World premiere of Croatian docu-film “Being Related to John Malkovich”

(Photo: 4film)

KRAKOW, 22 May 2025 – The feature-length directorial debut of Croatian filmmaker Luka Mavretić, Being Related to John Malkovich, will celebrate its world premiere at the 65th Krakow Film Festival on 26 May 2025.

The screening will take place at the Małopolski Ogród Sztuki cinema, followed by a Q&A session with the director himself. Two additional screenings are scheduled for 27 and 31 May.

The documentary follows Luka’s deeply personal journey, sparked by the birth of his child, to mend a long-strained relationship with his father.

In a bid to uncover buried family issues, the pair embark on an unusual road trip fuelled by a decades-old rumour — that they might be related to Hollywood icon John Malkovich.

(Photo: 4film)

Along the way, they are joined by an eclectic cast of characters, including a rural farmer, a John Malkovich lookalike, a priest, and a podcast host.

As father and son travel through villages, towns, and across borders, they continually question whether unearthing the past was worth the cost — or if it would have been wiser to leave everything under the rug.

(Photo: 4film)

“Making Being Related to John Malkovich came with both creative and emotional risks,” said Luka Mavretić.

“As a filmmaker, I was drawn to the ‘meaty’ moments. But as someone living through it, I was terrified. The worst thing you can do in a film about healing family wounds is to make them worse — and do so in front of a camera. Now, having gone through that journey, I’m proud that this film, created with a talented and dedicated team, will finally meet its first audience in Krakow.”

(Photo: 4film)

Mavretić co-wrote the script with Valentina Mavretić. The film’s cinematography is by Marinko Marinkić, with editing by Ivor Šonje.

The score was composed by Ozren K. Glaser and Marco Germini. Anita Juka (4Film) produced the film, alongside co-producers Chiara Toffolo (Tesla Production, Italy) and Martichka Bozhilova (Agitprop, Bulgaria). Paulina Križić served as executive producer, with Laura Sinovčić and Siniša Budaj as associate producers.

(Photo: 4film)

“From the moment Luka shared his family’s anecdotal link to John Malkovich — and the complicated dynamics beneath it — I knew this was a project with powerful potential,” said producer Anita Juka.

“Filming a documentary in which the director exposes himself to such vulnerable moments requires a huge amount of trust — in the process and the people around him. That trust, given to us at 4Film, was a great honour.

(Photo: 4film)

The project was recognised early, winning the HBO Europe Award at ZagrebDox Pro and the RE-ACT development award. We’re thrilled that it’s now ready to meet the world in Krakow, at one of Europe’s most respected documentary film festivals.”

(Photo: 4film)

The film was supported by the Croatian Audiovisual Centre, Italy’s Ministry of Culture, the Audiovisual Fund of Friuli Venezia Giulia, the Bulgarian National Film Centre, Creative Europe MEDIA, the City of Zagreb, the City of Rijeka, and Karlovac County.