VoC’s Ivana Perkovac wins the award for best TV reportage!

A major recognition for our Ivana Perkovac, editor and journalist of Croatian Radiotelevision’s (HRT) "Global Croatia" (Globalna Hrvatska)! Her emotional reportage, "Molise Croats" (Moliški Hrvati), which tells the story of a Croatian community that has preserved its language, faith, and identity for five centuries far from its homeland, won the Fra Ma Fu Award for Best Television Reportage in the "Around the World" (Širom svijeta) category.

The jury awarded her the maximum number of points, and for Ivana, this recognition holds special meaning—because it gives a voice to people who have carried Croatia in their hearts for centuries. The award was ceremonially presented to her at the Journalists' Home (Novinarski dom) as part of the 13th Fra Ma Fu Festival.

The award-winning reportage, which premiered on October 9, 2025, on the show "Global Croatia", is yet another confirmation of the importance of television stories that connect homeland and diaspora Croats and preserve the rich heritage of Croatian communities around the world from oblivion.

The reportage "Molise Croats" takes viewers to the Italian province of Molise, among the descendants of Croats who crossed the Adriatic Sea in the 16th and 17th centuries, fleeing Ottoman conquests, and found a new home there.

The occasion for filming was the 9th Meeting of Homeland and Diaspora Croatia "Molizaiko" in Acquaviva Collecroce (Kruč), yet through the stories of her interviewees, Ivana Perkovac reveals much more—the life of a community that has preserved its archaic Croatian dialect, faith, customs, and sense of belonging to the Croatian people for five centuries.

Despite their small numbers, the emigration of young people, and the challenges of modern life, the Molise Croats do not give up on their roots.

Through the testimonies of Vesna Ljubić Sammartino, Antunella D’Antuono, and Giovanni Romagnoli, viewers get to know their everyday lives, memories of times when their language was banned, as well as the hope brought by new generations.

Particularly emotional moments of the reportage are the stories about the first Molise Alka tournament and the birth of the first child in Montemitro (Mundimitar) after a full fifteen years.

The Fra Ma Fu Festival jury awarded the reportage the maximum number of points, specifically highlighting its journalistic reliability, thoughtful choice of interviewees, and calm editing pace.

According to the jury's explanation, the reportage provides a comprehensive and authentic record of one of the oldest Croatian communities outside the homeland, emphasizing its role as a lasting bridge between Croatia and Italy.

This is a recognition that confirms the value of journalistic work dedicated to Croats outside Croatia, their destinies, identity, and connection to their homeland.

Although the award bears her name, Ivana Perkovac emphasizes that a whole team of people stands behind every successful television story: "Television journalism is, above all, teamwork. That is why I share this recognition with my colleagues from the field, cameramen Goran Bunjevac and Boris Mihajlović, and editor Anja Ikić, who brought this story to life on screen with me, giving it a special rhythm and soul."

She also extended special thanks to editor Vladimir Brnardić, who continuously supports journalistic stories about Croats outside the homeland: "I also thank our editor Vladimir Brnardić, who has an ear, sensitivity, and understanding for stories concerning Croats outside the Republic of Croatia and who gives us the journalistic freedom to do them the right way."

However, the most emotional part of Ivana's gratitude was dedicated to the people for whom the reportage was created—the Molise Croats: "Still, the biggest thanks go to the people because of whom this story was created—the Molise Croats. Every field assignment is special in its own way, but I admit my heart is always a little fuller when I return from Molise. Their great wish is to be more visible in Croatia, their old homeland."

For her, it is precisely this connection with people and their life stories that gives journalistic work its special value: "That is precisely why this award carries special weight for me. It is not just a recognition of our work, but also an important step toward ensuring their voice, language, and centuries-old tradition are heard and seen even more strongly in Croatia."

The award to Ivana Perkovac is simultaneously a recognition for the show "Global Croatia", which through its reportages connects Croats in the homeland and around the world, bringing their life stories, successes, challenges, and efforts to preserve Croatian identity.

The story of the Molise Croats reminds us how strong the connection to one's homeland can be, even after five centuries of living outside its borders.

Source: HRT