Dear citizens of Zagreb, dear visitors!

Even though November is approaching, the sun still keeps us warm so there are numerous outdoor and indoor activities at our disposal. Various activities in the field of film, sports and music and many fairs await you. We are also slowly preparing for the magnificent December Advent in Zagreb which guarantees warm and positive atmosphere.

For film fans we have prepared the 17^th Zagreb Film Festival, which is one of the central and most visited cultural manifestations and the biggest international film festival in Croatia. It is held in Zagreb in November and represents the best of the recently made independent films of international and Croatian production companies to the audience. The festival has had a key role in raising generations of fans who enjoy films. The programme offers a diverse film and educational content suitable to all ages and interests and serves as a platform for networking professionals; every festival edition gathers around 200 film experts from Croatia and the world who come to Zagreb to present their films or participate in the festival’s educational events.

The fact that Interliber, the 42^nd International Book Fair, will take place at the Zagreb Fair will thrill book lovers of all ages. It is the largest book event in Croatia and a platform for promotion of books, writers, reading, science and knowledge gathering most significant publishers and bookstores. The pavilions in which the fair will take place will be filled with books of various genres for all ages by more than 300 exhibitors. Numerous titles written by world-famous bestsellers and literary stars are just a taste of what the best book fair in the region has to offer. Children, businesspeople and retirees; all are happy to visit it and find pleasure in it.

At the Zagreb Fair you will also get a chance to visit Reboot InfoGamer 2019 which will be held for the eighth consecutive year. This event will last six days and will take up even more space in a larger number of halls. Reboot InfoGamer has surpassed some of the most influential European fairs in size and it is now among the largest fairs. This year we are expecting more than 100 000 visitors who recognise the increasing importance of gaming culture and gaming industry, which is rapidly growing as the world largest entertainment industry.

The startup conference Zagreb Connect is back in town with its sixth edition. It is a conference whose aims are providing support to young entrepreneurs in developing their business ideas, further development of Zagreb entrepreneurial ecosystem and creating better conditions for startup companies in the City of Zagreb and the wider region. This year the City of Zagreb connected two events, Startup Factory and Zagreb Connect.

For all running enthusiasts there is the Zagreb Night Tenner (in Croatian lingo “cener”). It is a ten-kilometre city race which has been gathering runners in the very centre of Zagreb for eight years. Tickets for recent editions have been the most sought after in Croatia, and have been sold out in just several hours and even in minutes. Fans along the track are a trademark of the race. 

Music lovers will get a chance to enjoy the fifteenth and the last Positive Concert. It has become one of the most important music events in our yearly calendar and one of the most massive concerts in the entire region. This concert is just one of the events organised by CAHIV (Croatian Association for HIV and viral hepatitis) to raise awareness about AIDS and HIV related issues. In addition to its other aspects, the aim of the concert is to educate, encourage testing and responsible behaviour among the youth and persons at high risk of infection. The Positive Concert organisers fight for and promote the idea of AIDS – free generation.

Events in November are just a warmup for the Advent festivities in December which we are looking forward to!

Yours faithfully,

Mayor of the City of Zagreb

Milan Bandić