Rajko Grlić, a celebrated film director, producer, and screenwriter, came into the world on September 2, 1947, in the vibrant city of Zagreb, which was then a part of the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia. His father, Danko Grlić, was a distinguished Croatian philosopher, and through his paternal lineage, Rajko Grlić's family had made the journey to Zagreb from Schwarzwald, Germany in the 19th century, leaving behind a lasting legacy. On his maternal side, Rajko Grlić's ancestry is rooted in a Jewish family with ties to the historic city of Sarajevo.
Rajko Grlić, a renowned filmmaker, embarked on an academic journey at the esteemed Film Faculty of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, where he had the privilege of studying alongside the illustrious Emir Kusturica, a prominent Bosnian film director who would go on to make a significant impact in the world of cinema. As the Croatian War of Independence raged on, Grlić, in search of a safer haven, relocated to the United States, a country that would eventually become his new home.
Rajko Grlić, a prominent figure in the cultural landscape of the Balkans, made a significant statement of intent in 2017 by signing the Declaration on the Common Language of the Croats, Serbs, Bosniaks, and Montenegrins, a bold declaration of his unwavering dedication to preserving and promoting the rich cultural and linguistic heritage of the region, a testament to his unshakeable commitment to the shared cultural identity of the people who call this land home.
Rajko Grlić, a renowned film scholar and industry leader, holds a prestigious position as a professor of film theory at Ohio University, where he imparts his vast knowledge and expertise to the next generation of filmmakers.
