Croatian-Serbian comedy The Wedding passes 2.5 million viewers in 32 territories
The Wedding, a Croatian-Serbian comedy, has drawn more than 2.5 million viewers in 32 territories since its January release, and has earned more than $20 million at the box office, according to Deadline.
The film follows the daughter of a Croatian businessman and her Serbian boyfriend, the son of a high-ranking politician. When the couple become pregnant, they decide to marry, despite objections from their nationalist parents. Igor Šeregi directs. It is his second feature, and it runs 95 minutes. Ivan Kelava produced it.
The film's biggest home run came in Croatia, where it drew more than 800,000 spectators. That passes the long-standing record of some 500,000 admissions held by Titanic, as Deadline reports. It also set records in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia, and had a successful release in Slovenia.
The budget was modest. The film was shot over 21 days for one million euros, about $1.1 million. Getting it made took a decade. That included a seven-year wait to secure state film funds.
Kelava led production under Eclectica, a Zagreb-based company he co-founded. He is also Head of Production at Hanway Films in London.
The film's region has its own awards show. The Adriatic Film & TV Awards, now in its second edition, celebrates films and TV shows from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Slovenia and Serbia. The ceremony takes place at the Porto Montenegro marina in Tivat, on the Bay of Kotor.
The Wedding was not nominated for the top prizes. It did receive a special mention for its box-office success. Marko Grabež, who plays the groom, was nominated in the Rising Star category. That prize went to North Macedonian actor Arif Jakup, for his performance in DJ Ahmet.
For a comedy that spent years waiting for funding, the numbers now stretch well beyond its home market. The next question for the film is where its 32 territories go from here.
