HAVC support for the film "In the Height of the Season"

Montenegrin short feature film “In the Height of the Season” by director and screenwriter Zvonimir Grujić, in production Miljana Vučelić from the company "Protos Film" from Podgorica, received support from the Croatian Audiovisual Center (HAVC) in the category for the production of minority co-productions for a short feature film.

In explaining its decision, the jury pointed out that director Zvonimir Grujić, inspired by personal experiences related to working in tourism, speaks about modern Montenegro, which is economically completely dependent on this industry.

"The film deals with a series of abuses that such addiction brings, and the main character is a resident of the Bay of Tivat in his late twenties who is forced by a loan shark to set fires so that the burned land can be converted into construction land," the description states.

The decision adds that by developing the main character's key moral dilemma at the center of the story, the author skillfully combines elements of drama and thriller, subtly portraying both individual characters and the environment in which their intense interactions take place.

The Croatian partner in the project is the production company "Woodz production". The project previously received support from the Film Center of Montenegro, in the competition for co-financing of short feature films for 2023.

"An interesting and unpretentious drama about a wavering criminal, who for a controversial entrepreneur needs to set fire to a local forest, so that the land used for bathing can be transformed over time and classified as land for construction. The coherence of the director's vision is reflected in the focus of attention on 'shadow personalities', those who direct social and political processes. The analysis of the interplay of the public and the intimate, the mythical and the real, politics and anti-politics, turns into a kind of criticism of the 'value orientation' of today, with a focus on post-socialist and transitional societies," Filmski pointed out at the time.

The project, in addition to the quality of the script, promises quality cooperation among regional co-productions, it was assessed at the time.

"The author appears as a new face on the Montenegrin and regional scene, who we believe will have continuity in his work and development, and will contribute to the modernization of the regional scene with a new and fresh approach to film and film language. The previous successes of the director and producer are a strong connection and a guarantee of a serious approach to the realization of this project," the Film Center stated.