Young Montenegrin cinema has been characterized by its authors from the very beginning, and it is precisely the continuity of strong authorial expression that is today accompanied by increasing international visibility, the success of domestic films, the strengthening of the festival scene, the improvement of the legislative framework, and the development of conditions for attracting foreign productions.
This was assessed in an interview for PR Center by the director of the Film Center of Montenegro and the president of the Council of the Herceg Novi Film Festival - Montenegro Film Festival, Aleksandra Božović.
"From the very beginning, young Montenegrin cinema has been characterized, above all, by its authors. This is not something that exists only now, but rather a continuity that has existed since the time of Yugoslav cinema, when Montenegrin auteur film expression was something special," said Božović.
As she pointed out, it is precisely the author's expression that gives Montenegrin cinema a special place even outside of national boundaries.
"This is what continues to color not only regional but also European and world cinema in the most intense way," said Božović.
Such continuity, according to her, provides a strong foundation for institutions that deal with co-financing, developing and promoting domestic cinematography, as well as for festivals that enable Montenegrin film and its authors to be visible to a wider audience.
"This gives space not only to us, who are here to co-finance and develop Montenegrin cinema and its promotion, but also to the festival, which has been a meeting place for regional cinema for 39 years, to proudly present what is Montenegrin authorial expression," said Božović.
Speaking about the results that Montenegrin cinema has recorded this year, Božović recalled that the year began with the fantastic success of the film "The Mountain" at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won the grand jury award for best documentary film.
After that, she added, new results followed that further increased the international and regional visibility of Montenegrin cinema.
"After that, we received accreditation from the Herceg Novi Film Festival - Montenegro Film Festival and its inclusion in one of the most prestigious festival networks in the world," said Božović.
She also reminded of the continuous presentation of Montenegrin film in the region.
"We continued to present Montenegrin cinema in the region, where we held the Days of Montenegrin Film in Slovenia. Also, Montenegrin cinema was in focus at the Cinehill festival last month," said Božović.
He also considers the international festival path of new Montenegrin films to be particularly important.
"What is extremely important is that the film 'The Black Trumpet', which the Herceg Novi audience will have the opportunity to see, began its festival life at a renowned international festival, and then had its premiere at a film festival in Poland," said Božović.
According to her, the results so far represent only a part of what is expected in the rest of the year.
"All of these things are extremely important and mark only the first half of the year, and what lies ahead of us are still things that we will have to talk about," said Božović.
She also assessed the amendments to the Law on Cinematography as an important segment of the development of Montenegrin cinematography, as well as incentive measures aimed at attracting foreign productions and strengthening the film industry in the country.
"The amendments to the Law on Cinematography have contributed to the fact that we now have an even greater obligation to work together to ensure that Montenegrin cinematography continues its development," said Božović.
She added that attracting foreign productions is not a goal in itself, but part of a broader process of developing the domestic film industry.
"Attracting foreign productions and raising and developing the film industry through incentive measures in the country itself contribute to an even better and more adequate growth and development of Montenegrin auteur film," Božović pointed out.
Speaking about the Herceg Novi Film Festival, she assessed that it is an event that has built a recognizable position over almost four decades as a meeting place for authors, audiences, and film professionals.
"We are getting ready to celebrate the 40th anniversary edition next year, and if we compare the festival to a person's lifespan, it is now in full swing and at its full strength," said Božović.
According to her, the Festival is no longer on its way to becoming a regional meeting place, but has long had that role.
"It is not becoming, but rather is, a meeting place for Montenegrin and regional filmmakers," said Božović.
She also pointed out that the Festival attracts the attention of the wider film public.
"There is great interest among the European and, I can freely say, global film public to follow everything that is happening," said Božović.
As she added, the Festival also plays an important role in presenting completed films, as well as projects that are still in development.
"The festival has the opportunity to host authors who come to present their completed projects on the beautiful towers, Kanli Tower and Forte Mare, but also to present projects that are in the making," said Božović.
Speaking about the 39th edition of the Festival, she stated that the Festival Council, together with the founders and executive producer, is working to ensure that this year's edition exceeds the very high standards set last year.
"The HNFF Council, together with the founders, the Ministry of Culture and Media and the Municipality of Herceg Novi, as well as the executive producer of the Herceg Fest Public Institution, is dedicated to exceeding last year's results, which were phenomenal," said Božović.
As she pointed out, last year's edition set a high standard, but the ambition is for this year's Festival to bring an even more attractive program to the audience.
"Last year's edition raised the bar very high. We believe that this year's, 39th edition of the Herceg Novi Film Festival will bring a large number of films that the audience will have the opportunity to see for the first time in Herceg Novi, before Belgrade, Ljubljana, Zagreb and other large cities," said Božović.
Precisely because of this, she said, the Festival retains a special place in the regional film calendar.
"The Herceg Novi Film Festival - Montenegro Film Festival is a place where the audience meets what regional film production has to offer in 2026," said Božović.
"Last year's edition featured a review of television series, so we have included that in the program this year," said Božović.
"There is great interest not only from production companies in learning about contemporary and new television series from the region, but also from financiers themselves, primarily television stations, to see what current production has to show," said Božović.
She believes that this is one of the most important effects of the development of the new program segment.
"That is, in fact, one of the greatest results of everything we have done," said Božović.
She added that the authors and crews of the series are reacting positively to the opportunity to premiere their projects to the festival audience.
"All those people who participated in the creation of the TV series that will premiere here for the first time, before they are shown on television, are very happy to come and are very happy to return," Božović pointed out.
"I believe that the Herceg Novi audience will have something to look forward to this year as well," she added.
Speaking about the next five years, Božović emphasized that the key is not only in individual successes, but in the continuity of the development of the entire system.
"What marked the previous year, which was continuous work, is our goal and mission to continue in the next five years," said Božović.
As she stated, the focus will remain on supporting domestic authors and the development of Montenegrin film.
"Our goal is to support the development of Montenegrin cinema, the development of Montenegrin auteur film," said Božović.
"We want to work on making Montenegro not only recognizable, but also one of the leading countries in the region when it comes to attracting foreign investment and filming in Montenegro," said Božović.
As she assessed, Montenegro's special advantage is the diversity of locations that can respond to the needs of different productions.
"Montenegro has fantastic locations, from the sea to the mountains, and in this way we can further develop the Montenegrin film industry," she pointed out.
Božović concluded that building a sustainable system, with strong authors, a developed film industry, international cooperation and continuous institutional support, is the path to new results.
"That is our mission in the next five years, and then, I believe, the results will come and we will have something to be proud of," said Božović.
The Herceg Novi Film Festival - Montenegro Film Festival, will be held from August 22nd to 28th.
The patrons of the 39th Herceg Novi Film Festival - Montenegro Film Festival are the Ministry of Culture and Media of Montenegro and the Municipality of Herceg Novi, while the executive producer is the Public Cultural Institution Herceg-fest, and the partner is the Film Center of Montenegro.
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