Belgrade RESET

Among many but pretty important Eastern European film festival in the region, when it comes to animation and short film, is The Belgrade Festival of Documentary and Short Film, this year celebrating its 60th anniversary. The festival presented 83 films international and Serbian, in the competition for the awards in four categories: documentary, short feature, animated and experimental film. When it comes to a Serbian productions of film there are 3 student’s productions; the Faculty of Drama Arts Production, the Arts Academy Film Production, the Students City Cultural Center Film Production and the Interakcija Film Camp Production. And from all productions two films had a success at Berlinale this year: the animated film Rabbitland directed by Nikola Majdak and Ana Nedeljkovic and the documentary Me, When I was a Boy, I was a Girl, a socially important transsexual story directed by Ivana Todorovic, award winning director of social documentaries at prestigious festivals in Palm Springs, Rotterdam, Michael Moore’s Traverse City Festival etc.

The selected films were: from the Shorts Festival in Tokyo in the program Made in Japan, London Calling Program from the London Shorts Festival, and The Contrasts of Russia Program, Patriots and Sinners with focus on the contradictions of modern Russia and Angry Ukrainians Program. There was also  Rockumentary Revolutions Program, a film Children of Socialism about the Slovenian punk band, as well as the film 'How we played the Revolution about the Lithuanian so called "Singing Revolution".  This year in the Neighborhood Program special focus is on Montenegro Film, presented by the students. The traditional supporting program Hot this year presented the topic of art therapy with five documentaries and short films from Europe and South America and the travelling festival UNAFF presents the documentary film  Sing Your Song about Harry Belafonte and his role in the human rights movement in North America.

This year's winner of the Belgrade Documentary and Short Film Festival's Life Achievement Award is Želimir Žilnik, one of the most known Serbian and international award-winning author, known by his social engagement in films and so called black wave film movement from 70s. Žilnik’s first feature film Early Works (1969) was awarded with the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival. ACroatian film director Lordan Zafranovic, dear guest of Belgrade and member of this year's jury, reminded the audience that he participated on the festival for the first time back in 1966 and pointed to the new trends in film and hope in the future of short forms.

 (Awards article taken from the site of festival http://www.kratkimetar.rs/en/news/146/end-of-the-60th-shorts)

Awards

 Grand prix of the Festival goes to movie Secrets,

directed by Margherita Spampinato from Italy. 

Explanation: The subtlety, quiet approach and distance applied by the director to this harrowing subject-matter leaves the audience reeling with fear. In this chilling tale, the director succeeds in creating a truly terrifying monster - visible only to his victims - in an all too familiar and seemingly safe environment. A film that stayed with the Jury long after the credits rolled.

Golden Plaque Belgrade for best film of the domestic competition program and the amount of 2.000,00 euros go to the film: 

"Rabbitland" by Ana Nedeljkovic and Nikola Majdak

Explanation: Original and ironic questioning of the purpose of the political system where the shallowness of the propaganda machine promotes evil in order to realize the lowest passions of the political elite. Visually attractive overview of contemporary society. 

Golden Plaque Belgrade for best film of the international competition program and the amount of 2.000,00 euros goes to the film 
"Oh, Willy…" by Emma De Swaef and Marc James Roels from Belgium

Explanation: The Jury were enamoured by Willy and his beautifully animated stop-motion world, made almost entirely of fabric and textiles. Masterful technique and high production value came together on an epic scale allowing us to empathise with Willy and the emotional crisis he faced - as well as transporting us to a fantastical land and imaginative mythical creature from whom Willy is able to turn to, in order to replace the maternal comfort he so desperately craved.  

Golden Medals of Belgrade and the amount of 1.000,00 euros each for the best films by category of the competition program go to: 

For Best documentary film:
"Tommorow We Will Live again" - Corinna Giesen, Germany 

Explanation: In this intimate and personal documentary, the director holds a mirror up to her life inviting us to enter her world and experience ourselves the unpredictable twists and turns that have indeed left her agonisingly entangled - forcing her story arc to shift from that of well-intentioned saviour to hopeless victim. 

Golden medal for best animated, short or experimental film goes to:

The director of the film "Nuclear Waste" - Myroslav Slaboshpytskiy, Ukraine

Explanation: Using no dialogue documentary-style long shots, the director forces the audience into the mundane practices of the workers of a radioactive waste plant - where we learn that toxicity has contaminated even intimate relationships, leaving them void of apparent meaning, emotion or communication. The very act of sex in itself becomes just another chore to be performed at a set time and added to the rest of their day-to-day work routines.  
 


Golden Medals of Belgrade and the amount of  1.000,00 euros for the best films of the domestic competition program go to: 

For Best documentary Film to the director:
Ivana Todorovic for the film "When I was a boy, I was a girl"

Explanation: The Jury appreciated the open and honest portrayal of Serbian transvestite Goca, attempting to live life and find love in an unaccepting and potentially hostile society - allowing the audience to empathise with her daily fears and frustrations.


For Best short feature film: 
Stefan Ivancic - the film "Springtime Suns"

Explanation: Beautifully shot, the film achieves a closeness and relaxed intimacy with these cousins that is so natural, real and convincing - that we become one of the family, sharing with their in-jokes and looking ahead to the future as summer draws to a close. 


Golden medal for Best experimental film: 
"The Tale of the Wall Inhabitants" by Andrej Boka

Explanation: A strong metaphor about the senselessness of the war through a funny, but tragic story about the conflict between windows and doors in houses, reminding of the ridiculous rows and conflicts of Balkan nations.

For Best animated film: 
"Regular day" by Vuk Palibrk

Explanation: An original approach in creating a simple and charming story about an animated hero and his everyday advantures.

The award for best production of a group of films goes to the Academic Film Center "Dom kulture Studentski grad". 

Four Diplomas of the Festival for individual contribution in the films of the domestic competition program were awarded to: 

1. For best camera work, to the cameraman of the film "Springtime Suns" Igor Djordjevic

2. For best animation, to the animators of the film "Rabittland" - Ana Nedeljkovic and Nikola Majdak

3. For best editing - Vladimir Petrovic for the film "Virus" 

4. For best soundtrack - to the composer Mirjana Vladisavljevic and Ivan Pavletic for the fim "The Tale of the Wall Inhabitants" 

The official jury of the 60th Belgrade Festival of Documentary and Short film consisted of:
1. Mirjana Karanović  (Chairperson)
2. Lordan Zafranović
3. Vera Schmidt
4. Marija Milanović Lazarevski
5. Afarin Eghbal