The International Film Festival FEST will open in Belgrade on Friday, October 2, with the premiere of “The Golden Cut 42 – Children of Kozara,” directed by Croatian filmmaker Lordan Zafranović. The film tells the story of the suffering of Serb children in the Ustasha-run Jasenovac concentration camp during World War II in the Nazi-allied Independent State of Croatia (NDH).
The premiere of “The Golden Cut” will take place at 7 p.m. at the Sava Center, followed by a premiere in Banja Luka a day later, as previously announced by President Milorad Dodik.
“The Golden Cut 42 – Children of Kozara,” produced by TS Media, is based on a screenplay written by Arsen Diklić and Zafranović in 1986.
The film is set against the backdrop of the collapse of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1941, when the Nazi-backed Independent State of Croatia was established. Within the NDH, the Jasenovac concentration camp system was created, where men, women and children were killed.
Through intertwined perspectives of victims and perpetrators, Zafranović explores the anatomy of evil. Serbs, Jews, Roma and Croatian anti-fascists fall victim to eight Ustasha killers, one of whom briefly rebels before himself becoming a victim of the evil he serves.
To portray the events of the summer of 1942 as authentically as possible, elaborate sets were constructed at several locations across Serbia. The production design was created by Milenko Jeremić, one of the region’s most prominent production designers, who previously collaborated with Zafranović on “Occupation in 26 Pictures.”
The creative team and cast, led by Zafranović, include more than 100 actors and over 60 film professionals from across the region. The cast includes Miki Manojlović, Aleksej Bjelogrlić, Milan Marić, Katarina Radivojević, Rene Bitorajac and Leon Lučev.
Zafranović received the “Belgrade Victor” award at the 51st FEST for his outstanding contribution to the art of cinema.
The 53rd edition of FEST will run until October 11 and feature more than 100 films representing over 50 national cinematographies. In addition to the Sava Center, screenings will take place at cinemas across Belgrade.
Audiences can expect the traditional Gala Program at the Sava Center, as well as late-night screenings at the Belgrade Youth Center as part of the “TBC – Trash, Bizarre, Cult” program, featuring both new and older premiere titles aimed at audiences interested in more unconventional and extreme cinema.
This year’s festival also introduces three competitive sections focusing on films from the European Union, as well as international and regional cinema.
A particularly strong selection of Anglo-American films will be presented through the “Travis Bickle and Sundance Kid” section, dedicated to films associated with major American independent film festivals such as Sundance and Tribeca. “Game of Thrones,” meanwhile, is conceived as a program featuring films from countries of the former Commonwealth, led by a strong selection of British productions.
Another new segment, titled “Goodbye 20th Century,” reflects the growing tendency among filmmakers to revisit events and individuals who shaped this crucial period of world history.
The festival will also feature two shorter programs: “FEST Pantheon,” dedicated to filmmakers who have left a significant mark on both FEST and world cinema, and the children’s program “Children’s Parade,” offering the youngest audiences an opportunity to experience the festival atmosphere.
Source: RTRS
