Human Rights Film Festival "Accelerate 2020" begins

The Montenegrin human rights film festival UBRZAJ starts today, traditionally on the International Human Rights Day, and lasts until December 14, 2020, and due to the covid-19 pandemic, this year it is being held online on the website www.ubrzaj.me.

In order to watch films from this year's "Ubrzaj" festival, interested parties need to register on the "video on demand" platform (https://ondemand.kinomeetingpoint.ba/page/ubrzaj-me/) by creating your own account and entering the required data in the provided fields.

"Once you have decided which movie you want to watch, click the 'Rent movie' option and the selected movie will be found in the 'My Library' section in the upper right corner of the site. Watching all films at the UBRZAJ Festival is free of charge", the organizers from the Center for Civic Education (CGO) point out.

They also say that all films will be available for viewing for two days, i.e. 48 hours from the moment of their first showing on the Festival program. Given that the number of viewers for certain films is limited, the organizers recommend that the films be watched at the time indicated in the program, and the program is available on their official website.

"The motto of this year's UBRZAJ Festival is 'Under the mask' and I hope that you will watch incredible films with us that reveal the importance of human dignity and the strength that each of us has within us," said Daliborka Uljarević from CGE. This year, the 11th edition of the festival will open today with the popular regional film "Quo Vadis, Aida?" directed by Jasmila Žbanić, which had its world premiere in the competition program at the Venice Film Festival and was chosen as Bosnia and Herzegovina's Oscar candidate. The film starts at 20 pm and tells the story of the cruelty of war and the danger of nationalism.

"It takes us back to July 1995, in Bosnia. Aida translates for the United Nations in the small town of Srebrenica. When the Serbian army takes over the city, her family is among the thousands of citizens who seek protection at the UN base. As a negotiator, Aida has access to key information that she translates. What will happen to her family and others - salvation or death? What step should be taken? The main roles are played by Jasna Đuričić, Izudin Bajrović, Boris Ler, Dino Bajrović, Raymond Thiry, Johan Heldenbergh, Boris Isaković, Emir Hadžihafizbegović, Edita Malovčić," the announcement states.

After that, at 22 p.m., the repertoire includes the successful debut of "The Visit" by Montenegrin director Đorđe Vojvodić.

The film was awarded at this year's "Balkans Beyond Borders Short Film Festival" in Izmir and tells the story of Stefan, a student from Montenegro who lives in Berlin.

“One short weekend visit from his parents will change his life and disrupt his entire world. The main roles are played by Vule Marković, Dubravka Drakić, Marko Baćović, Slaviša Čurović, Maja Šarenac, Marija Labudović, Omar Bajramspahić, Pavle Popović", announce the organizers, who also say that the Montenegrin audience of the Ubrzaj festival has the opportunity to watch the premiere of powerful and motivating films of the latest production. and who have already managed to position themselves at prestigious festivals and receive numerous awards. "UBRZAJ, the Montenegrin human rights film festival, contributes to the development of awareness of the importance of human rights and the creation of a harmonious relationship between those who differ on any basis. Through the medium of film, viewers experience in an emotional and suggestive way the personal stories of those who are victims of human rights violations, but also tenacious fighters for change, which contributes to the understanding of the sensitive topic of human rights, otherness in our societies and lives, as well as the importance of civic activism," he says. in the announcement.

This edition is held with the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the German forum ZfD. Media sponsors are the public service Radio-television of Montenegro (RTCG) with the portal RTCG.me, as well as the independent newspaper and portal Vijesti and TV Vijesti. Additionally, media support is provided by the CdM portal, Radio Berane and Radio Kotor. The partners are the Sarajevo Film Festival, the Beldocs International Documentary Film Festival from Belgrade and the Montenegrin cinema. Montenegrin Human Rights Film Festival UBRZAJ, member of the International Network of Human Rights Films.