Meet the Croatian stuntmen and their international colleagues and experience the magic of stunts first hand, this time in front of the camera.
STUNTMENS
Stunt Action Team
Stunt Action Team is an international team specialized in action design, cinematographic storytelling and preparation of actors for action scenes.
It consists of the best stuntmen from Croatia and Slovenia and experienced coordinators educated in segments such as camera movement, shot composition and editing so that the action scenes serve the story and the emotions it conveys.
The team operates under the leadership of Goran Stjepanović, an experienced and internationally recognized stuntman, stunt coordinator, action designer and actor.
VISIT: http://stuntactionteam.eu/cro/
SIMONE BELLI’S TEAM
Certified professionals, on top of their game in all types of stunts, gathered aorund world-class action choreographer and stunt coordinator Simone Belli from Milan, Italy, have given life to numerous action scenes, adding value to directors’ vision and to the creative choices of the script or dramaturgy, at the same time able to guarantee and respect all the safety rules.
STELLA DIKŠIĆ
Ivan Forlani
Born in Italy, Ivan explored a variety of sports since early childhood, discovering martial arts at the age of 15. Soon martial arts became his passion. In Muay Thai, the national sport of Thailand, Sanda (formerly known as Sanshou), a full-contact combat sport from China, also known as Chinese kickboxing Ivan achieved world class results. He also did Parkour and briefly trained in MMA and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). After moving to Austria, Ivan competed in Ninja Warrior Austria 2017, finishing in the top 20.
The Ninja Warrior experience prompted a life-changing decision: Ivan transitioned into stunt work. In 2018, he began training with Hollywood stunt performer Joe Toedtling, specializing in fire stunts such as “body burning.” Seeking further stunt experience and to upgrade his skill set, Ivan traveled to Copenhagen to attend the ESS Stunt School, where he refined his expertise in a wide range of stunt disciplines, including aerial work, car stunts, and more.
In 2022 Ivan received the Guinness World Record certificate for “The fastest 100 m full-body burn relay (team of four).
To this day, Ivan has worked on major Hollywood movie sets, including The Matrix Resurrections, where he received the SAG-AFTRA Award for “Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture (2021)”, 6 Underground, Strike Back, Hounds of War, and many others. His roles have included Stuntman, Stunt Double, Fight Choreographer, and Stunt Coordinator. In 2022, Ivan worked as an Action Camera Operator for the movie Black Creek, starring Cynthia Rothrock. He also served as Assistant Fight Choreographer for the 2nd Unit Director and Hollywood martial arts legend Mike Möller.
CHRISTINE GETOŠ
ŽELJKO MATOVINA
Željko is an award-winning athlete with significant results in world competitions and a proud father of two children. He has successfully transferred his passion for gymnastics and fitness training to the world of stunts, where he has gained recognition as one of the most experienced Croatian stuntmen. In 2000, he was hired by Pat E Johnson as a stunt double for the character Gaston. He has woven his skills and dedication into numerous national and international productions.
As a member of the Filmmakers Association of Croatia and the Association of Stuntmen, he contributes to the community of stuntmen with his expertise and experience.Throughout his career, he has also been engaged in marketing and organizational activities.Željko created the idea of the Festival and he performs the function of professional and creative program consultant and coordinator of organizational and promotional activities at the Festival.
Irina Nesterova
Irina Nesterova is a professional stunt performer and action actress, born and raised in Moscow, Russia. She is best known for her work in films such as The Strangers (stunt double for lead actress Madelaine Petsch), Momo, Hunting Tesla, Gora, Na vlnách Jadranu, Fathers, Karamora, A Rough Draft, and numerous other Russian films, TV series, and music videos. Originally a Taekwondo athlete, Irina transitioned into the world of stunts by joining Russian stunt team. Her dedication and skill quickly propelled her into the industry as a sought-after stunt double and action actress. Now based in Croatia, Irina continues to develop her career in action filmmaking.
DIONA PERKOVIĆ
Diona comes from Rijeka but is now based in Zagreb and is planning to stay there.
She has been in sports for more than 25 years, starting with gymnastics—flipping, twisting, and learning how to land on her feet. Over time, that foundation led her to all kinds of sports, even adrenaline ones and, eventually, to stunt performing, where precision, control, and a solid respect for safety are the real superpowers.
By profession, Diona is HR professional. SheI helps people make smart career decisions… and then spends her free time getting thrown, rolled, or dropped in ways that look anything but safe—but trust her, they are. As Diona likes to point out: „Stunts aren’t about taking risks; they’re about training, discipline, and making the impossible look effortless.“
MATIJA PODHRAŠKI
UNA POPOVIĆ
A long-time trainer of sports and therapeutic riding for all ages at the Evago equestrian club, currently the most modern and largest center in Croatia. She has been working in film for 10 years, and her first project was Winnetou from 2015, which, along with Vikings Valhalla and The Weekend Away for Netflix, is also one of her favorite projects she has worked on.
CARL STÜCK
Carl comes from Germany and is one of the most trophy-winning European stuntmen. He won 3 Taurus awards (world stunt award), in 2009, 2012 and 2017. Since 1999, he has also been a stunt coordinator, and he coordinated around 200 episodes of the popular and acclaimed series “Cobra 11”.
As a stunt coordinator, stuntman and precision driver, he participated in numerous international productions such as Race of Life, Dunkirk, Good Job in Shanghai, Canary Black, Collide
FILM PROFESSIONALS
Ana Bulajić Črček
Makeup artist Ana Bulajić Črček (Nana) has been a long-time member of the Croatian Film Workers’ Association (HDFD). In addition to her membership in HDFD, she is a member of the Croatian Association of Independent Artists (HZSU) and the European Film Academy, and was recently invited to join the American Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Science – AMPAS. She is among most awarded Croatian Make Up & Hair designers.
She has been working on film since she was twenty. She studied Art History at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Zagreb, and trained as a stage makeup artist in Paris and Rome. Nana’s filmography includes around eighty titles, some of which include The Godfather III by F. F. Coppola, The Peacemaker by Mimi Leder, Titus by Julie Taymor, Gladiator, Black Hawk Down by Ridley Scott, O’Dess by Geremy Jasper, Crossing by Jacqueline van Vugt, Anton Chekhov’s the Duel by Dover Koshashvili, Full Contact by David Verbeek, and the Heirs of the Night series.
Nana is the winner of as many as five Golden Arenas for the mask (Božji gnjev and Number 55 by Kristijan Milić, Lea and Darija by Branko Ivanda, Libertas by Veljko Bulajić and Illyricvm by Simon Bogojević Narath). Nana was nominated for an OFTA Film Award for Best Make up and Hairstyling for her makeup work in the visually impressive film Titus (1999) directed by Julie Taymor.
Petar Novaković
Specialist in pyrotechnics, explosives, long and short weapons, diving, military tactics, PTI tactics. Retired member of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (LUČKO Antiterrorist Unit ). Working on film in the ARMOURY and special effects sectors since 2012. Owner of the company SEOF-SPEKTAR d.o.o., (SPECIAL EFFECTS AND WEAPONS IN FILM). So far, he has worked on the filming of about twenty national and international productions.
Mario Valentić
Professor of kinesiology with over 20 years of acting and coaching experience on the television and in showbusiness. Member of the Croatian Film Workers’ Association.
As a former national champion and representative in Greco-Roman wrestling and having served his military service in the Croatian army, he accepts all acting assignments that require some stunt skills (falls, fights, weapon handling).
His hobbies are alpine skiing, scuba diving, longer bike & hike tours, dancing.
He likes to stand on his head and do backflips 😊
Promoter of a healthy lifestyle, organizer of HealthyFIT & detox trips/retreats, co-author of the book “Detox program from A to Z”.
Regular blood donor (80 blood and blood plasma donations).
Husband of a beautiful woman and father of two beloved sons.
He plays the drums for fun.
Igor Bezinović
Igor Bezinović, a Croatian director, born in Rijeka, graduated in Film and TV Directing from the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Zagreb and Philosophy, Sociology and Comparative Literature from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Zagreb.
He directed the films Blokada (Oktavijan Award for Best Croatian Documentary in 2012), Veruda (Oktavijan Award for Best Croatian Documentary in 2015) and Kratki izlet (Velika Zlatna Arena for Best Croatian Feature Film in 2017), as well as a number of short films of various genres and durations. His work has been screened internationally at festivals and events such as IFF Rotterdam, DOK Leipzig, IDFF Jihlava, CPH:DOX, Kurzfilmtage Winterthur, Biennial of Young Artists of Europe and the Mediterranean, Venice Architecture Biennale (with Hrvoslav Brkušić for the Pula Group), Museum of the Moving Image and Guanajuato IFF.
Igor Fila Filipović
Igor Fila Filipović is a director, screenwriter and cinematographer with twenty-five years of film experience and numerous completed projects.
He participated in the Homeland War and he earned the rank of Sergeant.
He is a director and screenwriter of the feature films “Nit života” and “Iza sna” and a director and screenwriter of the documentary film “Moja mina”. In total, he has directed around 50 commercials, 5 television series and soap operas, directed several short films and the TV series “Horvatovi”.
He was a member of the Filmmakers Association of Croatia (HDFD) Supervisory Board and a member of the HDFD commission for selection of the Croatian candidate for the “Oscar” and a member of the commission of the Ministry of Croatian Veterans for granting support on the topic of the Homeland War.
SPECIAL GUESTS
The Association Spectacula Gladiatoria
The Association Spectacula Gladiatoria was founded with the support of the Archaeological Museum of Istria, Pulasport and the Pula Tourist Board. The desire to create an authentic local cultural and artistic content that connects today’s modern world and the ancient era led the initiators to organize a spectacle of gladiatorial fights on the site of the original stage from the ancient Roman era. Since 2013, their events have been seen by more than 100,000 visitors.
Marijo Možnik
A world-class gymnast from Zagreb, Marijo was a member of the Croatian senior gymnastics team from 2004 to 2018, a specialist in the high bar discipline, categorized as a Top Athlete of Category I according to the criteria of the Croatian Olympic Committee. Since 2020, he has served as the president of the Croatian Gymnastics Federation and is a member of the Council of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG). He is a multiple winner at many international championships, including the overall winner of the 2010, 2013 and 2014 World Cup on high bar, he won bronze at the 2014 World Championships, and was the 2015 European Champion and the 2012 European Vice-Champion. Marijo Možnik also has hir own element on high bar, the “Možnik”, which was entered into the World Gymnastics Federation’s Points Rules in 2009.
He has received numerous awards and recognitions, including the State Award for Sports “Franjo Bučar” (2013) and the Order of the Croatian Daystar with the image of Franjo Bučar from the President of the Republic of Croatia (2014).
He received his doctorate in 2018 from the Faculty of Kinesiology in Zagreb, where he has worked as an assistant professor (Sports Gymnastics) since 2022. His hobbies are extreme sports.
