Studentski filmovi odišu posebnošću, hrabrošću i energijom mladosti, a selekcija za 38. Filmski festival Herceg Novi – Montenegro film festival (FFHN-MFF) pokazala je raznolikost i originalnost autora sa filmskih akademija Balkana, sa posebno zapaženim prisustvom talentovanih mladih autorki, istakla je selektorka studentske selekcije, rediteljka Sara Stijović.

Takmičarska slekcija studentskih filmova ove godine biće održana na novoj lokaciji – u Starom gradu, na Trgu Mića Pavlovića, ispred crkve Svetog Jeronima i zdanja Muzičke škole, od 24. do 28. avgusta, svake večeri sa početkom u 21 čas.

U selekciji su 23 kratkometražna igrana i dokumentarna filma studentkinja i studenata sa akademija širom regiona – iz Hrvatske, Srbije, Bosne i Hercegovine, Slovenije, Sjeverne Makedonije i Crne Gore.

„Osnovni kriterijumi, imajući u vidu da je riječ o studentskoj selekciji, bili su usmjereni na radove nastale tokom osnovnih ili master studija na umjetničkim i filmskim akademijama Balkana. Najvažnije su bile originalnost, vrijednost scenarija, rediteljski postupak, uspostavljanje stila, kao i ukupna hrabrost mladih autora da sprovedu temu ili ideju koja ih je u datom trenutku zanimala, u određenoj fazi života i obrazovanja“, pojasnila je Stijović.

Naglasila je da studentski filmovi često odišu posebnom energijom.

„Ono što je uvijek posebno lijepo kod studentskih filmova jeste njihova mladost, hrabrost, i činjenica da se tehničke greške opraštaju jer je u pitanju proces učenja. To su bile osnovne vrijednosti koje su se pratile tokom selekcije“, rekla je Stijović.

Na pitanje koje stilske tendencije dominiraju među studentskim radovima ove godine, Stijović je kazala da je teško odrediti jednu ili dvije stilske tendencije jer svaka akademija ima svoj metod obrazovanja, vrijednosti unutar filmskog polja, kao i specifičan stil i mentalitet.

„To je jedna od najvećih vrijednosti studentske selekcije, koliko se razlikuju filmovi studenata iz Slovenije, sa Cetinja, iz Beograda, Zagreba, Skoplja… Svaka škola njeguje sopstveni temelj i stil, što se jasno osjeti u radovima“, navela je Stijović.

Ocijenila je da je studentska selekcija u okviru FFHN-MFF izuzetno značajna jer je fokusirana na određene škole i države na Balkanu.

„Nakon više od četiri decenije trajanja, postala je svojevrsna kolijevka za autore koji tek počinju ili joj se rado vraćaju. Predivno je kad na festivalima širom Evrope i svijeta sretnem ljude koji su nekada sa mnom bili dio iste studentske selekcije – to je najveća ljepota ovog procesa“, navela je Stijović.

Ukazala je i na činjenicu da, dok je radila selekciju i pravila raspored po večerima, shvatila je koliko ima ženskih imena među autorima.

„To mi nije bilo odmah očigledno, ali mi je bilo jako lijepo kad sam to osvijestila. Mnogo je talentovanih djevojaka i momaka koji mnogo rade. Herceg Novi će ove godine sigurno biti lijepo mjesto“, zaključila je Stijović.

38. Filmski festival Herceg Novi – Montenegro Film Festival biće održan od od 23. do 29. avgusta, a najznačajniji filmski događaj ljeta publici donosi više od 60 ostvarenja u tri takmičarske selekcije i revijalnim programima, pod sloganom „Sve boje filma“.

Na programu 23 ostvarenja studenata sa osam akademija

U okviru takmičarske selekcije studentskog filma biće prikazana ostvarenja mladih autorki i autora sa osam akademija Balkana: Akademija dramskih umjetnosti iz Zagreba, Fakultet dramskih umetnosti Beograd, Akademija umetnosti Novi Sad, Akademija scenskih umjetnosti Sarajevo, Akademija umjetnosti Banja Luka, Akademija za gledališče, radio, film in televizijo Ljubljana, Fakultet za dramski umetnosti iz Skoplja i Fakultet dramskih umjetnosti sa Cetinja.

Pred publikom će biti četiri ostvarenja studenata crnogorskog Fakulteta dramskih umjetnosti Cetinje – “Žute stranice” Anje Kečalović i “Typing…” Kaće Žarić, kao i dva filma rađena u koprodukciji sa Filmskim centrom crne Gore, “Njegov svijet” Uliane Rashkine i „Kad se prijatelji rastaju“ Krsta Giljena.

Sa Akademije dramskih umjetnosti iz Zagreba stižu ostvarenja: “Grčke marelice” – Jan Krevatin, “Robert Flies” – Tadija Čaluković, “Carpe diem!” – Nina Damjanović, “Komorebi” – Lea Tošić, “Kradljivac” – Jakov Benčić i „Fleka“ – Sara Alavanić.

U selekciji filmova studenata Fakulteta dramskih umetnosti Beograd našli su se: “Bazen-rupa” – Ana Vučićević, “Ispit” – Ljudmila Korobova, „Eho “- Dan Grabnar, „Miris sveže farbe“ – Nađa Petrović, „Budućnost je svetla i nepodnošljiva“ – Milena Grujić i „Bele rade“ – Gvozden Ilić.

Sa Akademije scenskih umjetnosti iz Sarajeva stiže “Sve zbog jednog bika” Emira Solakovića, film rađen u koprodukciji sa Aljazeera Balkans i OKUP Bugojno, te „Sretno, Saro!“ Isidore Ratković, koprodukcija sa „Realstage“. 

Pred novskom publikom biće i „Reka“ Uglješe Ranisavljevića sa Akademije umetnosti Novi Sad (koprodukcija sa Aljasaka filmom), „Poster“ Ane Korićanac sa Akademije umjetnosti Banja Luka, „Sjenke Mjeseca“ Tine Velichkovikj sa Fakulteta za dramski umetnosti Skoplje, kao i dva ostvarenja studentkinja Akademije za gledališče, radio, film in televizijo iz Ljubljane – “Cvjetanje” Lare Šifrer i “Međumorje” Eme Paš.

O nagradama u okviru takmičarske selekcije studentskog filma odlučivaće stručni žiri u sastavu: scenaristkinja i spisateljica Maja Volk, glumac i producent Hazim Begagić i dramaturg Aleksandar Radunović Popaj.

Pokrovitelji 38. Filmskog festivala Herceg Novi – Montenegro film festivala su Ministarstvo kulture i medija Crne Gore i Opština Herceg Novi, a izvršni producent Javna ustanova kulture „Herceg-fest“.

______

Stijović: The Student Selection of FFHN-MFF as a Mirror of Courage and Authenticity of Young Filmmakers

Student films radiate uniqueness, courage, and the energy of youth, and the selection for the 38th Herceg Novi Film Festival – Montenegro Film Festival (FFHN-MFF) has showcased the diversity and originality of filmmakers from film academies across the Balkans, with a particularly notable presence of talented young female directors, said Sara Stijović, filmmaker and selector of the student competition program.

A New Venue for the Student Competition Program

This year, the competitive student film program will take place at a new location – in the Old Town, at Mića Pavlović Square, in front of the Church of St. Jerome and the Music School building, from August 24 to 28, every evening starting at 9 PM.

The program includes 23 short fiction and documentary films by students from film academies across the region – from Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, North Macedonia, and Montenegro.

“The main criteria, bearing in mind that this is a student selection, were works created during undergraduate or master’s studies at artistic and film academies of the Balkans. What mattered most were originality, the value of the screenplay, directorial approach, the establishment of style, and, above all, the courage of young filmmakers to explore a theme or idea that captivated them at a given moment in their lives and education,” explained Stijović.

She emphasized that student films often carry a very specific energy:

“What is always particularly beautiful about student films is their youth, courage, and the fact that technical mistakes are forgiven because this is a process of learning. These were the main values that guided the selection process.”

Diversity of Styles and Approaches

When asked about the dominant stylistic tendencies among student films this year, Stijović noted that it is difficult to pinpoint one or two trends, since each academy has its own methods, artistic values, and distinct styles shaped by culture and mentality.

“That is one of the greatest values of the student selection – how different the films are from students in Slovenia, Cetinje, Belgrade, Zagreb, Skopje… Each school nurtures its own foundation and style, and this is clearly reflected in the films,” she said.

She added that the student program within FFHN-MFF is exceptionally important, as it focuses on specific schools and countries across the Balkans.

“After more than four decades, it has become a kind of cradle for filmmakers who are just beginning, or who gladly return to it. It is wonderful when, at festivals across Europe and the world, I meet people who once shared the same student selection with me – that is the greatest beauty of this process,” she noted.

Stijović also pointed out the significant number of women directors among the selected works:

“At first it wasn’t obvious, but as I was arranging the program, I realized how many female filmmakers are represented. It was a very pleasant realization. There are so many talented young women and men who are working hard. Herceg Novi will certainly be a beautiful place this year,” she concluded.

38th FFHN-MFF Brings Over 60 Films Under the Motto All the Colors of Film

The 38th Herceg Novi Film Festival – Montenegro Film Festival will be held from August 23 to 29, bringing audiences more than 60 films across three competitive sections and several special programs, under the slogan All the Colors of Film.

23 Student Films from Eight Balkan Academies

The student competition program will feature films by young directors from eight film academies: the Academy of Dramatic Art in Zagreb, Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade, Academy of Arts in Novi Sad, Academy of Performing Arts in Sarajevo, Academy of Arts in Banja Luka, Academy for Theatre, Radio, Film and Television in Ljubljana, Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Skopje, and the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Cetinje.

From Montenegro’s Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Cetinje, the lineup includes: Yellow Pages by Anja Kečalović and Typing… by Kaća Žarić, as well as two films co-produced with the Film Centre of Montenegro – His World by Uliana Rashkina and When Friends Part Ways by Krsto Giljen.

From the Academy of Dramatic Art in Zagreb: Greek Apricots by Jan Krevatin, Robert Flies by Tadija Čaluković, Carpe Diem! by Nina Damjanović, Komorebi by Lea Tošić, The Thief by Jakov Benčić, and The Stain by Sara Alavanić.

From the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade: Pool-Hole by Ana Vučićević, The Exam by Ljudmila Korobova, Echo by Dan Grabnar, The Smell of Fresh Paint by Nađa Petrović, The Future is Bright and Unbearable by Milena Grujić, and Daisies by Gvozden Ilić.

From the Academy of Performing Arts in Sarajevo: All Because of One Bull by Emir Solaković (a co-production with Aljazeera Balkans and OKUP Bugojno) and Good Luck, Sara! by Isidora Ratković (a co-production with Realstage).

From the Academy of Arts in Novi Sad: The River by Uglješa Ranisavljević (co-produced with Aljaska Film).

From the Academy of Arts in Banja Luka: Poster by Ana Korićanac.

From the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Skopje: Shadows of the Moon by Tina Velichkovikj.

From the Academy for Theatre, Radio, Film and Television in Ljubljana: Blossoming by Lara Šifrer and Intersea by Ema Paš.

Jury of the Student Competition Program

Awards in the student competition program will be decided by a professional jury consisting of screenwriter and author Maja Volk, actor and producer Hazim Begagić, and dramaturg Aleksandar Radunović Popaj.

The 38th Herceg Novi Film Festival – Montenegro Film Festival is supported by the Ministry of Culture and Media of Montenegro and the Municipality of Herceg Novi, with the Herceg-fest Cultural Institution as the executive producer.