Ivo Balenović (b. 1969) is Croatian writer and physician, best known as the authors of novels which were later adapted into notable feature films directed by Branko Schmidt, with whom he collaborated as screenwriter.

Ivo Balenović was born in Zagreb. He grew up in the neighbourhood near Maksimir and Eugen Kvaternik Square. His family was Catholic and he attended Church catechism classes; he later explained that this was motivated less by his family's faith and more with the desire to express opposition to the officially atheist regime of Communist Yugoslavia. He graduated at Math Information Education Centre (today's XV Zagreb Gymnasium) before enrolling in medical school. After graduation he specialised in obstetrics and worked in KB Merkur, prestigous Zagreb hospital.

He began his literary career in 2005 with novel Metastaze ("Metastases") published under pen name "Alen Bokvić". The novel, dealing with group old friends wasting their lives through drugs, alcohol and football hooliganism, proved to be great success, leading to stage adaptation and, four years later, into eponymous film directed by Branko Schmidt.

Balenović came into public spotlight in 2007 due to tragic case of medical malpractice at KB Merkur.

Baby boy named Dominic Pitraboy was delivered by doctors Predrag Đurić and Balenović, but remained crippled for life, which was credited by badly conducted medical procedure.

Both doctors were pronounced guilty of medical malpratice after lengthy and complicated trial and sentenced to suspended prison terms.

During the trial Balenović has put all the blame on Đurić, who had conducted initial procedure despite having private practice outside of hospital and not being under contract; Balenović also claimed that hewas a scapegoat because he opposed using outside physicians and other illegal practices in hospital.

Balenović used those experiences as an inspiration for his next novel Cannibal Vegetarian, dealing with an immoral and corrupt doctor who abuses his position and connections with organised crime and destroys lives of his patients and colleagues. The novel was again adapted into eponymous film directed by Branko Schmidt.

In 2016 Balenović wrote script for ZG80, action adventure film set in 1980s Yugoslavia and chronicling clashes between Bad Blue Boys (supporters of Dinamo Zagreb football club) with their rivals Delije (supporters of Red Star Belgrade), which is also described as a prequel to Metastases.

A year later Balenović worked on a script for Agape film dealing with issues of homosexuality and pedophilia within Catholic Church.