Kekec's Tricks

Kekec's Tricks (Slovene: Kekčeve ukane) is a 1968 Yugoslav Slovene-language adventure film directed by Jože Gale. The film is based on the Kekec mountain narratives by Josip Vandot, originally published in Slovenian youth magazine Zvonček. It was produced by Viba film and distributed originally by Vesna film and later Viba film.^[1]

Kekec's Tricks (Kekčeve ukane)
Directed by	Jože Gale
Screenplay by	Ivan Ribič Jože Gale (adaptation)
Based on	Kekec mountain narratives by Josip Vandot
Produced by	Ljubo Struna
Starring	Zlatko Krasnič Polde Bibič Boris Ivanovski Jasna Krofak Fanika Podobnikar
Cinematography	Rudi Vaupotič
Edited by	Darinka Peršin
Music by	Bojan Adamič
Production company	Viba film
Distributed by	Vesna film (original) Viba film (current)
Release date	23 December 1968 (1968-12-23)
Running time	78 minutes
Countries	Slovenia Yugoslavia
Language	Slovene

This is the last of three in the Jože Gale film series about Kekec and has two previous parts: Kekec from 1951 and Good Luck, Kekec (Srečno, Kekec!) from 1963.^[2]

Plot

The evil poacher Bedanec, a character from the previous instalments, appears again. Kekec and his friends chase and hunt Bedanec again and drive him away. Nevertheless Bedanec catches Brincelj and Rožle. The brave Kekec saves both of them with the help of his wisdom and tricks Bedanec, who gets caught in one of his own traps he set.

Kekec saves Bedanec out of the trap because he politely asks him, but Bedanec doesn't learn anything out of this. A wise man, Vitranc, wants to bring peace to these places.

Cast

Actor	Character
Zlatko Krasnič	Kekec
Polde Bibič	Bedanec
Boris Ivanovski	Rožle
Jasna Krofak	Mojca
Fanika Podobnikar	Tinkara
Milorad Radovič	Brincelj
Jože Zupan	Vitranc

Music

The whole music including theme was composed by the Slovenian composer Bojan Adamič^[3]. Lyrics for theme song called "Kekčeva pesem" were written by Kajetan Kovič and performed by Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra.

Reception

The importance of the bucolic setting of the Julian Alps was noted.^[4][5]

Awards

The film received the Golden Arena for the Best Production Design at the Pula Film Festival in 1969.^[6]

Legacy

The film was screened in Šenčur in 2025.^[7] A grade-IX climbing route in the Kamnik-Savinja Alps was named after the film.^[8] The film was restored in 2016 by the Slovenian Archives.^[9]