Juraj Lerotić
Biography
Juraj Lerotić (1978) was born in Kiel, Germany, before moving to Croatia. He studied early childhood education and theology and later graduated from the Academy of Dramatic Art in Zagreb with a Film and TV Directing degree. His first short film Then I See Tanja (2010) was awarded the Golden Pram at the Zagreb Film Festival. He wrote, directed, and starred in his debut feature film Safe Place (2022), which premiered at the Locarno Film Festival in the Concorso Cineasti del presente program, where he won the award for Best Director and Best Debut Feature Film. He also won two awards at the Sarajevo Film Festival, including a Sarajevo Heart for Best Film and Best Actor.
Known For & Full Filmography2 Titles
Movie - 2026, 2h 15m • as Ivan
A stormy winter approaches and a small Dalmatian island soon becomes more and more deserted. A typical Croatian family featuring members from across the generational pool gathers in a small dilapidated household in order to discuss inheritance. However, the discussion quickly takes a snappy twist as new questions begin to pop up that start bringing the crumbling tradionalist family structure down. One of them, a woman named Anica, is determined to keep the situation afloat, no matter what risks it may pose.
Movie - 2023, 2h 15m • as Bruno Lucić
A traumatic event – a sudden suicide attempt – opens a gap in the everyday life of a family of three. Their lives change fundamentally, as if they've been pulled into a war invisible to everyone else. The plot is limited to the most acute, a short period of time and a situation that boils down to the most important thing – to save a loved one. The film was based on the personal experience of the director, who also plays the leading role.