About us

From an Oscar Winner’s Vision to a Mission That Endures

The Festival of Tolerance was born from the vision of Branko Lustig, Oscar-winning producer and Holocaust survivor – our first president and co-founder – together with Nataša Popović, the current director and co-founder of the Festival. Their collaboration laid the foundations for a platform that, for nearly two decades, has united art, education, and social engagement, creating a space where stories have the power to change lives.

Today, the main program is held in Zadar, while pop-up festivals and educational programs bring our activities to communities across Croatia. More than 220,000 visitors and 60,000 students and young people have already taken part in our free programs – from film screenings and Tolerance Talk discussions to exhibitions, concerts, the educational program Dialogues – Let’s Talk About It, and the children’s opera Brundibár.

At the heart of our work are testimonies of Holocaust survivors and conversations with refugees from current conflicts, developed in cooperation with UNHCR. Building on these foundations, the Festival continues to grow, opening up spaces for dialogue on human rights, equality, and the challenges of contemporary society.

The Festival is organized by the Festival of Contemporary Jewish Film Zagreb, a non-profit citizens’ association. Our work is continuously supported by UNHCR, the Croatian Audiovisual Centre (HAVC), the Ministry of Culture and Media, the Ministry of Science and Education, the National Foundation for Civil Society Development, the Kultura Nova Foundation, the City of Zagreb, the City of Zadar, and Zadar County, along with many international and domestic partners.

The Association operates from its office in Zagreb, developing and implementing programs throughout Croatia, with the main festival held in Zadar. The Festival of Tolerance and all the Association’s programs are free of charge and constantly evolving, driven by the belief that culture and dialogue have the power to make society better.

Team

Nataša Popović – Festival Director and President of the Association
Nika Bobić – Head of Cultural Activities
Ana-Marija Francetić – Office and Project Manager

Boško Picula – Film Program Selector
Snježana Tribuson – Film Program Selector

PR & Marketing: Priredba d.o.o.