Montenegrin feature film project “Embryo”, based on the script Sara Đurović and directed Mase Sarovic, of the production company "Kino", is one of five supported within the "Support Program for Female Filmmakers".
The Uniqa See Future Foundation, in cooperation with the Sarajevo Film Festival (SFF) and Slano Film Days, presented a selection of five film projects that were selected as part of the program launched in 2024, which aims to support and empower female filmmakers from six countries in Southeast Europe where UNIQA insurance operates: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Romania and Bulgaria.
"The Fruit" deals with the themes of depression, infanticide, and transgenerational differences, critically examining the destructive patriarchal narrative in which today's generations are growing up, as stated earlier...
"The Women Filmmakers Support Program was created with the intention of strengthening the presence and visibility of women in the regional film industry, through financial support, mentoring and professional development. Selected filmmakers also receive support through CineLink Industry Days, the Sarajevo Film Festival's professional Training and Skills platform," the statement explained.
Five selected projects were officially presented at Slano Film Days 2025, and in addition to the Montenegrin “Plod”, there are also feature films: “The Possessed” a feature film directed by Ene Sendijarevic from Bosnia and Herzegovina, “Air in a Bottle” directed by Aide Begic from Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the documentary “The Last Nomads” Biljana Tutorov from Serbia and “Confessions of a Female Gamer” directed by Dolly Gavanski.
"These projects stood out with a strong authorial vision, original approach and commitment to telling important and exciting stories that reflect the contemporary moment and stimulate dialogue. The selected projects will receive financial and professional support that will help them continue the development and realization of their projects in the production and post-production phases," the statement explained.
Five selected projects were officially presented at Slano Film Days 2025, and “Plod” was presented by Marija Perović as producer, and director Šarović. In addition to the three of them, the team is also completed by producer Jelena Soskic, as well as the director of photography Igor Lazic.
The total program fund for 2025 is 180.000 euros, with the aim of a strong commitment to the principles of gender equality in the film industry.
“Plod” previously received support from the Film Center of Montenegro in the category of co-financing of feature films, previously in the categories of project development and script, and the Film Center of Serbia (FCS) in the category of minority co-productions also supported the film, which is being co-produced with the company “Backroom production”. In addition, “Plod” was presented a few years ago in the very center of the film industry, in Los Angeles, as one of six selected projects from around the world to participate in the International Project Discovery forum.
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Đurović then told "Vijesti" that the initial thought when writing this script was "to deal with motherhood as a myth."
"It seems to me that it is a serious mythomania not to question motherhood and the maternal instinct, to trivialize, starting from the idea that every woman is a natural mother. It is certainly a taboo topic, and we would say that in the process of work we have moved away from mythomania and come closer to dealing with a taboo topic, but it is necessary for art to broaden horizons, question established patterns, and even emancipate viewers and creators, or at least simply force them to communicate about some repressed content, repressed memories. I think it is important that we communicate as a society," she said...
The film also passed the international workshop "First Films First", the co-production market and Pitch Sofia meetings, as well as the PriForum "Best Pitch Competition" program at the Pristina Film Festival.
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