72nd Oberhausen International Short Film Festival

Jury statement:

Nocturnal darkness covers a rural road in the night. Bit by bit lights are added, interspersing the darkness with bright spots, thus revealing the depths of the space. Over the whole length of the film a carefully choreographed movement of lights adds and subtracts visible elements allowing us glimpses into the mysterious space lining the road. The pale glow of colors gives the image the beauty of a painting of light, the appearance and disappearance of people turns the road into a nocturnal theatre stage until the arrival of the daylight sets an early end to the night’s magic. Igor Zelić’s Opera is an astonishing piece of film art whose creativity and crafty play with the basic elements of film (light, sound and space) left us deeply impressed. We are honored to award Zelić’s film with this year’s FIPRESCI award.