We have always learned in schools that summer begins, roughly, on June 21. However, last nine years this season arrives earlier to Split. Summer's premiere usually happens a few weeks earlier, where premieres usually happens, at film festival. Starting from June 3, Split will once again host one of the most interesting events of this kind in Croatia. The Mediterranean Film Festival Split is back!

For nine days, Split will be a film capital of the Mediterranean, and until June 11 we will be able to see 78 films from 39 countries. Main program of feature films will be shown in open-air cinema Bačvice, always packed full and just meters from the most popular city beach. There will be five regional and same numbers of Croatian premieres, and part of this program will take place in the cinematheque Zlatna Vrata. As usual, most of these films have a handful of awards from world's leading festivals.

For years, MFFS is the most popular cultural event in Split, and major contribution came from the incredible venue of open-air cinema in the middle of pine wood park, overlooking the beach. It's enough to see photos from previous years. Anything serves as an audience; chairs, grass, walls, trees, etc. There is also a party every night after the main film, each day with different theme. In short, true celebration of film.

What can we expect on this year's MFFS? Festival's boss Alen Munitić and his crew prepared excellent program, we will introduce some of possible favourites. For example, we will see the winner of Berlinale Fire at Sea, a documentary by Gianfranco Rosi about refugees on Italian island Lampedusa. Current events make Algerian-French film Road to Istanbul very up to date. It's a story about Belgian woman whose daughter joined IS fighters in Syria. Strong local player is another documentary, Tourism! by Split native Tonći Gaćina. It's an ironic tale about Split as a tourism Mecca, with all good and bad sides.

Furthermore, we will watch Italian The Wait starring Juliette Binoche, and two French flicks starring Isabelle Huppert. Things to Come by director and screenwriter Mia Hansen-Løve was awarded with the Silver Bear at Berlinale, and Macadam Stories by Samuel Benchetrit was shown in the official program at Cannes Film Festival.

Greek comedy Chevalier might be very interesting, after its director Athina Rachel Tsangari won main award at the London Film Festival. MFFS opens with Spanish Nothing in Return which brought its director Goya Award for the best debutant. Also, program includes audience award winner from ZagrebDox festival Twilight of a Life directed by Sylvain Biegeleisen, and controversial Turkish film Ivy by Tolge Karacelik featured at Sundance, and censored in Turkey. From the same country arrives Frenzy, awarded with 11 festival awards, and nominated for the Golden Lion in Venice. Out of competition you shouldn't miss UK-Romanian co-production Chuck Norris vs. Communism, and on closing night Brazilian Oscar contender The Second Mother, winner of the audience award in Berlin. No doubt, real treasure vault for art film lovers.

Besides main program, it's always interesting to see dozens of short feature films, both Croatian and international, some of them also highly acclaimed and awarded. You can watch them at Zlatna Vrata cinematheque, but also as free admission program in former open-air cinema Tesla on a terrace in Split city centre. There are also workshops for students and film makers, special programs for children, etc. To learn more about the program visit the festival's official web site, where you can buy tickets online. Important note: all non-English films will be subtitled both with English and Croatian subtitles.

If you love films, there are so many reasons to attend MFFS. However, there is an additional element of attraction: great, friendly and relaxed atmosphere. So hurry up, tickets are going fast.