Dalibor Grubačević

Dalibor Grubačević (; born January 9, 1975) is a Croatian composer, musician and record producer. His work includes film scores and contemporary classical music, often utilizing traditional orchestration combined with modern production techniques. In 2024, he was nominated for the Camille Award for Best Film Score for the war drama The Conversation. He has composed soundtracks for international films starring Academy Award winner Jeremy Irons, Academy Award nominee Tim Roth, as well as Armand Assante and Franco Nero.

Biography Dalibor Grubačević was born in Koprivnica (modern-day Croatia), where he grew up and completed his early education. Already as a young boy, he presented an exceptional musical talent and at the age of six he started learning to play guitar and piano. Later on, as a member of the local cultural and artistic society 'Koprivnica', he also learned to play the tamburica. In the 1990s he became increasingly attracted to rock 'n' roll and inspired by The Beatles he became a member of the pop-rock band 'The Bugs'. He then continued his musical education and journey of musical discovery by studying classical music forms and works of composers of classical music, attending private lessons with prof. Natalija Imbrišak. In 1993, he began studying Social Work at the Faculty of Law in Zagreb, however two years later he interrupted his studies in order to fully dedicate himself to music.

To date, he collaborated with many prominent Croatian directors, such as Branko Ištvančić (The Ghost in the Swamp, The Bridge at the End of the World), Andrej Korovljev (Hotel Pula), Miro Branković (In Search of Marko Polo), Nenad Puhovski (Together), Dominik Sedlar (The Conversation) and others, for whose films he composed music. Whilst composing film music, Grubačević very successfully combines a variety of musical genres and classical orchestration with electronic sounds and instruments. Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra, Simply Brass Quintet, Miroslav Evačić and Zoran Džorlev as well as with singers Toše Proeski, Sasa Lozar, Aleksandar Mitevski, Daniel Kajmakoski, and pop-rock band Pavel.

Dalibor Grubačević is a member of the Croatian Composers' Society and the Croatian Freelance Artists Association. Solid Pictures for French horn and piano (2014) Valse balkanique (Balkan waltz) for brass quintet (2018) Concerto for tuba and orchestra (2021) Csárdás suite for strings (2021) Diptych for tuba quartet (2023) Four Scapes for woodwind ensemble (2024)

Film scores

Feature films 2006 – Duh u močvari (The Ghost in the Swamp), feature film, directed by: Branko Ištvančić, HRT & Interfilm d.o.o. 2014 – Most na kraju svijeta (The Bridge at the End of the World), feature film, director: Branko Ištvančić, Artizana film d.o.o. & HRT 2016 – Zbog tebe (Because of You), feature film, director: Anđelo Jurkas, B produkcija, DOP Produkcija 2017 – Fuck off I Love You, feature film, director: Anđelo Jurkas, B produkcija, DOP Produkcija 2021 - The Match, feature film, director: Dominik and Jakov Sedlar, Ollendorff center, Oluja film, Mutiny Pictures 2022 - The Conversation, feature film, director: Dominik Sedlar, Quiet Storm Productions, Croatia Film 2023 - Hotel Pula, feature film, director: Andrej Korovljev, Kinematograf, HRT 2024 - Cat's Cry (Mačji krik), feature film, director: Sanja Živković, Nova film, Artizana film d.o.o., YN Films 2025 - 260 Days, feature film, director: Jakov Sedlar, 260 Days, Arramis Films, Croatia Film 2026 - The Crystal Planet, animated feature, director: Arsen Anton Ostojić, Filmosaurus rex, Alkay Animation Prague

Documentaries 2005 – Izgubljeno blago (The Lost Treasure), documentary, director: Branko Ištvančić, HRT 2007 – Tesla, documentary, director: Miro Branković, HRT 2009 – Zajedno (Together), documentary, director: Nenad Puhovski, Factum d.o.o. 2010 – Zaustavljeni glas (Silenced voice), documentary, director: Višnja Starešina, HRT & Interfilm d.o.o. 2011 – Album, documentary, director: Branko Ištvančić, Factum d.o.o. 2012/2013 – Hrvatsko vodeno blago (Aquatic treasures of Croatia), documentary TV series, director: Miro Andrić, HRT & Car-Herc d.o.o. 2013 – Slavoljub Penkala – documentary, director: Milka Barišić, HRT 2013 – U potrazi za Markom Polom (In Search of Marco Polo), documentary TV miniseries, director: Miro Branković, HRT 2014 – Dragi Lastane! (Dear Lastan!), documentary, director: Irena Škorić, Artizana film d.o.o. 2018 - Više od riječi (More than Words), TV series, director: Miro Branković, HRT 2020 - Rivers of Croatia, documentary, director: Goran Šafarek, Šafarek produkcija, 3BoxMedia 2021 - The Cars We Drove Into Capitalism, documentary, directors: Boris Missirkov, Georgi Bogdanov, Agitprop

Discography

Albums 2006 – Duh u močvari (The Ghost in the Swamp – original motion picture soundtrack), Croatia Records, CD 5695899 2011 – artEdox – Film music, Aquarius Records, CD 377–11 2012 – U potrazi za Markom Polom (In search of Marco Polo) (music from TV miniseries), Aquarius Records, CD 467–12 2015 – Most na kraju svijeta (The Bridge at the End of the World) (original motion picture soundtrack), Aquarius Records, CD 9841093 2021 – Dalibor Grubačević performed by the Zagreb Soloists (Live at Tuškanac Summer Stage), Aquarius Records, LP 18-21 2021 – The Match (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), Plaza Mayor Company Ltd., SERG300 2022 – The Conversation (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, Plaza Mayor Company Ltd., SERG323 2023 – Rivers of Croatia (Original Music from the Documentary Film), Plaza Mayor Company Ltd., 197188057565 2023 – The Cars We Drove into Capitalism (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), MovieScore Media, RB03002 2024 – Musical Gravities, Cantus Records, 88924507039

Production 2007 – CD Fulmination / Miroslav Evačić & Čardaš Blues Band, Croatia Records, CD 5751410 2010 – CD Camminate / Simply Brass, Cantus Records, CD 98898492102 2019 – CD Serbus! / Zagrebački orkestar ZET-a, ZET CD001 2019 – CD Signali / Hrvoje Pintarić, Tamara Jurkić Sviben, Cantus Records, CD 88924501542

Awards 2010 – Award for best music in a documentary film Together by director Nenad Puhovski at the 19th 'Days of Croatian Film' 2013 – Discography Award 'Porin' in the category for the Best album of original music for theatre, film and /or TV (for the album In Search of Marko Polo) 2016 – Award for best music in a documentary film It Was Just a Good Dream by director Branko Istvancic at the 7th 'Religious Film Festival' - Trsat (Croatia) 2022 – Silver Medal / Outstanding Achievement in the category Film Soundtrack and Album for the music from the film The Match, at the Global Music Awards competition - USA 2022 – Crystal Pine Award for best music in a feature film The Conversation directed by Dominik Sedlar at the 10th 'International sound & film music festival' - ISFMF 2022