The film follows the tragedy of the six-member Gubina family, who were deprived of their freedom and subjected to brutal violence for 260 days during the Serb occupation of Dalj on the River Danube in eastern Croatia in the Homeland War.
Filming ran from 27 May to 27 June 2024 in English, and the cast includes Tim Roth, Armand Assante, Ángela Molina, Sam Hazeldine and Will Godber, alongside around 40 British, Spanish and Croatian actors. The screenplay is by Dominik Sedlar, with Oscar winner Barry Morrow as supervisor.
Sedlar said he was pleased with the result, noting the strong story, excellent cast and post-production in Los Angeles, and stressed the team's serious and meticulous approach. He said the film is important because its message is peace and forgiveness in a world marked by unrest and conflict.
Author Marijan Gubina said watching the film stirs mixed emotions, combining joy at the premiere with the difficulty of reliving painful scenes. He said the film closely follows the book and expressed confidence it would be successful, like the stage production premiered at Osijek's Croatian National Theatre in 2014.
Deputy Prime Minister and Agriculture Minister David Vlajčić said it was vital to promote the truth about the Homeland War, especially among young people, noting his pride in the premiere on the anniversary of the suffering of residents of Vukovar's suburb of Lužac.
Osijek-Baranja County Prefect Nataša Tramišak described the film as a major achievement of Croatian cinema and believed the region would continue to attract productions. Osijek Mayor Ivan Radić said 260 Days is a film for present and future generations, telling the story of Croatia's creation and the sacrifice of its defenders.
Before the screening, actors Tim Roth and Armand Assante addressed the audience via recorded messages.