Festival of Slovenian Film Portorož
The Festival of Slovenian Film Portorož is the central showcase of contemporary Slovenian audiovisual production. Each year, it presents a selection of feature-length and short fiction, documentary and animated films produced in Slovenia.
The festival presents the Metod and Milka Badjura Award for Lifetime Achievement, Slovenia’s most prestigious honour in the field of filmmaking. Expert juries also present the Vesna Awards for outstanding achievements by Slovenian film professionals. The award is named after the heroine of the legendary film Vesna, directed in 1953 by František Čap, one of the key figures in the history of Slovenian cinema.
The festival is the successor to the Slovene Film Week, established in Celje in the 1970s. After Slovenia gained independence, it was renamed the Slovenian Film Marathon and later moved to Portorož, where it is now held as the Festival of Slovenian Film Portorož.
The festival is Slovenia’s principal national gathering devoted to film, bringing together filmmakers, industry professionals, international guests and audiences.
Vesna Award
The Vesna Awards are Slovenia’s highest annual national honours for achievements in film, presented by the festival’s expert jury.
The expert jury presents Vesna Awards in the following categories:
- Best Feature Film
- Best Short Film
- Best Director
- Best Screenplay
- Best Actress in a Leading Role
- Best Actor in a Leading Role
- Best Actress in a Supporting Role
- Best Actor in a Supporting Role
- Best Cinematography
- Best Music
- Best Editing
- Best Student Film
The expert jury may also present up to six of the following Vesna Awards:
- Best Documentary Film
- Best Animated Film
- Best Production Design
- Best Costume Design
- Best Animation
- Best Make-up
- Best Sound
- Best Minority Co-production
- Special Achievement Award
Metoda and Milka Badjura Award
The Milka and Metod Badjura Lifetime Achievement Award, known as the Metod Badjura Award until 2023, is Slovenia’s most prestigious honour in the field of filmmaking. It is presented by an expert commission as part of the Festival of Slovenian Film Portorož.
Previous recipients of the Badjura Award:
- 2025 - Janez Bricelj
- 2024 - Zvonka Makuc
- 2023 - Rado Likon
- 2022 - Milena Zupančič
- 2021 - Emilija Soklič
- 2020 - Konrad Steinbacher
- 2019 - Andrej Zdravič
- 2018 - Tugo Štiglic
- 2017 - Franci Zajc
- 2016 - Dušan Milavec
- 2015 - Dunja Klemenc
- 2014 - Hanna Preuss
- 2013 - Karpo Godina
- 2012 - Alenka Bartl
- 2011 - Ljubo Struna
- 2010 - Filip Robar Dorin
- 2009 - Mako Sajko
- 2008 - Milan Ljubić
- 2007 - Mirjana Borčić
- 2006 - Peter Zobec
- 2005 - Jože Pogačnik
- 2004 - Vojko Duletič
- 2003 - Rudi Vaupotič
- 2002 - Jože Gale
- 2001 - Matjaž Klopčič
- 2000 - Jane Kavčič
- 1999 - Boštjan Hladnik
- 1998 - Rudi Omota
- 1997 - Berta Meglič
- 1996 - Jože Babič
- 1995 - Ivan Marinček in Dušan Povh
