THE LOST SON
THE LOST SON
Izgubljeni sin
Slovenia, Greece, Croatia, Italy, North Macedonia
2026, DPC, color, 100’
GOLDEN OLIVE
European Feature Film Competition
➔ WED 11 NOV | 6:00 PM | SCREEN 3
Direction: Darko Štante
Screenplay: Darko Štante
Cinematography: Peter Zeitlinger
Editing: Sara Gjergek, Yorgos Mavropsaridis
Production design: Miha Knific
Music: Toni Kitanovski
Costumes: Nikolina Kostanjšek
Cast: Jure Henigman (Andrej), Nejc Cijan Garlatti (Kristian), Lara Maria Vouk (Anna), Tamara Avguštin (Ksenija), Nika Rozman (Diana), Svit Šturbej (Zan), Liam Benjamin Štante (David), Igor Samobor, Goran Bogdan
Producers: Nina Robnik, Miha Černec, Jožko Rutar in coproduction with Konstantina Stavrianou, Irini Vogiokalou, David Cej, Boris T. Matic, Lana Matic, Robert Jazadziski
Production: Staragara (Si) in coproduction with Graal (Gr), Propeler Film (Hr), Staragara I.T.(It), Kaval Film (Mk)
Andrej, a seasoned criminal investigator, faces a shocking revelation when he encounters his estranged brother, Kristian, as a domestic violence perpetrator. As he grapples with guilt and tries to mend their relationship, parallels between Kristain’s behavior and their abusive father’s emerge. Admist personal turmoil, Andrej’s professional life interwines, leading to substance abuse and strained relationships. A tragic turn of events pushes Andrej to confront his past trauma, ultimately culminating in a heartbreaking confrontation with thei father. As he seeks redemption and reconciliation, Andrej’s life takes a devastating turn when Kristian commits a horrific act, forcing him to confront the depths of familiar turmoil and personal responsibility.
“With this film, The Lost Son, I am to realistically depict the the dinamics of relationships among individuals at the different stages of life who grew up in families where they were victims of various forms of violence. I wonder if it’s possible to break the cycle of violence, wich often gets passed down from generation to generation, turning victims into perpetrators. Despite the challenging storyI am addressing, my goal is to create a film that communicates with a wide audience and provides a space for discourse on the topica at hand.”
Darko Štante, an acclaimed director and scriptwriter from Slovenia, hods a master’s degree in Film Direction from the Academy of Theatre, Radio, Film and Television in Ljubljana. He made his debut with Consequences (2018), which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and went onto win multiple awards and secure distribution deals worldwide.
2009 Rugelj (medium doc)
2011 Intima (Intimacy, short)
2018 Consequences
2024 Zvitorepec – Skov v prihodnost (short anim.)
2026 Izgubljeni sin (The Lost Son)
2026 Sarajevo IFF – Open Air Premiere