CROATIAN FILM INSTITUTE

PODRAVINA TRIO 

Format: Documentary-narrative animated film. 

Key themes: Music, the tradition of the Podravina region, love for one’s native land, artistic synesthesia. 

Main protagonists: Stjepan Kvakan Štef (composer and musician), Robert Rožman (musician), and Ivan Stanko Zigi (vocalist). 

"Podravski Pajdaši" is an innovative documentary-narrative film that tells the story of a three-member tambura ensemble through introspective conversations and a groundbreaking visual style. By blending an authentic documentary format with unique live-action and animated sequences—which literally bring the poetry and music of each song to life—the film marks a historic first on the Croatian music scene, transforming emotion, patriotism, and the soul of the Podravina region into visual art.

Director                                 David Knez

Screenplay                           Dr. Dorothy McClellan

Director of Photography       David Knez

Production                            DK studio

Film Genre                           Documentary-narrative animated film

Country                                    Croatia