Tomorrow begins the 39th Herceg Novi Film Festival – Montenegro Film Festival, the largest film festival in Montenegro and one of the most important cultural events in Southeast Europe. During the next seven days, from August 22 to 28, Herceg Novi will be transformed into a big stage and open-air cinema.

The program starts on the red carpet in the main town square at 8 p.m. The host on the red carpet will be actor Goran Slavić, who will welcome numerous dignitaries from the world of film, culture and public life.

This year’s presenters of the opening program, actors Marija Bergam and Miloš Pejović, and members of the jury: actor Sebastian Cavazza, actresses Ljiljana Blagojević and Branka Pujić Jovanović, directors Draško Đurović, Pegah Ahangarani and Gegerin Zakoyan, Palm Springs Festival selector Alyssa Simon, director of photography Miloš Jaćimović, journalist Nikola Marković, as well as playwrights Armin Behrem and Ernesto Kolarić will walk the red carpet.

Numerous guests, authors and casts of films and series have been announced, including: directors Marijana Janković, Miroslav Terzić, Dina Duma, Miloš Avramović, Danilo Bećković, Muriel d’Ansembourg, Amerissa Basta, as well as prestigious acting names – among others, Hollywood acting legend John Savage, Dragan Mićanović, Dejan Čukić, Nada Šargin, Dubravka Drakić, Tara Čubrilo, Branislav Trifunović, Tihana Lazović, Simonida Selimović, Nenad Jezdić, Nataša Ninković, Anđela Jovanović.

Authors of films from the documentary and student selection, guests of the film industry program Montenegro Film Rendezvous, as well as festival selectors Vuk Perović, Vladimir Perović, Sara Stijović and Stefan Bošković will walk the red carpet.

The ceremonial opening will begin at 9:00 p.m. at the Kanli Tower fortress.

At the opening, the prestigious award for outstanding contribution to film art “Milan Žmukić” will be presented, whose laureate this year is acting legend Bogdan Diklić. The festival will be officially declared open by one of the most important acting names of our region, Dragan Mićanović.

After the opening ceremony, outside the competitive selection, there will be the Montenegrin premiere of the film “Home”, the feature debut of the Danish director and actress of Montenegrin origin, Marijana Janković.

The film tells the poignant story of six-year-old Maya, who leaves Yugoslavia with her parents and goes to Denmark in search of a better life, facing the challenges of adapting to a new culture and language while leaving behind two older brothers.

The third Montenegro Film Rendezvous marks the arrival of participants and the opening of the program, with the participation of guests and program participants in the ceremonial opening of the 39th Herceg Novi Film Festival – Montenegro Film Festival.

More than 80 films in five locations

Under the slogan “All the colors of film”, the audience can expect more than 80 films at five locations until August 28, divided into competitive selections of feature length, documentary and student films, as well as the presentation of new regional TV series, days of the film industry and a rich supporting program.

Tickets for Kanli Kula and Forte Mare are on sale at the ticket offices in the Park Hall, at the Kanli Kula Fortress and in the souvenir shop near the Forte Mare Fortress, as well as online via the website hercegfestulaznice.me. Entrance to other festival programs is free.

Detailed information on timetables and programs is available on the official website filmfestival.me, and you can follow all current events on the Festival’s social networks (Instagram and Facebook).

The patrons of the 39th Film Festival Herceg Novi – Montenegro film festival are the Ministry of Culture and Media of Montenegro and the Municipality of Herceg Novi, the executive producer is the Public Institution of Culture “Herceg-fest”, and the partner is the Film Center of Montenegro, with the support of numerous sponsors and friends of the festival.