The Herceg Novi Film Festival is officially accredited by the International Federation of Associations of Film Producers (Fédération Internationale des Associations de Producteurs de Films) FIAPF, thus becoming part of the global network of the most respected international film festivals.
Accreditation is the result of a process that lasted almost a year and included cooperation with the FIAPF team, submission of documentation on the festival’s work and standards, and a visit by FIAPF representatives. The accreditation commission especially recognized the long tradition of the festival, but also its continuous development through the introduction of new programs and initiatives. The continuous quality of the selections, in which there have been more and more domestic film productions in recent years, has also been recognized.
The Minister of Culture and Media Dr. Tamara Vujović said that this news represents an extremely significant moment for the culture and media sector in Montenegro, but also a strong confirmation that our cultural policies and investments in the development of film art produce concrete results.
“The inclusion of Herceg Novi in the festival network that includes the Cannes Film Festival, the Venice International Film Festival and the Berlin International Film Festival represents a strong signal to the international community that Montenegro is a reliable partner in the field of culture and creative industries,” said the minister.
According to her, this accreditation means an additional incentive for the further development of the film sector: from supporting domestic production and authors, to strengthening the festival infrastructure and international cooperation.
“It opens up new opportunities for networking our creators with producers, distributors and professionals from all over the world, which is of particular importance for the promotion of Montenegrin cinematography. At the same time, such international awards contribute to the strengthening of the cultural identity of Montenegro and confirm that culture can be a strong bridge of international cooperation, but also an important factor in the development of the creative economy,” the minister pointed out.
She said that the Ministry of Culture and Media will continue to provide strong support to projects and initiatives that contribute to the international affirmation of Montenegrin art and culture, convinced that such successes represent only the beginning of an even stronger development of our film scene.
The president of the Council of the Herceg Novi Film Festival and the director of the Film Center of Montenegro, Aleksandra Božović, pointed out that this accreditation is a recognition not only of the Herceg Novi Film Festival, but also of Montenegrin cinematography as a whole.
“It is a sign of recognition of the young but increasingly strong Montenegrin film scene by the most influential international organization in the field of the film industry. I am proud that our festival is included in the network that includes Cannes, Venice and the Berlinale. I am convinced that this accreditation will further contribute to the development of festival culture and film production in Montenegro, and open new doors for Montenegrin authors and professionals on the international stage,” Božović said.
FIAPF accreditation has multiple significance for Montenegrin cinematography. She confirms that the Herceg Novi Film Festival meets high international standards of quality and reliability, and places it on the map followed by the film industry around the world. For young Montenegrin cinematography, which in the last few years has been recording increasingly visible international successes, this is an institutional confirmation that it is progressing in the right direction.
The President of the Municipality of Herceg Novi, Stevan Katic, said that “the accreditation of the Herceg Novi Film Festival by FIAPF represents an exceptional recognition for the Festival, but also for our city. Herceg Novi has been recognized for decades as a meeting place of film authors, audiences and ideas, and this international recognition confirms that the festival that bears the name of our city has reached the standards of the most prestigious events in the world. For us, this is a strong confirmation that Herceg Novi justly bears the epithet of the city of culture and film and an additional incentive to continue developing the festival and we strengthen its international reputation”.
Katic added that the FIAPF accreditation is a confirmation of many years of work on improving the quality and image of the Film Festival, reminding that this year’s edition will be held from August 22 to 28.
FIAPF is an international organization founded in 1933, which represents the interests of the film industry on a global level. Its film festival accreditation program has existed since the 1950s and represents one of the most respected quality standards in the international film world.
So far, 64 festivals have been accredited by FIAPF. Starting this year, five new festivals from different continents join the list, and among them is the Herceg Novi Film Festival, as the only new accredited festival from our region.
The list of accredited festivals includes some of the most famous festivals in the world, the Cannes International Film Festival, the Venice International Film Festival (Mostra), the Berlin Film Festival (Berlinale), the Lakarno Film Festival and many others.
