Janez Kovič, production designer and producer
Recipient of the 2026 Milka and Metod Badjura Lifetime Achievement Award

The judges for the 2026 Milka and Metod Badjura Award: Jerca Jerič, Urška Kos, Rado Likon, Matjaž Žbontar, Janez Burger

Official Statement

Janez Kovič is one of the few figures in Slovenian cinema history who, with equal dedication, expertise, and creative vision, has left his mark on two fundamental areas of filmmaking: production design and production. In a career spanning more than forty years, he has helped shape the visual and production framework for generations of Slovenian films. His body of work includes more than 70 film and television projects created from the early 1980s to the present day.

Kovič began his career as a production designer at a time when Slovenian cinema was still part of Yugoslav cinema. From his very first works, he stood out for his unique sense of cinematic space, seeing it not merely as a backdrop but an integral part of the story. In 1982, he proved himself an outstanding production designer on his first feature-length project, Displaced Person, a film directed by Marjan Ciglič. For Wasteland, Kovič received the Golden Arena at the Pula Film Festival in 1982. In 1990, he won his second Golden Arena for his production design in To the Limit and Beyond. He is a three-time winner of the Metod Badjura Award for production design: in 1984 for What a Sun, in 1987 for The Felons, and in 1991 for The Jailers. This makes Jani Kovič one of the most awarded production designers in the history of Slovenian cinema.

Alongside his work as a production designer, Kovič built his career as a producer. In 1985, he co-founded Studio 37, one of the first organisational bodies for independent film production in Yugoslavia that enabled filmmakers to produce films outside state structures. This was followed by the establishment of the Studio Arkadena production company in 1994, which became one of the key production entities of the Slovenian and regional film landscape.

Studio Arkadena was involved, among other projects, in the production of two films that achieved notable international success. The film (A)Torsion, directed by Stefan Arsenijević, won the Golden Bear for Best Short Film at the 2003 Berlinale, was nominated for an Oscar in the Best Short Film category, and received the European Film Award. Prior to that, Srdjan Vuletić’s Hop, Skip & Jump (2000) had also received an award at the Berlinale, as well as a number of other international accolades. These achievements were no coincidence. They resulted from a producer’s vision that recognised the artistic merit of a film’s story and supported it until it achieved international recognition. Through his work as a producer, Kovič has demonstrated that film production is an artistic profession with a distinct creative identity.

A special chapter in Janez Kovič’s body of work includes three architectural films about Jože Plečnik, created between 1991 and 1993 and awarded at the Barcelona International Film Festival. They were among the first Slovenian films to feature computer animation and compositing. With them, Kovič demonstrated that film production is not limited to live-action formats but can competently address the demands of any genre and subject matter.

What is truly remarkable about Janez Kovič is that he never struggled moving between his roles as producer and production designer. He worked in both roles simultaneously and in parallel. Rather than a compromise, this duality was an advantage, making him a producer who understands the cinematic space down to its smallest visual detail, and a production designer who knows what it takes to bring a project to life in its entirety. Such creative synthesis is a true rarity on the Slovenian and broader regional film scene.

It is with great pride and respect that we present Janez (Jani) Kovič with the prestigious 2026 Milka and Metod Badjura Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Slovenian cinema.

production designer
celovečerni igrani filmi / feature films

Trdinov ravs / Trdina’s Rough-House, dir Filip Robar-Dorin, Studio Vrtinec, 2005
Nepopisan list / What Now, Luka?, dir Jane Kavčič, Arsmedia, 2000
Brezno / The Rift, dir Igor Šmid, Triada, 1998
Peter in Petra / Peter and Petra, dir Franc Arko, RTV Slovenija, 1996
Herzog, dir Mitja Milavec, Nora Production Group, 1995
Rabljeva freska / Executioner’s Fresco, dir Anton Tomašič, Timaro Productions, 1995
Morana, dir Aleš Verbič, Studio 37, 1993
Zrakoplov / The Flying Machine, dir Jurij Pervanje, Multimedia, RTV Slovenija, Sfinga, Filmski studio Viba film, 1993
Do konca in naprej / To the Limit and Beyond, dir Jurij Pervanje, Studio 37, Filmski studio Viba film, 1990
Ječarji / The Jailers, dir Marjan Ciglič, Studio 37, Filmski studio Viba film, 1990
Umetni raj / Artificial Paradise, dir Karpo Godina, Filmski studio Viba film, 1990
Veter v mreži / The Windhunter, dir Filip Robar-Dorin, Filmski studio Viba film, AS Filmske alternative, 1989
Maja in vesoljček / Maya and the Starboy, dir Jane Kavčič, Filmski studio Viba film, 1988
Odpadnik / The Maverick, dir Božo Šprajc, Filmski studio Viba film, 1988
Hudodelci / The Felons, dir Franci Slak, Filmski studio Viba film, Art film 80, 1987
Paralele / Parallels, dir Marjan Ciglič, ORF – Österreichischer Rundfunk, RTV Slovenija, 1987
Kormoran / A Cormoran, dir Anton Tomašič, Filmski studio Viba film, 1986
Christophoros, dir Andrej Mlakar, Filmski studio Viba film, 1985
Leta odločitve / The Years of Decision, dir Boštjan Vrhovec, Filmski studio Viba film, 1984
Ljubezen / Love, dir Rajko Ranfl, Filmski studio Viba film, 1984
Nobeno sonce / What a Sun, dir Jane Kavčič, Vladimir Ranik, Filmski studio Viba film, 1984
Dih / A Breath of Air, dir Božo Šprajc, Filmski studio Viba film, 1983
Pustota / Wasteland, dir Jože Gale, Filmski studio Viba film, 1982
Razseljena oseba / Displaced Person, dir Marjan Ciglič, Vesna film, Filmski studio Viba film, 1982
Učna leta izumitelja Polža / Apprenticeship of the Inventor Polž, dir Jane Kavčič, Vladimir Ranik, Filmski studio Viba film, 1982

short films

(A)torzija / (A)Torsion, dir Stefan Arsenijević, Studio Arkadena, 2002
Hop, Skip & Jump, dir Srđan Vuletić, Studio Arkadena, 2000
My First Cut, dir Zdravko Barišić, Studio Arkadena, 1999
Balkanska ruleta / Balkan Roulette, dir Zdravko Barišić, Studio Arkadena, 1997
Moj prijatelj Arnold / My Friend Arnold, dir Boris Jurjaševič, RTV Slovenija, 1997
Pesem od Ludomorca / The Ballad of the Butcherman, dir Jane Kavčič, Arsmedia, 1997
Pogreb / The Funeral, dir Gregor Tozon, Filmski studio Viba film, 1979

TV series

Vrtičkarji, r. Jurij Pervanje,  RTV Slovenija, 2000–01
Posel je posel, r. Jurij Korenc, Studio 37, 1991
Julius Kugy, r. Marjan Ciglič, ORF – Österreichischer Rundfunk, RTV Slovenija, 1984

architectural films (1991–1993)

Arhitekt Plečnik in Ljubljana / Architect Plečnik and Ljubljana, Studio 37
Plečnikova sakralna arhitektura / Plečnik’s Sacral Architecture, Studio 37
Nedokončani projekti / Unfinished Works, Studio 37

production designer and producer
feature films

Anina provizija / Ana’s Commission, dir Igor Šmid, Studio Arkadena, 2017
Morje v času mrka / The Sea at the Time of the Eclipse, dir Jurij Pervanje, RTV Slovenija, 2008
Vampir z Gorjancev / The Vampire from Gorjanci, dir Vinci Vogue Anžlovar, RTV Slovenija, 2008

TV series

Življenja Tomaža Kajzerja, dir Peter Bratuša, RTV Slovenija, 2013–14
Duhec / Little Ghost, dir Jurij Pervanje, RTV Slovenija, 2012

producer
feature films

Kruha in iger / Bread and Circuses, dir Klemen Dvornik, RTV Slovenija, 2011
Realnost / Reality, dir Dafne Jemeršić, Perfo, Studio Arkadena, Brigada, 2008
Noč / Let me sleep, dir Miha Knific, Start film production Stockholm, Studio Arkadena, 2006

short films

Ledena kraljica / Ice Queen, dir Tina Fratnik, Studio Arkadena, 2018
Motus, dir Oton Bačar, RTV Slovenija, 2016
Mario je gledal morje z zaljubljenimi očmi / Mario Was Watching the Sea With Love, dir Svetlana Dramlić, RTV Slovenija, 2014
Volk in lisica na motorju, dir Svetlana Dramlić, RTV Slovenija, 2011
Lovec oblakov / The Cloud Catcher, dir Miha Knific, Studio Arkadena, 2009
Ohcet / The Wedding, dir Petar Pašić, Studio Arkadena, 2006
Srce je kos mesa/Heart is a piece of meat/, dir Jan Cvitkovič, 2003

Dosedanji prejemniki nagrade Milke in Metoda Badjure za življenjsko delo:

2025 Janez Bricelj

2024 Zvonka Makuc

2023 Rado Likon

2022 Milena Zupančič

2021 Emilija Soklič

2020 Konrad (Koni) Steinbacher

2019 Andrej Zdravič

2018 Tugo Štiglic

2017 Franci Zajc

2016 Dušan Milavec

2015 Dunja Klemenc

2014 Hanna Preuss

2013 Karpo Godina

2012 Alenka Bartl Prevoršek

2011 Ljubo Struna

2010 Filip Robar Dorin

2009 Mako Sajko

2008 Milan Ljubić

2007 Mirjana Borčić

2006 Peter Zobec

2005 Jože Pogačnik

2004 Vojko Duletič

2003 Rudi Vaupotič

2002 Jože Gale

2001 Matjaž Klopčič

2000 Jane Kavčič

1999 Boštjan Hladnik

1998 Rudi Omota

1997 Berta Meglič

1996 Jože Babič

1995 Ivan Marinček in/and Dušan Povh