Holy Defiance
| Holy Defiance | |
|---|---|
 Promotional poster | |
| Croatian | Tiha misa |
| Literally | Silent mass |
| Directed by | Karla Jelić |
| Written by | Karla Jelić |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring | Arijana Lekić Fridrih |
| Cinematography | Dora Čaldarović |
| Edited by | Maja Predrijevac |
Production company | Ustanova Zagreb film |
| Distributed by | Ustanova Zagreb film |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 15 minutes |
| Country | Croatia |
| Language | Croatian |
Holy Defiance (Croatian: Tiha misa) is a 2026 short documentary film written and directed by Karla Jelić. It follows multimedia artist Arijana Lekić as her "Holy Defiance" creates a vivid, lively, energetic and varied portrait of women's rights in post-war Croatia.
The film had its world premiere in Short Films at the Sheffield DocFest on 11 June 2026 in Activism programme.[1] and its regional premiere at the 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival on 18 August 2026, in the Competition programme - short documentary film,[2] where it won Heart of Sarajevo for Best Short Documentary Film award.[3]
Synopsis
[edit]Background
On the first Saturday of every month, groups of men who call themselves "The Knights of the Immaculate Heart of Mary" occupy central squares across Croatian cities. Kneeling in prayer, they advocate for patriarchy, re-traditionalization, and restrictions on women's freedoms, transforming public spaces into zones where women are barred from entering, even when they wish to pray themselves.
Silent Mass
Arijana travels to a different city each month to perform her quiet yet radical feminist intervention, "Silent Mass", weaving red string through the cordoned-off areas to reclaim space symbolically. What begins as indifference from the prayer participants escalates into hostility, intimidation, and aggressive confrontations involving the men, hired security, and even police. As the chants calling for male spiritual dominance drone on, Arijana's persistent, silent presence becomes an act of profound courage.
Cast
[edit]- Arijana Lekić Fridrih
Release
[edit]Holy Defiance had its world premiere at the Sheffield DocFest on 10 June 2026 in Shorts: Thresholds of Faith strand.[4]
It also competed for Heart of Sarajevo award in the Competition programme - Short Documentary Film at the 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival on 18 August 2026.[5][6]
Accolades
[edit]| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sarajevo Film Festival | 21 August 2026 | Heart of Sarajevo for Best Short Documentary Film | Holy Defiance | Won | [7] |
References
[edit]- ↑ "Holy Defiance". Sheffield DocFest. 3 June 2026. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
- ↑ Stojiljković, Marko (23 July 2026). "51 films set to compete for the Heart of Sarajevo". Cineuropa. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
- ↑ Christopher Vourlias (21 August 2026). "Austrian Director Sandra Wollner's 'Everytime' Wins Best Film at Sarajevo Film Festival". Variety. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
- ↑ "Holy Defiance". Sheffield DocFest. 3 June 2026. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
- ↑ Lodderhose, Diana (23 July 2026). "Sarajevo Film Festival Unveils Full Competition Lineup". Deadline. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
- ↑ Ellie Calnan (23 July 2026). "Sarajevo Film Festival unveils competition programmes with five world premieres". ScreenDaily. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
- ↑ Jeremy Kay (22 August 2026). "'Everytime', 'To Hold A Mountain' win top honours at 2026 Sarajevo Film Festival". ScreenDaily. Retrieved 22 August 2026.