Montenegro does not have to worry about the future of documentary film, because more and more young authors nurture this form, which, although it does not change reality, manages to call it out, point it out, and even put it on the dock, all while maintaining social responsibility.This was assessed by the documentary film selection selector, director Vladimir Perović, who said that this year’s selection within the 38th Film Festival in Herceg Novi once again confirms that the key word is quality.
“Perhaps that word sounds worn out, but it implies that the documentary film finds the right balance between the topicality of the content, its social relevance, thoughtfulness… and the form in which the author has packaged it,” Perović said in a statement to the PR Center.
The documentary film selection within the FFHN will last from August 24 to 28, and the beginning of the screenings is scheduled every evening at 9:00 pm in the garden of the House of Nobel laureate Ivo Andrić, which for several years has proven to be a great environment for enjoying documentaries and socializing with authors.
During five days, 22 films by authors from all over the world will be shown, of which 21 are in the competitive selection, and one special screening – “Stanić, Stoleće” directed by Andro Martinović, a film about one of the greatest Montenegrin painters, Voj Stanić, who chose Herceg Novi as his home.
Perović clarified that topicality in itself is not enough for the film to be included in the selection.
“I don’t know how important an event in the world could be, if it was depicted only as a reporter, if it was done in a way that could be done by a surveillance camera or a accidentally turned on, lost camera, that is not for our festival,” said Perović.
According to him, the festival that he selects follows the direction of modern documentary, one that always includes an artistic dimension, clarifying that the form carries the same weight as the content itself.
He recalled that during the earlier years within the FFHN, when the opportunity arose, he organized themed evenings related to certain motives – women, mountains, social turbulence.
“I couldn’t do it this year, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t common themes,” added Perović.
He said that one of the most visible themes that pervades this year’s selection is violence.
“From the genocide of the Israeli state against the Palestinian population, but of course not expressed directly through destruction and killing, to the “Man’s World” in Georgia, in which the dominance of traditional norms, imposed by men and maintained by women, simply constricts the individual so that he does not feel free,” stated Perović.
He pointed out that a notable place in the selection is also occupied by a film by an author from Serbia, which reflects on the war that was imposed on him in an extremely modern and at the same time difficult way.
“Then, let’s say, violence against women, where we have two interesting films. Our author, the great Mateja Raičković, also coincidentally wanted a Slovakian author to deal with a similar problem, which both bravely manage to articulate. There are other themes that come through…”, stated Perović.
He assessed that this year young authors from the region showed high artistic and thematic maturity.
In addition to Raičković, Perović singles out Aleksa Bujišić as a “new voice of Montenegrin documentary”, and points to Zuk Garagić, a young author from Bosnia, who is studying in America.
He said that the selection also includes Ilir Hasanaj from Kosovo with the film Radnička krila, as well as David Lušićić from Croatia, who in an interesting way reflects on the ship Galeb, a symbol of the former Yugoslavia, and through it gives fine reminiscences of that beautiful country.
“There are a lot of young authors and I must say with pride that Montenegro, apart from these two who are at this year’s festival, really has several other valuable authors who have either already built their name in the documentary space or are building it with sure steps,” said Perović.
Documentary film, as he pointed out, has received the status it deserves in the last thirty years – the recognition that it is art.
“He was, let’s not lie, ever since Flaherty, Vertov, Vigo… But journalism has prevailed, especially in Western documentaries, and the matter has been trivialized to a certain extent,” Perović believes.
Despite this, contemporary documentary, or as Perović calls it “creative documentary”, has not lost its social responsibility.
“These are not artistic tricks that three people understand, but they are direct addresses to society. There are name-calling, or as Duško Kovačević would say, pointing out society – pointing out certain negativity that exists in it,” said Perović.
The documentary film, as explained by Perović, cannot offer solutions, “but by asking a million questions and pointing out problems, it awakens social awareness and calls for action.”
“If an anti-war film awakens the awareness in one person that what he is being forced to do (liberation wars are excluded) is not good, that he is killing a living creature, that documentary film has achieved its goal. If an environmental film awakens the awareness in one viewer that the attitude towards nature cannot be as savage as the corporations, and by God, the citizens, then our goal has been achieved, the film worked,” said Perović.
He pointed out that the documentary cannot change reality, but it can “put it on the dock”.
“I can say with pleasure that the young generation is starting to create and build a wonderful space, it is joining the great brotherhood of documentarians and creative documentarians. I think that Montenegro absolutely does not have to worry about its documentary in the future,” Perović concluded.
The documentary competition program will open on Sunday, August 24, with “Vibrations from Gaza” by Palestinian director Rehab Nazzal, “Selection of Chile” by Italian director Giulia Pacini, “Tramontana” by Spanish director Martí Madaula Esquirol, the Greek film “9:30” by director Constantine Venetopoulos and the German “Land of Men” by director duo Mariam Bakacho Khatchvani and Teimuraz Chkhvimiani.
A day later, on August 25, in front of the audience in the garden of the Nobel House will be: “Blue” – Ana Vijdea (Romania), “Worker’s Wings” – Ilir Hasanaj (Kosovo), “The place I call home” – Parisa Aminolahi (Netherlands), “The Seagull” – David Lušičić (Croatia) and “Only if the baby cries” – Shadab Farooq (India).
On Tuesday, August 26, the program includes: “Autobiography of my diabetes” – Mathew Lancit (USA), “Ritual” – Mikhail Zheleznikov (Russia, Israel), “Exit through the madhouse” – Nikola Ilić (Serbia, Switzerland), “Lavender” – Mateja Raičković (Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary).
On Wednesday, August 27, the audience will see four more productions: “Confession” – Rebeka Bizubova (Slovakia), “Courage” – Star Bazancir, Jasmina Pusök (Sweden), “Flowers stand quietly, and bear witness” – Theo Panagopoulos, Scottish Doc (USA, UK), “However, it remains” – Arwa Aburawa, Turab Shah (Algeria).
On the last evening of the documentary film selection program, on August 28, the following will be shown: “The Whisper I Hear” – Aleksa Bujisić (Montenegro), “Anatomy of the Lost Sound” – Zuko Garagić (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czech Republic, USA), “Lovely Duet” – Azar Mehrabi (Iran), and in the non-competition part of the program – “Stanić, Stolejeće” – Andro Martinović (Montenegro).
The jury that will decide on the awards within the competitive selection of the documentary film consists of: Barbara Orlič-Schipula, organizer of film events and lecturer at the University of Krakow, Isaac Knights-Washborn, filmmaker from New Zealand, Valentina Yusufhodžajeva, film producer, director of the National Film Center of Moldova and member of the European Film Academy, Božidar Kalezić, director and Marija Ivanović-Nikičević, journalist and film critic, member of the Federation of Film Critics of Europe and the Mediterranean (FEDEORA).
