OVER 750 VISITORS AT BLEND: FILM & GAMES - 2026!

ZAGREB ONCE AGAIN BROUGHT TOGETHER BIG NAMES FROM THE FILM AND GAMING INDUSTRIES

Icons such as Thomas Golubić, Željko Barčan, Maria Małgorzata Głowacka, Marco Ponte, Matteo Lana and Igor Šeregi thrilled packed audiences at Algebra Bernays University

Zagreb, 26 October 2026 — The third edition of the BLEND: Film & Games conference, held on 23 and 24 October at Algebra Bernays University in Zagreb, brought together more than 750 registered attendees and 60 domestic and international speakers from the film, television and gaming industries. Packed conference halls, exceptional interest in professional workshops, and countless meetings and exchanges of experience marked two days of the conference, with an ever-strengthening connection between the creative industries.

The conference was organised by the Zagreb Film Office and the Croatian Audiovisual Centre (HAVC), with academic partner Algebra Bernays University and the strong support of the City of Zagreb.

This year's edition placed particular emphasis on new technologies, artificial intelligence, virtual production, video game development and transmedia projects, with the participation of experts behind world-famous films, series and video games such as Avatar, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, The Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077.

At the opening of the conference, the importance of strengthening international cooperation and connecting Croatia's film and gaming sectors was highlighted. Benjamin Noah Maričak, responsible for video games and new technologies at HAVC and head of HAVC's Games Croatia project — which brings together key stakeholders in Croatia's video game industry — emphasised that "BLEND is not just a conference, but a space where new ideas, professional connections and collaborations are created that can shape the future of the audiovisual industry."

"We launched BLEND with the idea of connecting two creative AV sectors that share more and more common ground, and the fantastic response this year confirms how much such a platform is needed! It is remarkable how quickly the conference grows from year to year, while remaining free and accessible to all. I would like to thank the City of Zagreb for its continued support, as well as all our partners, speakers and participants who together with us are building BLEND as a place of new ideas, encounters and future collaborations." — said Mia Pećina Drašković, head of the Zagreb Film Office.

"At Algebra Bernays University this year we witnessed a very interesting trend. At a time when many study programmes were recording declining interest and lower enrolments due to the influence of AI and other factors, our two programmes — multimedia production and video game development — grew compared to last year. Around 100 new students enrolled in those two programmes! I don't think that is a coincidence, and I believe young people are sending us a very clear message about the kind of future they want to live and create, not just consume." — said Damir Jugo, President of the Management Board of Algebra Bernays University.

Assistant Head of the City Office for Culture and Civil Society and representative of the Mayor of Zagreb, Maja Novoselec, said at the opening: "The City of Zagreb has for many years continuously supported the work of the Zagreb Film Office, film and audiovisual projects realised in our city, as well as the BLEND: Film & Games conference. We are delighted that BLEND grows year on year, gathering an ever-greater number of domestic and international experts, and confirming Zagreb as an important meeting place for the film and gaming industries. We are proud to be part of that success story and to continue supporting projects that contribute to the development of the creative industries and to Zagreb's international recognition."

State Secretary of the Ministry of Culture and Media, Krešimir Partl, received a loud round of applause after announcing additional investment in Croatia's film and gaming industries. "It is my pleasure to announce additional funds to increase incentives for the Croatian video game industry, as well as additional film incentives through the new Rulebook on Financial Incentives for the Development and Production of Croatian AV Works by Producers Considered Independent Producers. I also wish to highlight the need to establish a legal model whereby major gaming platforms, following the example of streaming services in the film industry, would contribute a portion of their revenues to the development of the domestic gaming sector," said Partl.

According to the assessment of Croatian Audiovisual Centre Director Chris P. Marcich, such a model could secure an additional four to five million euros for the development of Croatian video games. Marcich also highlighted the increasingly international character of the BLEND conference, which this year brought together 15 foreign participants from ten countries. "I would like to thank Benjamin Noah, Mia and the entire team for their efforts in organising this conference, as well as Algebra Bernays University without which this would not have been possible, and all our sponsors. I would point out that this year we have as many as 15 participants from other countries, such as Belgium, Italy, France, the USA, the Netherlands, New Zealand and others. In total, ten foreign countries are represented, which speaks to the success and appeal of this programme. The fact that the film and gaming sectors are coming together has been firmly anchored in reality at this conference — and beyond it. I am delighted to see a large number of colleagues from the film sector here, as well as experts from the gaming world. But for all of this to be possible, we need funding, and I believe it is important to talk about that. I hope that next year we can also expect an increase in funding for our industry," said Marcich.

Thomas Golubić Thrills Audience with Iconic Scenes from "Breaking Bad" and "Better Call Saul"

One of the most attended talks during the two-day conference was the presentation by Thomas Golubić, the multiple award-winning Hollywood music supervisor of Croatian heritage, known for his work on Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, The Walking Dead and Six Feet Under. In a packed hall, Golubić showed through selected scenes from Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul just how much music influences atmosphere, character development and the emotional experience of a story. He brought the audience closer to the creative process behind music selection and the collaboration between music supervisors, directors, screenwriters and producers. Particularly fascinating was his connection to the Croatian music scene — it was Golubić who was responsible for the use of the track "Chaotica" by Croatian band The Bambi Molesters in Breaking Bad!

Speaking about his experience at BLEND, Golubić particularly highlighted the diversity of the programme and the opportunity to meet other creative industries: "The programme was extremely well thought out and brought together interesting people from different countries and different fields of the AV industry. I did not know much about video games and I am leaving the conference with a great deal of new knowledge, as well as new acquaintances I wish to maintain," said Golubić, particularly praising Zagreb as a venue for international gatherings.

"Svadba 2" Coming to Cinemas in January 2028!

One of the most exciting pieces of news at the conference came from the panel "The Phenomenon of Svadba and What Awaits in Svadba 2!", where director and screenwriter Igor Šeregi and producer Ivan Kelava, in conversation with moderator Mia Pećina Drašković, revealed plans for the sequel to Croatia's big box office hit. Filming of "Svadba 2" is planned to begin in April 2027, with the cinema premiere announced for 21 January 2028. The director's revelation that he had conceived the project as a trilogy from the very beginning thrilled a packed hall!

Great interest was also generated by the conversation about the film "Bog neće pomoći" (God Won't Help) by director and screenwriter Hana Jušić, Croatia's candidate for the Oscar and the Goya. Hana and producer Ankica Jurić Tilić spoke about the film's festival journey and the challenges of placing a Croatian auteur film on the international market.

Jurić Tilić noted that the film resonates more strongly abroad than among domestic audiences, and said she was very pleased to see it discussed at BLEND. The Friday afternoon programme also included a special screening of the film.

Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Film Production

One of the most fully attended talks on the first day was delivered by Željko Barčan, a Croatian visual effects expert working at the New Zealand studio Wētā FX. In his talk "Behind the Impossible," he shared his experiences working on major international film productions and spoke about the changes that artificial intelligence is bringing to the film industry. Among his predictions, he particularly highlighted the possibility that new tools will significantly shorten the time from a creative idea to its realisation — but that it will still be the human who creates the idea and guides the development process.

The relationship between artificial intelligence and authorial creativity was also discussed by the panellists at "AI with an Author's Touch" — experts Dalibor Barić, Filip Filković and Ivan Murat.

Internationally acclaimed director and producer Bobby Boško Grubić spoke about how film, television and video games reach international audiences and how new technologies are changing visual storytelling. He also exclusively presented a teaser for his upcoming documentary project "1671: The Collapse of Hope", dedicated to the events that led to the execution of Petar Zrinski and Fran Krsto Frankopan, in which contemporary technologies are used to reconstruct the past while preserving historical authenticity and authorial vision.

Particular interest was also generated by the immersive project "Octopocalypse: Aliens & UFOs" by director Max Sacker from Berlin, presented in international competition at the Venice Film Festival. Speaking about the future of new media, Sacker warned that technological changes are often perceived as a threat to traditional film:

"Just as television did not replace radio, and virtual reality did not replace cinema, we should not view artificial intelligence solely as a threat to classical film. It should be seen as an aid and a partner to classical film, but also as the possibility of yet another, complementary form of storytelling."

From "The Witcher" and "Cyberpunk 2077" to New Possibilities for the European Gaming Industry

The second day of the conference brought presentations and panels on global gaming franchises, new production models and the increasingly intense connection between video games and film and television.

Great attention was drawn to the presentation by the remarkable Maria Małgorzata Głowacka from CD PROJEKT RED, dedicated to the development and expansion of the popular video game worlds of The Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077 into other media. Głowacka particularly highlighted the shared elements of the film and gaming industries and the importance of mutual learning and collaboration: "Film and video games are much closer than we think, not only in the creative process but also in the audience experience. That is precisely why we can learn so much from each other and develop new projects together."

The development path from an independent startup to an AA studio was presented by Marco Ponte from Nacon Studio Milan, while the possibilities for developing the European gaming sector were the focus of the "Game on, Italy" programme, in which an Italian delegation participated: Matteo Lana, Daniele Barone and Marco Mazzaglia.

Mazzaglia highlighted the importance of such international gatherings for building the video game industry:

"Conferences like BLEND are the foundation of a quality gaming industry. They allow us to encounter different experiences, educational approaches and business models, and the knowledge we gain here we also bring back to our own countries. Bravo for the excellent organisation and outstanding speakers!"

His colleague Matteo Lana particularly praised the great interest shown by young people in film and video games, noting how inspiring it was to see so many new generations interested in the creative industries.

The Smurfs, Tintin and Professor Baltazar — European Icons in New Media

An important part of the conference programme was dedicated to transmedia projects and the possibilities for developing well-known European characters and franchises. On the panel about European creative icons, speakers included Jean Gréban, representative for Smurfs gaming licensing, Yves Février, expert on the transmedia development of Tintin, and Croatian director and head of Zagreb Film who created Baltazar, Vinko Brešan. The conversation addressed the importance of preserving the identity of well-known characters, adapting them for new generations of audiences, and the possibilities of developing content that connects animation, film, television and video games.

Great Interest in Workshops and International Networking

Alongside the talks and panels, the programme of as many as seven free professional workshops generated great interest from participants, with all places fully booked. The workshops covered topics including video game development, creative writing, interactive storytelling, acting in RPG games, the use of Unreal Engine, and connecting film and gaming production.

Among the workshop leaders were Olga Moskvina, screenwriter and narrative designer of the video game Disco Elysium; screenwriter and director Pierre Puget, who guided participants through the possibilities of developing film projects in the world of video games; and Daniele Barone and Marco Mazzaglia, who connected various AV formats and demonstrated what is possible when we embrace all the new technologies available to us.

Silke Hassreiter from Breda University in the Netherlands particularly highlighted the value of direct communication and time dedicated to conversations between sessions: "BLEND offers far more than exchanging contacts on LinkedIn. There is space and time here for deeper conversations about industry development, new ideas and the experiences of people coming from different backgrounds. A great idea and a fantastic programme — congratulations to the organisers!"

Similar impressions were shared by other international participants. Andrei Goaga highlighted the excellent atmosphere and the exchange of ideas with talented professionals, Marco Ponte praised the organisation and quality of the panels, and Daniele Barone emphasised the value of participating in such a large international group of experts.

Croatian narrative designer and video game screenwriter who has worked on major international gaming projects including PUBG: Black Budget, Dora Vrhoci, particularly singled out the engagement of the audience and the large number of questions during her talk, as well as the opportunity to simultaneously share her own experience and gain new knowledge and international contacts.

BLEND Confirmed the Importance of Connecting the Creative Industries

The third edition of the BLEND: Film & Games conference once again demonstrated the importance of a platform that connects film, television and gaming professionals, educational institutions, new technologies and young creatives. More than 750 registered visitors over two days, 60 domestic and international speakers, packed halls and great interest in workshops confirmed the need for content that simultaneously brings new knowledge, opens professional questions and creates opportunities for future collaborations. It is precisely such encounters, exchanges of experience and joint exploration of new forms of storytelling that are the foundation of BLEND — a conference that continues to connect the creative industries and strengthen Zagreb's international visibility as a meeting place for them.

The full conference programme, information about speakers and workshops are available on the official conference website at www.blendzagreb.eu, and video recordings of all talks will be available soon!

Organisers: Zagreb Film Office and Croatian Audiovisual Centre (HAVC)
Academic Partner: Algebra Bernays University
With the support of: City of Zagreb