Major Recognition for Film in Hospital: Croatian Audiovisual Centre Award for Best Program
At the Film Literacy Conference, the “Film in Hospital” program received the first award from the Croatian Audiovisual Centre (HAVC) for the best program for promoting film literacy and audience development in 2025.
“Film in Hospital” was developed and has been led for years in Croatia by the Association Kids Meet Art (Udruga Djeca susreću umjetnost). This unique and successful European program grew out of extensive local and national experience working with children and young people in vulnerable life situations.
The program brings the best of European cinema to hospitals through live screenings, workshops, and a VOD platform featuring numerous interactive contents. By creating a space for cultural participation, the project provides emotional support, connectivity, and a sense of belonging for children and youth in sensitive circumstances.
“This award means a lot to us because it confirms the importance of a program that uses film as a tool to support the mental health of children and youth in the most vulnerable situations, such as hospitalization. We are particularly pleased that the model we developed over the years—and which we elevated from Croatian experience to a European level—has been recognized. Today, it connects 12 countries and demonstrates how culture can be a vital part of support, participation, and dignity for children and youth in moments of vulnerability,” said Edita Bilaver, President of the Association Kids Meet Art. “The award is an additional incentive to continue developing the project, strengthening European cooperation, and ensuring that film and culture remain accessible to everyone, even when children and young people are temporarily separated from school, cinema, and everyday life.”
The project’s special value lies in its cross-sectoral approach, connecting culture, education, and healthcare. During hospitalization, children and young people do not cease to be an audience, participants in cultural life, or holders of the right to artistic and cultural experiences.
This year’s Film Literacy Conference was dedicated to the role of film in the mental health of children and youth. As a special novelty, awards for excellence in the development of film literacy in Croatia were presented for the first time.
“Film in Hospital” has been continuously developing since 2014 with the support of the Creative Europe MEDIA program, the City of Zagreb, the Office for Cooperation with NGOs, and the Croatian Audiovisual Centre.
Photo: HAVC press
