And the sky applauded Stevan Labudović

With the rain just beginning to subside, the last film screening at this year's UnderhillFest, the 14th edition of the International Documentary Film Festival in Podgorica, was coming to an end. A packed auditorium under the open sky, on the "Dragan Ivanović" basketball court in Njegoševo Park, closely followed the film "Ciné-Guerrillas: Scenes from Labudović Reels", the second part of the director's diptych Mile Turajlić.

He bought the audience from the very beginning Stevan Labudovic, a lovable old man, well into his ninth decade, but full of spirit and life... (Pro) lived to literally say the famous saying: "a film could be made". Marshal's personal cameraman Tita, born in Berane, where he spent the occupation during the Second World War, was in the partisans, and was stationed in Belgrade during his working life as a cameraman for Film News. A witness to all kinds of events, situations, conversations, handshakes, both in Yugoslavia and around the world, and in addition to all that, Labudović is still a hero of the Algerian people to this day, as a videographer who faithfully and confidentially followed the decolonization process during the war for national liberation (from of France) and made a significant contribution to everything and was crowned with the award "Deserving Citizen of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria".

After the first part "Non-Aligned: Scenes from the Labudovic Reels", which was shown at the opening of the festival and which introduces us to Labudovic, talks about the birth of the Non-Aligned Movement and evokes the "moment" when Belgrade was the center of the world in 1960, the second part of the diptych it is focused on Algeria's struggle for freedom, and based on the testimony of Stevan Labudović, his memories, recordings, photographs, diaries...

The warm atmosphere in the Podgorica night, fresher than expected in mid-June, circulated around the field in the park, and places were lacking, but there were. A true journey through time, says Mila Turajlić at the beginning of the film, which is exactly that, even for those who were born decades after the events in question, even hundreds of kilometers away. Labudović's memories continue, this time only about Algeria and their revolution.

The cap that Labudović is talking about, which he wore during the three years of the war (as long as he served in Algeria), through which shrapnel that only scratched his head passed through on one occasion, and which is soaked with sweat and everything that he went through, will cause a good laugh from the audience. passed on the front, after returning to Yugoslavia and Belgrade, his wife immediately washed in the washing machine... Unforgivable. He never washed it while he was wearing it, just so that it would collect all the details, smells, shots from Algeria, for the battlefields, from various situations. That cap is kept in the Algerian museum today, explains Labudović...

With the story of the film, the time also changed, like a gradation, without the need for additional effects. Nevertheless, at no moment was the sky dark, even though it was filled with thick clouds, but full of light, and the reflections of the treetops seemed like the contours of the frame of a perfect film frame, in the center of which is Labudović, on the screen, and not behind the lens, as he was used to whole life.

"This feature-length documentary film takes us on a journey through the archive of Stevan Labudović, the personal cameraman of Yugoslav President Tito. 'Cine-Guerrillas' introduces us to the media battle that took place during the Algerian War of Independence, in which the film medium was mobilized as a weapon of political struggle against colonialism," the film's description, which is much more than a two-sentence synopsis, states.

The history that stands in the film strip, and the film rewinds in the enviable memory of the 88-year-old who, besides Algeria, during his career and "marriage with the camera" (reminds his wife of his words, without a trace of jealousy, full of pride) visited 118 countries. This is how Labudović recorded the history of his entire life. From the one that changed the political order in the world and messed with (colonial) powers, through the notes of a country that no longer exists and the everyday life of its eternal president, until the last film strip.

In the second part of the diptych, Labudović also visits his hometown - Berane. He claims that the karst shaped him and gave him courage for everything that followed in life and predestined him for adventure. During filming, Turajlić goes to Algeria and visits acquaintances (those who are alive at that moment), to whom Labudović directed her. And wherever she goes, to the memory of the cinematographer Labudović, the now non-existent Yugoslavia, the great statesman Tito - everyone reacts with respect and doors open for her... She also learns that during the war for freedom in Algeria, partisan films from the Socialist Federal Republic were broadcast of Yugoslavia, as a motive and inspiration for perseverance. And Labudović's recorded footage was once broadcast in cinemas, both in Algeria and in Yugoslavia, while most of the world transmitted incorrect information and spread French propaganda about how Algerians do not want freedom... And there was film propaganda on both sides, he emphasizes Labudović, but the codex was also known - without photos and recordings of the victims and seriously wounded, "because you never know who it can hurt".

"What was done for that freedom, what kind of sacrifices were made... That's why I filmed", says Labudović in a conversation with the director, whom he sometimes scolds for not having a clean lens, the camera properly positioned, etc., and how the old master provokes reactions among the audience.

"I knew that freedom had to come, at some point," he says and adds that it always pushed him forward in everything, and even that he would not wait for that freedom. From his diary, which he wrote during the three-year assignment, we learn that he once doubted whether he would ever return to his homeland, he had a plan ready in case he was captured by the enemies of Algeria, which he was prepared for because he knew that an important factor in the world's perception of the war that was conducted...

The rain was accelerating, and only a few of the 500 or so guests would get up and leave the screening thinking twice. And then the segment that caused sighs of admiration and empathy - Stevan Labudović leaves for Algeria, after more than half a century... After about 60 years, Algeria got a unique opportunity and honor to host Stevan Labudović, a witness of their freedom and a fighter for it. A festive welcome was arranged, followed by a reception, homage, gratitude, a tour of famous places... Old acquaintances meet in a completely different world, young people flock to shake hands and take photos with Stevan, the media follows him...

"Everything I did, I did out of love and for the freedom of the Algerian people," says Stevan towards the end of the film to the multitude of gathered media, precisely in Algeria, where he arrived thanks to the director Mila Turajlić, his film and hers, but also courage.

And then suddenly a downpour. Everyone gets up, some put on raincoats, others spread umbrellas, others ran away, and some refused to believe that the downpour would start before the very end...

A strong round of applause in Algeria for Stevan Labudović, their hero, friend, fellow traveler, a legend they know about from stories passed down from generation to generation and to whom they are eternally grateful, a man they learn about and who is part of their history, who is part of museum exhibits, whom many they have never seen him, while the elders remember him with pride either through the stories of others, and some also from personal acquaintance, which in itself is a great recognition...

The curiosity that Turajlić reveals at the very end is that the recordings of Stevan Labudović made in Algeria during the liberation war were kept in Belgrade all the time and were handed over to the Algerian government, which also kept them, almost as secrets. Only with the emergence of the idea of ​​this film, the tapes were developed, and the general public had the opportunity to watch them, including Algerians.

A few seconds before the final credits, along with the applause of the Algerians and exclamations to Stevan Labudović, there was a loud applause from the audience in Podgorica, and then a fierce downpour. Large, cold and fast raindrops scattered the audience, but the most persistent among them remained standing with thunderous and long applause and ovations, paying tribute to the great man, overpowering the roar of the rain and the shouts of the masses on their way out.

It could be said that the sky applauded Stevan Labudović, as well as Mila Turajlić, and thus brought down the curtains on the 14th UnderillFest.

"Museum of the Revolution" and "El Echo" best feature films

The film "Museum of the Revolution" by the author Srđana Keča, won the "Dandelion" award in the regional selection of feature-length documentaries, the decision of a three-member jury consisting of: director and producer from Serbia Andrijana Stojković, director from Croatia Andrej Korovljev and Montenegrin director Bojan Stijović.

The film convincingly shows how life on the fringes of society has all the emotional fullness, love and concern for loved ones, the jury said.

"A society that once had a great ambition for the equality and well-being of all citizens has reached a point where that ambition has disappeared and has become stratified in a very dramatic way, where the materially most vulnerable are completely 'invisible' to the rest, and they themselves have no hope of change their situation", the explanation states.

Two special awards were also given in the regional selection, the film "One More Spring" by Mladen Kovačević and the more successful "Called and Called" by the duo Luka Papić and Srđa Vuč, which represents an important document...

The best film in the international selection is "El Echo" by Tatiana Huezo, which shows with exceptional skill the seemingly ordinary life of a family in a small Mexican village.

"A long and persistent 'look' at their everyday life reveals all the complexities of human existence, its material, spiritual, intellectual and emotional and even philosophical aspects. A grandmother, a mother and her four children take care of the estate, which is all they have, while caring deeply and tenderly for each other," explained the jury.

The jury awarded a special award in the international selection to the film "Pawn Shop" by Lukaš Kovalski.

Students awarded "At the end of the road", and the audience awarded "Life like any other"

The young jury consisting of students Ana Ćulum, Elena Simović and Jevrem Bojović decided on the awards in the selection of short documentary films, "7 short".

According to their assessment, the "Maslačak" award for the best short documentary film went to "At the End of the Road" by author Ivana Todorović.

The author presents an "authentic story about a big 'family' and their struggle" in an unobtrusive way, through a combination of harsh reality and poetic dedication of the protagonist. The conveyed emotion evokes empathy and encourages reflection on each individual contribution, leaving hope and humanity at the end of the road," explained the young jury.

Special recognition in that category was given to the work "Homecoming" by Nikola Polić.

The audience award was won by the film "Life Like Every Other" by Faistine Cros with an average rating of 4.87, which was shown as part of the program "In Focus".

Short films shot during the "Teen Docs" documentary film school for high school students were also shown. The participants were students of Podgorica and Danilovgrad high schools, and they were introduced to the world of documentary films by their mentors: film critic and producer Vuk Perović, director Dejan Petrović, director and cinematographer Ivan Čojbašić and editor Dmitar Janjušević. Coordinator of Teen Docs was David Todorović. The audience saw the short films: "Flow" by Nađa Stanić and Jane Rovčanin, "Kroz volat" by Petar Raičević, "Carton" by Helena Žižić and Matija Radičević, "Sculptures of the Past, Landscapes of the Present" by Taida Kapetanović, Irina Radulović and Dušan Marković and "Boli me ear" of Jelena Stanišić, Filip Femić and Radivoje Durutović.

At the closing ceremony, spokesperson Miroslav Minić expressed his gratitude to the entire organizing team, collaborators, film authors, festival guests and the audience...

Due to weather (un)opportunities, the concert of the Belgrade band "Lira Vega" and the performance of DJ Dejan Vučetić Vuča were not held on Thursday evening, so they were canceled until further notice, as well as additional screenings of music documentaries.

The gratitude of the Labudović family

Before the screening of the film, a member of Stevan Labudović's family - Petar Labudović - addressed the audience.

"Born in the Labudović family, in 1926 in Berane, my uncle Stevan - Šćepo later entered the world of artistic, creative and human heights, acquiring through his work, with camera and camera in hand, a permanent life identification with which he had passage all over the world , and that in the places where famous planetary figures have bought", Labudović said at the very beginning.

On behalf of the Municipality of Berana, the Labudović family and personally, he thanked everyone who came up with the idea to open and close UnderhillFest with a diptych by Mile Turajlić, and primarily the artistic director of the festival, Vuk Perović, as well as the entire organizational team... He also pointed out that the films shown additionally showed and reminded who Stevan Labudović was.

"Our pride is not measured by any measuring units, but by a sense of sublimity that obliges us to permanently respect the character and work of Stevan Labudović and to be grateful to those who contributed so that the darkness of oblivion does not cover his testimonies about a time and people who were active participants in the creation of certain historical processes", said Labudović.

He once again expressed his gratitude, but also his wish "that this festival continue to last as long as the values ​​of those who are ready to give their whole being to film art".