in co-production with Turkish outfit Moses Film, and Croatian firms Livada produkcija and PaliGasi. It was supported by the Croatian Audiovisual Centre.