Željko Senečić (18 January 1933 – 2 January 2018) was a

Croatia , image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg , anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland") , image_map = , map_caption = , capit ...

n film and television

production designer In film and television, the production designer is the individual responsible for the overall aesthetic of the story. The production design gives the viewers a sense of the time period, the plot location, and character actions and feelings. Wo ...

, film director and screenwriter. Senečić studied

painting Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a solid surface (called the "matrix" or "support"). The medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush, but other implements, such as knives, sponges, and ai ...

at the Zagreb Academy of Fine Arts and

scenography Scenography (inclusive of scenic design, lighting design, sound design, costume design) is a practice of crafting stage environments or atmospheres. In the contemporary English usage, scenography is the combination of technological and material ...

at the Zagreb Academy of Drama Arts. His career in filmmaking and production design began in the early 1960s. His most memorable films include the

Palme d'Or The Palme d'Or (; en, Golden Palm) is the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival. It was introduced in 1955 by the festival's organizing committee. Previously, from 1939 to 1954, the festival's highest prize was the Grand Prix du Fe ...

and

Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...

-winning ''

The Tin Drum ''The Tin Drum'' (german: Die Blechtrommel, ) is a 1959 novel by Günter Grass. The novel is the first book of Grass's ' ('' Danzig Trilogy''). It was adapted into a 1979 film, which won both the 1979 Palme d'Or and the Academy Award for Bes ...

'' (''Die Blechtrommel'', 1979; directed by

Volker Schlöndorff Volker Schlöndorff (; born 31 March 1939 Friday) is a German film director, screenwriter and producer who has worked in Germany, France and the United States. He was a prominent member of the New German Cinema of the late 1960s and early 1970s ...

and partially filmed in Zagreb, with Senečić credited as production co-designer) and classics of Croatian cinema such as ''

Rondo The rondo is an instrumental musical form introduced in the Classical period. Etymology The English word ''rondo'' comes from the Italian form of the French ''rondeau'', which means "a little round". Despite the common etymological root, rondo ...

'' (1966), ''

One Song a Day Takes Mischief Away ''One Song a Day Takes Mischief Away'' is a 1970 Croatian comedy-drama film. Its original title is ''Tko pjeva zlo ne misli'', which means "He Who Sings Means No Harm". Directed by Krešo Golik and based on a novella by Vjekoslav Majer, the film a ...

'' (''Tko pjeva zlo ne misli'', 1970). Senečić won four

Golden Arena for Best Production Design List of winners The following is a list of winners of the Golden Arena for Best Production Design (also known as Scenography or Scenic design) at the Pula Film Festival. Yugoslav competition (1956–1990) Croatian competition (1992–present) ...

awards, making him one of the most decorated production designers in Croatian cinema. He also co-wrote screenplays for films ''An Event'' (''Događaj'', 1969; directed by

Vatroslav Mimica Vatroslav Mimica (25 June 1923 – 15 February 2020) was a Croatian film director and screenwriter. Early life Born in Omiš, Mimica had enrolled at the University of Zagreb School of Medicine before the outbreak of World War II. In 1942 he ...

) and ''The House'' (''Kuća'', 1975; directed by

Bogdan Žižić Bogdan Žižić (8 November 1934 – 29 April 2021)Delusion A delusion is a false fixed belief that is not amenable to change in light of conflicting evidence. As a pathology, it is distinct from a belief based on false or incomplete information, confabulation, dogma, illusion, hallucination, or som ...

'' (''Zavaravanje'', 1998) and '' Dubrovnik Twilight'' (''Dubrovački suton'', 1999).

Selected filmography

;As production designer *''

'' (1966) *''

'' (1970) * ''

The Bloody Vultures of Alaska ''The Bloody Vultures of Alaska'' (German: ''Die blutigen Geier von Alaska'') is a 1973 German Western film directed by Harald Reinl and starring Doug McClure, Harald Leipnitz and Angelica Ott.Pitts, Michael R. ''Western Movies: A Guide to 5,1 ...

'' (1973) *''

'' (1979) *''

The Glembays ''The Glembays'' ( hr, Glembajevi) is a 1988 in film, 1988 Cinema of Yugoslavia, Yugoslav film Film director, directed by Antun Vrdoljak starring Mustafa Nadarević and Ena Begović. The film is an adaptation of Miroslav Krleža's 1929 play ''Mess ...

'' (1988) *''

Charuga ''Charuga'' (''Čaruga'') is a 1991 Yugoslav film directed by Rajko Grlić. Based on the novel by Ivan Kušan, it tells a true story about legendary Slavonian bandit Jovo Stanisavljević Čaruga. During its premiere, ''Charuga'' was described ...

'' (1992)

References

External links

*
Željko Senečić
biography at Filmski-Programi.hr
Željko Senečić - scenograf oscarovca i dizajner kafića saborskih zastupnika
{{DEFAULTSORT:Senecic, Zeljko 1933 births 2018 deaths Film people from Zagreb Croatian production designers Croatian film directors Croatian screenwriters Golden Arena winners Academy of Fine Arts, University of Zagreb alumni Academy of Dramatic Art, University of Zagreb alumni Vladimir Nazor Award winners