Debut Trailer for “Petty Thieves” Shows Croatia’s Tourism Problem Through a Young Thief’s Eyes

Croatian filmmaker Mate Ugrin has released the first trailer for his feature debut, “Petty Thieves,” ahead of its world premiere at the 60th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. The film offers a raw look at life on the fringes of Croatia’s booming tourism industry.

The story follows Rio, a quiet hotel kitchen worker who steals from tourists to supplement his low wages. When fellow seasonal worker Andrea catches him, she suggests they work together and split the profits. Their partnership soon grows into an emotional bond, turning the film into a coming-of-age story about poverty, survival, and human connection.

Set on Croatia’s Adriatic coast, “Petty Thieves” shifts the spotlight from tourists to the workers who keep the industry running but rarely benefit from its success.

Ugrin said the film explores “gestures of solidarity among people with little power.” Through Rio and Andrea’s relationship, it examines the difficult choices people make to survive. Instead of a traditional crime drama, the film uses petty theft to explore inequality and life on society’s margins.

Rio also faces struggles at home. He clashes with his grandmother over caring for his grandfather, who has dementia. These family conflicts add emotional depth and help explain the pressures behind his decisions.

The film will compete in the Proxima Competition, which highlights emerging filmmakers and bold new cinema. The cast includes Gavrilo Jović, Tea Ljubešić, and Snježana Sinovčić-Šiškov. Ivan Marković serves as cinematographer, Jelena Maksimović as editor, and Olivier Voisin as sound designer. The film is produced by Kadromat with co-production partners from France, Germany, and Serbia.

“Petty Thieves” was developed through the Torino Film Lab, When East Meets West, EAVE, and the CineLink Co-Production Market, where it received several industry awards. The project is backed by the Croatian Audiovisual Centre and the EU’s Creative Europe MEDIA programme.

The trailer highlights quiet performances, moody coastal visuals, and understated tension. It focuses on the emotional impact of economic hardship rather than glamorizing crime.

Blending social realism with intimate storytelling and a striking Adriatic backdrop, “Petty Thieves” arrives at Karlovy Vary as one of the festival’s most promising debut features. It also marks Mate Ugrin as an emerging voice in European cinema.