We are delighted to be showing a preview of one of the most talked about documentaries in the festival circle 2025.

Rijeka or Fiume? When the city ended up on the border between Italy and Yugoslavia after the First World War, the Italian poet Gabriele D’Annunzio took advantage of the political chaos to try to establish a city state. Through archive material and theatrical re-enactment, Rijeka’s inhabitants recreate the 16-month occupation of their city.

We were impressed by the film’s playful use of archival footage and reenactment to throw light on a too-little-known episode of European history. Whilst full of dry, self-reflexive humour, the film manages to use its creative exploration of history to provide in-depth commentary on worrying contemporary political developments, specifically the rise of the global far-right. We applaud the film’s effortless combination of experimentation and accessibility – not least due to its excellent editing – which serves to convey a timely warning against the formation of authoritarianism. Jury Statement, FIPRESCI Prize at International Film Festival Rotterdam 2025