The most exciting weekend of the year has officially begun! Last night’s party in Rovinj kicked off Weekend.18 – the “coming-of-age” festival of communications, media, business, and entertainment that once again brings together thousands of participants from across the region and beyond. The opening night already delivered a taste of what Rovinj in September is famous for: great company, unexpected encounters, and partying late into the night. But the real content marathon starts today, as Friday marks the beginning of the talks that will shape the themes of the ultimate Weekend so far.
The program that sets the tone
Friday brings a rich agenda across all festival modules – from Weekend.18 to HR.Weekend and Finance.Weekend, all the way to the brand-new Investment.Weekend and Energy.Weekend. From early morning, Rovinj has transformed into the meeting point for leading regional and international leaders, experts, and visionaries.
“Every year I think that, after so many editions, the excitement might fade, but even after 18 years, the feeling of the first day of Weekend is always special and incredible. This year’s edition brings the richest program so far: two brand-new festivals, as many as ten halls filled with panels, lectures, and workshops, and countless opportunities for connection and idea exchange. Weekend is not only a place to listen to speakers, but also to meet people, network, and shape future collaborations; whether in the halls, over coffee, or late at night in the club. Make the most of every moment and enjoy the Weekend ahead of us,” said Tomo Ricov, Director of Weekend.18.
The first panel to draw major audience attention was “Truth Under Siege – Reporting in Times of Global Crises,” powered by DW. Mirsada Begović, News Editor at Al Jazeera English, Marlon Amoyal, Head of DW’s BHS-language service, and Ksenija Pavkov, N1 reporter and lecturer in Novi Sad, opened the festival discussions by addressing the role of journalists in an age of disinformation and mounting global pressures. The panel was moderated by Barbara Štrbac of Nova TV, while the audience had the chance to hear first-hand about the challenges modern journalism faces when truth itself becomes the target.
The panel highlighted how journalism has never been more important, nor more challenged. Since 2020, 317 journalists and media workers have been killed, and there are currently 39 active conflict zones worldwide. Building on this, Mirsada Begović emphasized the crucial role of experience when reporting from crisis areas: “Everyone reporting now from Gaza and similar war zones has over 30 years of experience. If that weren’t the case, the outcomes would be far worse for them. Universities don’t prepare you for this—only when you find yourself in such a situation do you realize how essential your character and level-headedness are,” Begović said. She also noted that Al Jazeera has an entire department dedicated to verifying information and video content, particularly given the rise of disinformation and AI-generated material: “There must be no doubt about objectivity. Today, not even international institutions are fully trusted, and our responsibility is to remain credible, even when our lives literally hang by a thread.”
Weekend attendees had the chance to hear an exclusive announcement from Nenad Milanović, founder and CEO of CAKE.com, the company behind the globally popular tool Clockify. Under the moderation of Daniel Ackermann, CEO of Degordian, Milanović discussed his business and revealed plans for a new media platform that will employ journalists who were dismissed for opposing the ruling powers. “I don’t want to enter the media business, but I believe it’s crucial that Serbia has a media outlet reporting impartially on the real situation on the ground and on everything Vučić’s people are doing,” he said. Despite this, his personal business has come under attack, ranging from hacking attempts to espionage.
Mariana van Zeller, world-renowned journalist and producer of the documentary series Trafficked, emphasized the importance of courage in asking the right and important questions during her conversation “Risk, Truth & the Power of Storytelling” with Ema Branica, reporter and host of Provjereno on Nova TV. “We’ve taken risks many times, asking questions even when we could have been expelled from the country. Vietnam is one of the most challenging locations we’ve filmed in—the government monitors your every move. Everywhere around us, there were listening devices; they tracked our car. They would tell me, ‘You asked questions we agreed you wouldn’t,’ and I’d say, ‘Sorry, it won’t happen again,’ and then I’d ask them again. They didn’t expel me, but I don’t think I’ll ever be allowed back in. The most important thing is to listen to people the world often ignores. When we give them a voice, we uncover truths that change perceptions and, hopefully, inspire change.”
The Grand Opening of the 3rd HR.Weekend and 2nd Finance.Weekend
The third edition of HR.Weekend once again brings together numerous experts from the region and beyond, including HR team leaders, employers, specialists in employer branding, people analytics, employee development, coaching, and digital HR tools. One of the festival’s most anticipated moments is the Top Workplace Awards, featuring the introduction of a new category, Best of the Best, recognition for companies that have achieved outstanding results above the market and industry average in employee satisfaction and engagement.
The world of finance is no exception. The first day of Finance.Weekend features a talk by Matija Nakić, founder of Farseer, intriguingly titled “AI Instead of Excel: Who Really Runs Finance Today?” This topic, discussed in almost every company, will gain a fresh perspective from the world of finance.
Another highly anticipated moment is the appearance of Michael Boyd, former Director of Apple’s Treasury, who will share his experiences in the afternoon session, drawing on two decades of managing the finances of one of the world’s most successful brands.
New horizons with Investment and Energy
For those following global investment trends, Investment.Weekend offers insights into markets, geopolitics, and the future of investing. The first day features discussions on how an unstable global landscape shapes investment decisions and where new capital opportunities lie. Among the inspiring panels, a standout session is the conversation between George Yeo, former Minister for Foreign Affairs of Singapore, and Mate Njavre, Director of Investment.Weekend, titled “Investing in the Age of Geopolitics… Solving the Three-Body Problem.”
The biggest innovation of this year’s Weekend is Energy.Weekend, which opened today at the Grand Park Hotel Rovinj. The program kicked off with the panel “What Will the World Look Like in 2045?” featuring Korada Korlević, astronomer and founder of the Višnjan Observatory. Korlević highlighted that we are entering the “age of machines,” marked by a new redistribution of power and energy, with the energy sector becoming a field of the future. Production, storage, and smart distribution of energy are now key to a stable and sustainable society.
Weekend.18: Shaping the future
The first day of lectures showcased what Weekend has been known for over the years: a blend of serious topics and top-notch content with a unique atmosphere of fun, networking, and new experiences. From artificial intelligence and energy to human resources, finance, and creativity, Rovinj is becoming a place where the future is not just discussed – it is actively shaped.
