The fifteenth Underhill fest - international documentary film festival will be opened on Wednesday, June 12, 2024 at 20.30:XNUMX p.m. on the "Dragan Ivanović" Field in Njegošev park in Podgorica, when the film "We have no other country" directed by a collective of Israeli and Palestinian filmmakers - Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham i Rachel Szor, it was announced at the press conference.
They spoke at the conference Vuk Perovic - artistic director of UnderhillFest and film selector, Aleksandra Božović - director of the Film Center of Montenegro, Pavle Simonović - manager of the program department of the Montenegrin Cinematheque, Ana Mihailović - commercial director for strategy and product development at One i Tanja Markuš - coordinator of the Culture Program of the Center for Women's Rights.
At the 15th Underhill Fest, which will last from June 12 to 20, the Podgorica audience will be able to watch 29 films - the best of the past year - in Njegošev Park, the Montenegrin Cinematheque and in the CKZ "Ribnica". The film selector is Vuk Perović.
"The most important and extremely dear thing to me at the 15th UnderhillFest is the presence of Montenegrin cinematography. When we started with this whole story, our idea was to grow together with Montenegrin cinematography and to influence this environment and its development. This year we have five Montenegrin films in two competitive selections. We are extremely pleased that Vlado Perović showed us the respect of having his world premiere at the Underhill fest with his film 'This Good Country,'" Vuk Perović pointed out and added that the film is also in the competitive regional selection Sead Šabotić "Temporary Family".
"A film that had its world premiere less than a month ago at the BELDOCS festival and is now already at UnderhillFest. We also have three achievements in the short selection - Miljan Vučelić with the movie 'Valley', Kaća Žarić with the film 'I, Kaća, got sugar and now what?' and Tamara Pavićević with the film 'Home of our people'", said Perović and added that they are extremely proud that Montenegrin cinematography is becoming a strong segment of UnderhillFest.
"The Film Center of Montenegro has existed for seven years and has supported Underhill Fest since its inception. We provide mobile cinema to all festivals and cultural centers throughout Montenegro with the aim of developing the audience, promoting contemporary Montenegrin cinematography as well as European and international productions. Also, last year, the Film Center supported the publication of a monograph on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the Underhill Fest at the competition for complementary activities", emphasized the director of the Film Center. Aleksandra Božović.
"I grew up with this festival. UnderhillFest is half of my life. I probably wouldn't be where I am today either personally or professionally if it weren't for UnderhillFest. And I've been at the festival all my life. Sometimes, most often as a spectator and as an enjoyer, and this is how it occasionally happens that I am professionally connected to the festival. Montenegrin cinema has become a partner of UnderhillFest and we are very happy about that. We have some opportunities to offer to help UnderhillFest. First of all, our hall, which is completely new and modern technologically and technically equipped, is a rather intimate and beautiful place to watch movies and I am very glad that the program is in focus here this year", said Pavle Simonović, representative of the Montenegrin Cinematheque. .
Tanja Markuš, coordinator of the Culture Program of the Center for Women's Rights, stated at the press conference that through the selected films and accompanying discussions, we are actually re-examining the position of women in society.
"It is an opportunity to analyze together with the guests of the festival and the audience what is standing in the way of equality and how we fight for it. The first film in this year's selection is 'Diary of a Sexual Blackmail' - a story about cyber violence. I think that it is a very important topic today, when young people especially experience this virtual space as a reality more than this tangible one. The second film is a warm and humorous story about a Roma-Croat married couple who found themselves torn between traditional values, family expectations and even cultural racism and some of their own values in accordance with which they want to raise their own daughter. And finally the film 'Fairy Garden', which is actually a story about friendship between two homeless people who, despite their huge differences, manage to support each other in some existential and identity issues", concluded Markuš.
The audience will be able to follow all conversations with interesting guests from the world of film live via UnderhillFest's social networks and YouTube channel with the support of the One company.
"How special UnderhillFest is, we are told from year to year by the experiences of its visitors who are recounting, smiling faces and a completely unique atmosphere, which we can only find here - on Underhill, in Njegoševo Park, with you! The number of visitors that continuously expands through the festival editions speaks volumes for this, which testifies to one very important fact, which is that Underhill fest spreads culture! It's so big, it's something we all owe you a huge debt of gratitude for. Because of all this, with its mission to bring people together, spread good ideas and culture just like you, the company "One" is part of the Underhill festival for the fourth year already", said Ana Mihailović, commercial director for strategy and product development at the company "One ".
This year, the company "One" will also contribute to the realization of "Teen Docs" - a documentary film school for high school students, which will be held in the premises of the company One, and for which the company has provided the most modern equipment that the participants will use when creating their own documentary videos. .
Nemanja Đurašković, director of the Marketing and Communications Department of CKB Bank, said that the company is particularly proud because in this way they also support Montenegrin cinematography, given that no less than five films by Montenegrin authors will be shown at Underhill Fest.
"Following the previous editions of the festival, it is clear that our common direction is towards social involvement and the general good of Montenegrin society", concluded Đurašković.
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