History

Historical background and important events from Viba film history.

Slovenian cinematography is relatively young and has only fully developed after World War II. Slovenians have filmed their first feature film in 1948, directed by France Štiglic, "Na svoji zemlji". Director Janko Ravnik has directed a feature length documentary "V kraljestvu Zlatoroga" in 1931 and director Ferdo Delak has directed an acted - documentary "Triglavske strmine" in 1932.

In 1945 a federal film company has ben created with subsidaries in all yugoslav republics. Subsidaries were autonomus in creation, distribution and screenings of the film production. Only next year, the fields were separated and consequently Triglav Film company was created (from 13.09.1946 to 1975). And film distribution company Vesna Film, which rand until 1990. Triglav film's first full scale feature film was "Na svoji zemlji", finished in 1948. Triglav Film has produced 21 slovenian feature films until 1963.
Some of the movies of that time include:

Kekec, directed by: Jože Gale,1951
Vesna, directed by: František Čap, 1953
Dolina miru, directed by: France Štiglic, 1956
Veselica, directed by: Jože Babič, 1960
Ples v dežju, directed by: Boštjan Hladnik, 1961
Tistega lepega dne, directed by: France Štiglic, 1962

The fifties brought many changes in the film business. The technical base of Triglav Film forms a company Filmservis, which focuses on offering technical expertise in the field of production to domestic and foreign filmmakers. A company Viba Film (28.6.1956) is created by slovenian film workers. Filmservis studios produced 35 feature films during 1956-64 period. Triglav Film had to accept foreign film production, as the federal financial input was cut. Triglav Film has produced a total of 40 films with domestic and foreign partners. In 1966 Triglav Film bankrupts and Viba film takes over the studios and laboratories, which ran until 1975. In 1975 Triglav Film and Viba film announce merger.
Viba film has ben reestablished in Slovenia in 1991 as the leading national producer. It has filmed 92 slovenian feature films. 61 films have been producet entirely in Slovenia and 31 with partners from other parts of former Yugoslavia.

The largest Slovenian film production house Viba film succombs to financial problems in 1991 and the Ministry of Culture takes over the financial aspects of Slovenian film industry. The Ministry founds Slovenian National Film Fund, which becomes the financer of Slovenian national film projects, while Viba film becomes the national technical base. Viba film takes over the technical aspects of national film production (cameras, sound recording equipement, lighting equipement, large and small studio and sound and visual postproduction).

The studios of Triglav Film and subsequent Viba film have been located in the curch of St. Joseph and a part of adjacent monastery in Zrinjskega street 9 in Ljubljana. The buildings have been denationalized and returned to their original owner - Catholic church in 1996.

In 2003, Viba film launched a brand new, modern production facility in Stegne industrial cone in Ljubljana. The new production facilities enable realisation of Slovenian national film program from production to postproduction, as well as domestic and foreign commercial production.

Photographs: Film Fund of RS, Slovenske Cinematheque archives, Arsmedia archives in Vertigo/Emotionfilm archives.