Meet some of the speakers at ZACID 2026: from international investment to independent creative project

This September, Zagreb will host the first Zagreb Actors & Creators Industry Days (ZACID), bringing together actors, filmmakers, creators, producers and entrepreneurs for three days of panels, workshops, networking and conversations about the creative and audiovisual industry.

The programme brings together professionals with very different backgrounds and career paths, but with one thing in common: they are actively creating, producing, connecting and developing projects within the industry.

Among the speakers are Martina Petrović, Zvonko Novosel, Katarina Šestić Baotić and Ella Misché, whose experience will contribute to several of the conversations taking place during ZACID.

Martina Petrović: How can Croatia attract more investment?

Martina Petrović comes to ZACID with extensive experience in international cultural cooperation and the development of the Croatian audiovisual sector. She began her career at the Croatian Ministry of Culture, where she worked on international cultural exchange and the promotion of Croatian film at major festivals including Berlinale and Cannes. She participated in the establishment of the Croatian Audiovisual Centre in 2008 and was appointed by the European Commission to lead the Croatian MEDIA Desk. She has since developed programmes, workshops and networking formats for Croatian and European audiovisual professionals and provides consulting and mentoring to companies and talent-development initiatives. Since 2026, she has also been a member of the European Film Academy.

At ZACID, Petrović will participate in the panel “How Croatia Attracts Investors in the Cultural and Creative Industries”, together with representatives of HAVC, Pakt Media and the Croatian International Film Festival.

The discussion will look at the Croatian market from both institutional and entrepreneurial perspectives: How much investment is currently coming into the audiovisual sector? Is the trend growing or declining? Where is Croatia's potential for further growth, and which opportunities are still underused?

The panel will also address international co-productions, cooperation between public institutions and the private sector, and what Croatian professionals and companies can do to become more attractive partners for international projects.

Ella Misché: What does Croatia have to offer beyond its locations?

Award-winning actress, producer, director and screenwriter Ella Misché is the founder of the Croatian International Film Festival (CIFF) and the production company Galileo Films, operating between New York and Croatia. A graduate of New York's Academy of Dramatic Arts, she works internationally across independent films, television, documentaries and commercial projects, including projects for Netflix and collaborations with Happy Madison. As a director and screenwriter, she created Mastercard's documentary series Harfa, recognised by the United Nations' Women's Empowerment Principles initiative. Her episodic series A gdje je ljubav? is set to premiere on HRT this autumn. She is also co-chair of the Hollywood Radio & Television Society in New York.

At ZACID, Misché will bring a very practical perspective to the investment discussion. How do you convince international partners to invest their time, money and attention in Croatia? Are international producers still primarily attracted by the country's locations and coastline, or are they looking for something more — experienced crews, infrastructure, creative talent and reliable partners?

The panel will also examine the recent decline in foreign productions and ask what Croatia needs to change or improve if it wants to remain competitive as an international filming and production destination.

Katarina Šestić Baotić: What happens when actors create their own opportunities?

Actress and puppeteer Katarina Šestić Baotić graduated in acting and puppetry from the Academy of Arts and Culture in Osijek. She has worked across theatre, television and film, and since 2020 has also worked as a drama educator. She is co-founder and artistic director of the Iglu Theatre Company, through which she develops her own performances and projects. Alongside her artistic work, she has built a significant digital audience, with more than 120,000 followers on Instagram and TikTok, where she creates original acting sketches and lifestyle content.

She will join the panel “How to Create Your Own Project and Survive — and How Social Media Can Help”, together with Iva Šimić Šakoronja, Tea Šimić, Nera Stipičević and Tara Thaller.

The conversation will look behind the polished image of a successful creative career. How many attempts does it take before an independent project actually happens? How much work remains invisible? What happens when a project fails, when funding does not come through or when social media brings negative reactions?

The panel will also explore the less visible skills artists increasingly need: production, organisation, financing, grants, marketing and building an audience. And whether, once artists learn to create their own opportunities, they begin to choose their projects differently.

Zvonko Novosel: When does an idea become a cultural project?

Actor, acting teacher, photographer and independent artist Zvonko Novosel graduated from the Academy of Dramatic Art in Zagreb and is president of Zagreb Acting Studio. He has performed in theatre and film, including the award-winning short film A Matter of Taste, and has given hundreds of poetry performances in Croatia and internationally. He has worked for HRT and, since 2020, has been co-founder and artistic director of the Association Mjera blizine. He is also the creator and active participant of Poetica Croatica, while since 1997 he has led acting workshops based on the Lee Strasberg method in Croatia and abroad.

At ZACID, Novosel will take part in the “Music as Inspiration” panel, exploring the connection between music, poetry, performance and creative work.

But the conversation will go beyond inspiration. How does a personal interest become a project? When does a cultural event become a recognisable format? Can poetry, music and live performance build an audience and become financially sustainable?

Together with other artists from the world of music and performance, the panel will ask what happens when something that begins as a personal passion gradually becomes a public project, a production and, potentially, a profession.

Three days of conversations, knowledge and connections

These are just some of the voices that will be part of ZACID. Across the programme, the conference will look at different sides of the creative industry — from investment and international cooperation to entrepreneurship, visibility, education, artistic development and networking.

The idea is not simply to talk about the creative industry, but to create a place where people from different parts of it can meet before they need each other.

ZACID – Zagreb Actors & Creators Industry Days takes place from 18–20 September 2026 at Bizkoshnica, Jabukovac, Zagreb. Participation in the conference is free with prior registration, while places for individual workshops are limited.