This year's edition of the International Documentary Film Festival, Underhill Fest, will be marked by an exceptionally strong regional selection, as well as authors who are big names in world cinema, as well as those who have already been to the festival in Podgorica, and today are carrying awards from the largest film festivals.
This was announced at yesterday's press conference by the program selector and artistic director of the festival, Vuk Perovic.
UnderhillFest will be officially opened on June 11th at the “Dragan Ivanović” field in Njegošev Park in Podgorica, at 20.30:19 PM, and will last until June 27th. During the nine festival days, 7 documentary films will be screened, divided into four program selections: international, regional, out-of-competition, and the “XNUMX short” selection.
Perović said that the film selection is strong, and at the conference, moderated by the Underhill Fest spokesperson Miroslav Minic, the program and guests were presented.
Montenegrin director Senad Šahmanović He praised the organization and new resources of the Underhill Festival, saying that when they started, the situation was more difficult. His film “Wood, You Win” will premiere at the opening.
"We were absolutely dependent on the Ministry of Culture, which held a competition for the distribution of funds, and those were not always sufficient funds, but we were able to get started with that. Those were some of the steps we took to get started on this project, and it took a little longer because it is difficult to secure funding," said Šahmanović.
Representative of the Ministry of Culture and Media Ognjen Damjanović said that the Underhill Festival has positioned itself as one of the most important cultural events in Montenegro and beyond.
"Support for cultural and artistic events and festivals is prescribed by the Law on Culture as well as the National Culture Program. We are confident that this year's festival will be a success for the organizers, participants and the audience," said Damjanović.
Assistant Secretary of the Secretariat for Culture of the Capital City Seada Krnic, she said that this festival is an example of how an artistic event can influence and shape the image of Podgorica.
"Podgorica is now recognized for Underhill, which speaks best of the success of this festival. Underhill has become a festival that our fellow citizens await with the greatest attention and which is one of their associations for this part of the year. In addition, through this festival, Podgorica has become a meeting point for authors, artists, young creators, and the audience," Krnić pointed out.
Bojan Stijović from the Montenegrin Cinematheque said that this cultural institution is a natural collaborator of the festival.
"I'm very happy because Underhill are people that I always try to single out as a very positive team. Underhill is, in my opinion, one of the most positive events of the year and I think it will be like that now," said Stijović.
Damir Ramovic, Representing CKB Bank, he said at this conference that culture must be accessible, alive and open, especially to those who are just discovering it.
"We are looking forward to the opening of the festival and the premiere of Senad Šahmanović's film, which is dedicated to the only Montenegrin Oscar winner, Dušan Vukotić. "We are here to support young people, and together with Underhill, to show that Podgorica not only has an audience for good films, but also has a festival for good films," said Ramović.
Ana Mihajlovic, representing the company One Crna Gora, said that they are here because they believe in what Underhill offers.
"We are here because we believe in the story that Underhill opens, in the people it brings together. In Njegošev Park, in the Kinoteka, among the smiles and stories, we feel at home. Precisely because Underhill connects people through documentary film, we at One believe in the power of togetherness, mutual cooperation and connection," she said.
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