In Montenegro, intensive and planned work was done on the development of domestic cinematography, which is confirmed by the fact that as many as eight out of eleven films in the competitive selection of feature films at the 38th Film Festival (FFHN) Herceg Novi – Montenegro Film Festival will be presented as Montenegrin productions or co-productions. This was pointed out by Vuk Perović, the selector of the feature film selection within the FFHN.
From August 23 to 29, 12 feature films will be screened in the surroundings of the Kanli Tower fortress, and the festival opens with a local film, which is coming to Herceg Novi from its world premiere – Vidra, directed by Srđan Vuletić.
Perović reminded that FFHN is primarily focused on regional films in the main competitive selection.
“The first criterion is that the films come from the countries of the region of the former Yugoslavia. It’s nice that regional production is gaining momentum. This year we have really high-quality productions, films that have already been or will be shown at major world festivals,” Perović said in a statement to the PR Center.
As he adds, the decision about the 11 films that will be in the competition program was not at all easy.
“There were more quality films than places, which is a challenge, but also a responsibility that this position brings. The competition is extremely serious, and the regret remains for those who did not make it into the selection,” said Perović.
According to him, FFHN remains open to new names, author’s manuscripts and debut films, with a special focus on Montenegrin cinematography.
“This year we have a debut film from Montenegro, the author of which is an established actor who this time presents himself as a director. It will also be its world premiere, a big event for both him and the festival,” announced Perović.
He pointed out the importance of Herceg-Novi as a space open to different film voices from the region.
“The festival has the task of covering the entire regional offer, but also to remain faithful to the promotion of Montenegrin films, especially now that we have new names in domestic cinematography, which we must be proud of,” said Perović.
He pointed out the importance of the establishment of the Film Center of Montenegro, which, he said, contributed to the planned development of domestic cinematography.
“This year, in the competitive selection, we have as many as eight films that are Montenegrin productions or co-productions, out of a total of 11 selected. This is an impressive result and speaks of the fact that we are planning to work on the development of Montenegrin cinematography. These films come from different stages of the authors’ careers and bring various film manuscripts. It is a small cinematography with limited capacities, but with a large number of creative people who know what they want to say and how to express it,” Perović pointed out.
When asked how he assesses the current state of feature film in the region, Perović said that it is “very dynamic.”
“When you look forward to so much production power, on the one hand, it brings satisfaction, and on the other, a huge responsibility, because there simply isn’t room for all the quality titles. Unfortunately, there wasn’t room for all the quality titles that came out this year. There are very high-quality new names in the region. Also, there were established films by directors that were very high-quality, which tells you where regional production stands,” said Perović.
Speaking about the themes of the films, Perović said that this year’s selection brings titles that are engaged, with strong themes, but also with a touch of humor.
“These are films that talk about important topics, but often in a way that also includes elements of laughter, which is part of our everyday life. It is this combination of seriousness and humor that has characterized European and regional films for decades,” said Perović.
He announced that in addition to the competitive selection, through the Kino Evropa program, the audience will have the opportunity to see works from the world’s most important film festivals.
“Visitors to the FFHN will have the opportunity to watch important film productions that marked the first eight months of this year and gain an insight, at least partially, into the current trends in European and world cinematography,” said Perović.
The official opening of the festival is scheduled for August 23 at 9 p.m. at the Kanli Tower, after which the audience will see the fourth feature film by Srđan Vuletić, which attracted international attention while still in the development phase, winning the Eurimages award at Cinelink, The Best Pitch award at WEMW and selection for the Cinnefondation program of the Cannes L’Atelier festival in Cannes.
Milivoj Miš Obradović’s debut film 15 will have its world premiere in front of our audience on August 24 at 9 p.m., followed by White Washes at 90 by Slovenian director Marko Nabersnik.
A day later, on August 25, from 9 p.m., Dino Mustafić’s Pavilion will be shown at Kanli Tower, followed by another majority Montenegrin co-production, Roda Isje Ćosje’s film.
Vladimir Tagić’s Yugo Florida arrives at Kanli Kulu on August 26, and on the same evening, the award-winning production of Urška Đukić’s Good Girl is on the program.
Another domestic film, Obraz, directed by Nikola Vukčević, which was recently awarded for best director and screenplay at the Zaragoza festival, is on the program on August 27, and after it, the audience will see the award-winning DJ Ahmet, signed by Macedonian director Georgi M. Unkovski.
The power of Montenegrin cinematography will also be shown by the historical drama The Melting of the Ruler by Ivan Salatić, which had its world premiere at the beginning of the year in Rotterdam, and will be on the program of the Herceg Novi Film Festival on August 28. On the same evening, the movie How is it so green here?directed by Nikola Ležaić, who recently won three Golden Arenas in Pula.
The festival, after the award ceremony scheduled for August 29 at 9 p.m., will close with the out-of-competition film Diva Futura, signed by director Giulia Louise Steigerwalt.Diva Futura had its world premiere as part of the main competition program of the festival in Venice, and one of the main roles is played by Lidija Kordić, the first Montenegrin actress who was chosen to participate in the prestigious “European Shooting Stars” program of the Berlin Film Festival.
The winner of the Grand Prix – Golden Mimosa for the best film and other awards of the feature film competition selection will be decided by the jury composed of: ed.prof. Predrag Perišić, playwright, film and TV screenwriter, Gorčin Stojanović, director, Nataša Ninković, actress, prof. Ph.D. Maja Bogojević, film theorist and critic and Esra Demirkiran, director of the film production sector of TRT (Turkish Radio and Television) and coordinator of the TRT 12 Punto festival.