Želimir Žilnik (rođen 1942. godine, živi i radi u Novom Sadu), autor je brojnih igranih i dokumentarnih filmova, jedan od začetnika žanra doku-drama, nagrađivan na domaćim i internacionalnim filmskim festivalima. Nakon završenih studija prava, od samog starta profesionalnog rada na filmu, okrenut savremenim temama koje uključuju društvenu, političku i ekonomsku kritiku svakodnevice. Studentske demonstracije 1968. godine, i veliki potres iste godine, posle okupacije Čehoslovačke, tema su i Žilnikovog prvog igranog filma Rani radovi (1969), nagrađenog Zlatnim medvedom na Berlinskom filmskom festivalu, kao i sa četiri nagrade u Puli iste godine. Nakon problema sa cenzurom u Jugoslaviji, Žilnik sredinu sedamdesetih godina provodi u Nemačkoj, radeći nezavisne filmove. Po povratku u zemlju, od kraja sedamdesetih režira seriju dobro primljenih televizijskih filmova i doku-drama, za Televiziju Beograd i TV Novi Sad. Tokom devedesetih, u nezavisnim filmskim i medijskim produkcijama realizuje niz igranih i dokumentarnih filmova na temu kataklizme na Balkanu. Uz relevantu internacionalnu televizijsku distribuciju, filmovi iz ovog perioda pokazani su i na brojnim međunarodnim festivalima, a na Berlinalu 2005. godine Marble Ass je dobio značajnu nagradu ‘Teddy Bear’. Uz kontinuirani rad na filmskoj produkciji, Žilnik se od 1997. godine bavi i pedagoškim radom – mentor je i izvršni producent niza međunarodnih filmskih radionica za studente iz regiona jugoistočne Evrope; od 2006. godine, angažovan je kao gostujući predavač na nekoliko inostranih filmskih škola na univerzitetima u Velikoj Britaniji, SAD i Sloveniji.

Želimir Žilnik (born in 1942; living and working in Novi Sad, Serbia) has written and directed numerous feature and documentary films which have reaped many awards at domestic and international film festivals. From the very beginning his films have focussed on contemporary issues, featuring social, political and economic assessments of everyday life. The student demonstrations of 1968 and the turmoil that followed the occupation of Czechoslovakia are at the centre of Žilnik’s first feature film Early Works (1969) which was awarded the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival and four prizes in Pula that same year. After facing problems with censorship in Yugoslavia Žilnik spent the mid-seventies in Germany. Following his return to Yugoslavia at the end of the seventies, he directed a substantial series of television films and docudramas for TV Belgrade and TV Novi Sad. Turning to independent film and media production in the nineties, he went on to make a series of feature and documentary films centering around the cataclysmic events in the Balkans. These films won top awards at national festivals (in Herceg Novi, Palić, Novi Sad and Sopot) and were screened at numerous international festivals. In 1995 Marble Ass won the prestigious ‘Teddy Award’ at the Berlinale. Alongside his ceaseless filmmaking and production work, Žilnik has been active in educational areas, as well: since 1997 he has been a mentor and executive producer in many international workshops for students from all over South Eastern Europe. Since 2006 he has been a visiting lecturer at film schools at universities in USA, Slovenia and UK.