Day 4 – Slano Film Days 2026
The fourth day of Slano Film Days 2026 opened with a Film Talk with actress and director Maggie Gyllenhaal, moderated by cinematographer Michael Seresin. The conversation traced her professional journey from her early acting career to her latest directorial project, THE BRIDE!. Reflecting on her acting career, Gyllenhaal emphasized that she has always given herself fully to her roles and collaborations with directors. She acknowledged that this approach was not always equally well received by directors with strong auteur personalities. At one point, she tried to tone down her intensity and passion for her work, but soon realized that this was not sustainable. After working on an independent film and speaking with producers, she decided to direct her first feature film, THE LOST DAUGHTER. Her approach to directing is rooted in her experience as an actress and her deep understanding of the emotional risks actors take in their work. She sees part of her role as a director as creating an environment in which performers can feel open, present and authentic in front of the camera. This sensitivity also shapes her collaboration with the cinematographer, as she does not view performance and the visual aspect of a film separately, but rather as parts of the same emotional language. Speaking about THE LOST DAUGHTER, Gyllenhaal described the creative process as entering a deeply emotional state that brought repressed and uncomfortable thoughts to the surface. She sees her new film, THE BRIDE!, as a natural continuation of that experience, but within a far more ambitious production framework. The main challenge, she explained, was to preserve intimacy, vulnerability and truthfulness within a large-scale story, guided by a kind of scientific curiosity and an investigative approach. She particularly highlighted her interest in casting actors for roles that require genuine learning and personal transformation.
The fourth day of the Film Talks continued with a conversation with actor Peter Sarsgaard, moderated by Mexican director Michel Franco, with whom he worked on the film MEMORY. The conversation began with a look back at Sarsgaard’s early career and the path that led him to become one of the most acclaimed actors of his generation. Recalling his youth, Sarsgaard admitted that he had never planned to become an actor. As a boy, he dreamed of a career in sports, but injuries forced him to give up football and look for a new direction. The period of uncertainty that followed, he said, was an important part of his formative experience, while the first positive feedback and encouragement he received when he began acting gave him the confidence to believe in his abilities. He also spoke about frequently moving during his childhood, which meant constantly changing schools and environments. He believes this experience developed his adaptability, while at the same time leaving him with a lasting need for a sense of community and belonging. For this reason, he explained, he sees a film set as a kind of temporary family. Unlike many of his colleagues, he rarely spends time away from the crew and makes an effort to be part of the shared life of a production. In his conversation with Franco, he also reflected on their work together on MEMORY, speaking about the importance of thorough preparation for every role. He explained that he likes to research his characters deeply, spend a long time talking about them and arrive on set fully prepared, while remaining relaxed enough to respond spontaneously. Describing his approach to acting, he emphasized the importance of remaining “physically fluid”, open to changes and unexpected moments that may arise during filming. He identified his ability to let go of past successes and failures and remain focused on the present moment as one of the reasons for the longevity of his career.
The afternoon was dedicated to Career Talks, a format that gives Slano Film Days participants the opportunity for direct dialogue with leading film professionals. Regional directors spoke with international producer Mike Goodridge, who produced acclaimed films TRIANGLE OF SADNESS and AFTERSUN. He shared experiences from his work on some of the most significant European auteur films of recent years, addressing questions of production, financing and international distribution. During the day, regional directors also had the opportunity to speak with director Jasmila Žbanić and cinematographer Christine A. Maier, who shared experiences from the recently completed filming of QUO VADIS, AIDA? – THE MISSING PART, reflecting on its creative and practical challenges.
Participants in the program for actors took part in Career Talks with Nikola Barišić, founder of New York-based agency Bond Artist Management, who shared his experience of representing actors, developing international careers and navigating the global market. They then exchanged professional insights with talent agent Bojana Rnjak and casting director Timka Grin, discussing the casting process, collaboration with agents and different paths to professional development.
The evening concluded with the Croatian premiere of FATHERLAND, the latest film by director Paweł Pawlikowski, who arrived in Slano shortly after its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, where he won the Best Director award. The intimate black-and-white drama follows the relationship between Thomas Mann and his daughter Erika during a journey through war-ravaged post-war Germany at the beginning of the Cold War, with Hanns Zischler and Sandra Hüller in the leading roles. Pawlikowski personally presented the film to the audience in Slano.
“I have been part of the Slano Film Days project for six years, and I’m happy that I can finally present a film that was being made during that period,” Pawlikowski said. He added that although the film is in black and white and set in the past, it carries strong echoes of the present day. Addressing a full house at the Villa Riva Open-Air Cinema, he invited the audience to react freely during the screening, noting that alongside its serious themes, the film also contains moments of humor. He also expressed his pleasure at having the opportunity to speak with the audience about their impressions after the screening.
