Contemporary European films in Montenegro

In the coming days, cinematographers in Montenegro will have the opportunity to enjoy contemporary European films that they do not often have the opportunity to watch, within the jubilee, fifth edition of the European Film Festival (EFF), which starts tonight in Podgorica, at 20 pm in the "Karver" bookstore ". The EFF, organized by the European Union delegation in Montenegro and the EU info center, will be opened by the EU Ambassador to Montenegro Aivo Orav and the Culture Secretary of the Capital City Ana Medigović.

This year's edition in Podgorica will last five days, until September 14, and 10 films will be shown, then it will move to Kotor. The films will be shown in the "Boka" cinema from September 17 to 21. In Ulcinj, the films will be shown as part of the Seanema film festival from September 18 to 22, then it's Petrovac's turn from September 24 to 28 at the "Red Commune" memorial home, then Bijelo Polje, which will host the festival from September 30 to from September to October 4 at the "Vojislav Bulatović Strunjo" Culture Center. In the Nikšić Theater, films will be shown from October 7 to 11, in local cultural centers in Petnjica and Mojkovac, EFF will be organized from October 14 to 18, that is, from October 21 to 25.

Entrance is free during all evenings, in all cities.

The goal of the festival, Marko Kovačević, the officer in charge of media contact at the Delegation of the European Union in Montenegro, points out, is the promotion of European cinematography and the improvement of the quality of European film festivals, which are organized by EU delegations around the world.

"Our desire was to show European films that are not so well known to the Montenegrin audience, which they cannot see in the cinema, on the Internet or on television. The films are very current when it comes to the topics they present, and in addition to genres such as drama, comedy or fiction, the audience will also be able to enjoy documentaries. We are especially proud that we dedicated one night of the festival to Montenegrin films. In addition to European films from Belgium, France, Portugal, Holland, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Denmark, Sweden or Finland, the audience will have the opportunity to watch a new Montenegrin production - 'The Needle Under the Threshold' and the 1963 film 'Men'. as well as to learn more about Montenegrin cinematography, during the panel with Montenegrin film artists. I use this opportunity to invite your readers to visit our website www.euic.me and read more about the festival program and the films themselves", said Kovačević to "Vijesti".

After the ceremonial opening, the repertoire officially begins with the performance of "King of Belgium" at 20.15:20 p.m. It is a multiple award-winning Belgian-Dutch comedy/drama, in which the Belgian monarch, "lost in the Balkans, searches for a way home, and finds himself". After that, a cocktail is planned with the jazz quartet "Sanja Raičković and the band". Every evening, except for the first one in Podgorica, two films will be shown, at 22 and XNUMX p.m.

Visitors to the festival will have the opportunity to watch the French drama "Bloody Milk", the Portuguese-French-Brazilian co-production "Diamantino", the Czech film "Winter Flies", the Hungarian film "Out", as well as three documentaries "Silence of Others", "Stranger in paradise" and "The distant barking of dogs". In each city, one evening as part of the European Film Festival will be dedicated to Montenegrin film. On this occasion, a conversation will be organized in Podgorica on Thursday from 21.40:XNUMX with the director of the Montenegrin Cinematheque Andro Martinović and the director Ivan Marinović on the topic "Montenegrin film then and now".

Kovačević said that he hopes that the European Film Festival will be well attended, but even more so that the audience will enjoy the selected works.

"We hope that the festival will be well attended and that people will enjoy the films, which is the most important thing. Thanks to our partners from eight municipalities, the festival is well promoted, so we hope it will stimulate people's interest. When it comes to our long-term expectations, we want the festival to grow and expand, so that we can offer even better and better quality films to the Montenegrin audience every year", said Kovačević.

An opportunity to get closer to the EU and its values

Film festivals represent one of the most effective ways to connect with the local audience and bring the European Union closer to them, Marko Kovačević points out for "Vijesti" and explains that the EFF is particularly important for the audience in Montenegro.

"We believe that the European Film Festival is important for the Montenegrin audience and we sincerely expect to see a large number of people during the film evenings in Podgorica and the other seven cities. This is their chance to see something different, to enjoy European cinematography and for free, because admission to all screenings in all cities is free. I think it's a really nice way to spend one or more warm September nights, don't you think? By the way, film festivals are one of the most effective ways to connect with the local audience and bring them closer to the European Union, its values ​​and essence. Currently, more than half of the existing 139 EU delegations around the world organize such festivals, and we are happy that Montenegro is one of them," says Kovačević.

The Montenegrin films "Igla sopod praga" and "Men" are also in the repertoire.

The repertoire includes two Montenegrin productions. The film "The Needle on the Threshold" by the young director Ivan Marinović is a recent production.

"Father Petar fears that the universe is indifferent. God no longer intervenes. His wife left him, his only son opposes him, his mother only sometimes recognizes him because of Alzheimer's disease. All he wants is just one moment of peace. The chances of that are zero, because the unfortunate priest will become an insurmountable obstacle for the large sale of land planned by his parishioners. Petar refuses to become part of that transaction, and a group of charming, but very vindictive villagers, decides to pop out of the village - drive him away. The conflict reaches its climax at the funeral of an old woman believed by many to be a witch. In the surreal chaos that arises there, Petar encounters the biggest and most absurd trials in his life", is the description of the famous film by the young director.

In contrast to Marinović's film from 2016, the film "Men" is from 1963 and was directed by the Montenegrin director Milorad Milo Đukanović in the production of Lovćen Film. In the same year, this production won the "Golden Arena" for the main male role at the Yugoslav Feature Film Festival in Pula.

"Citizen Đok Lazić's wife is overworked, and he cannot find a housekeeper, so he takes over part of his wife's household duties. As time goes on, Đoko behaves more and more like a housewife, and his wife takes on his previous behavior. The exchange of their roles causes many humorous incidents," the description of the film states.

Some of the biggest film stars of the former Yugoslavia are in the lead roles: Slobodan Perović, Olivera Marković, Mija Aleksić, Jelena Žigon, Velimir Bata Živojinović.