UnderhillFest has begun: The repertoire includes works about the world as it is and as we would like it to be

For years, Njegoš Park in Podgorica has been transforming into an oasis for auteur documentary films, the people who create them, the people who enjoy them, and the people who will one day create them or be a part of them in some way. This is exactly what the artistic director and selector of the 16th edition of the UnderhillFest International Documentary Film Festival, Vuk Perović, pointed out at tonight's opening of the festival.

A large audience that eagerly awaits the beats and energy of Underhill year after year gathered tonight to welcome the unique world, energy and pulse that Underhill brings to Podgorica.

"Welcome to the place where we watched world-changing films. Films that, after we watched them here, toured the world and won the most important awards. And Podgorica was one of the stops on that great and not at all easy journey of shared experiences, knowledge and emotions," said Perović, welcoming those present.

He added that this year's film selection also brings works that speak about the world as it is, but also about the world as we would like it to be.

"UnderhillFest 2025 brings a selection of documentaries that do not compromise on either the subject or the audience," he pointed out, adding that the entire festival's organizational team is extremely proud to open the program with the world premiere of Senad Šahmanović's "Wood, You Won."

Oscar-worthy, as befits Underhill, the rest of the evening will feature "the story of a man who has an Oscar."

"It's the story of a man who defeated Walt Disney. A man who changed the course of history. A man whose imagination changed our lives. So, a story about one of the most important people from this area, Dušan Vukotić, who is an inseparable part of not only our, but also world cinematography," announced Perović.

The festival was officially opened by Croatian producer Oliver Sertić, who emphasized the importance of documentary film as a means of awakening empathy.

"I think it's very important that we look a little towards our neighbors and not distance ourselves as we started. Empathy is important, not only towards our neighbors, but also a little further, for example towards the people in Gaza who are being killed in the genocide that is happening, but also towards people in all other wars. We can get active, and if not, at least we can talk about these things continuously, together," he said, officially opening the festival.

The director of the film "Vude, you won", Senad Šahmanović, also addressed those present, and immediately afterwards, in front of an extremely large audience, the film began.

Until June 19th, UnderhillFest will position Podgorica as one of the most important cultural events in the region and bring together documentary film lovers, top authors, regional and international filmmakers, as well as an audience eager for quality film stories.

Over the course of nine days, the festival will screen a total of 27 documentary films divided into four program selections: international, regional, out-of-competition and the "7 short" selection.

This year, the jury will decide on the "Maslačak" awards in the regional and international selection: Tiha K. Gudac, director and producer (Croatia), Luka Papić, director (Serbia) and Sead Šabotić, director (Montenegro). Admission is free at the opening and closing of the festival, and for all other screenings, the daily ticket is three euros and is valid for the entire program day. Admission is free for children and young people: high school students (with a student ID card), students (with an index or student card), young people with the European Youth Card - EYCA and for users of the Crnogorska komercijalna banka junior card.

The detailed festival program is available at official websiteand in Underhill's social networks.