ENFF 2018 catalogue

the hague 2018

EASTERN NEIGHBOURS FILM FESTIVAL

FILMHUIS DEN HAAG OPENING FILM 7 CLOSING FILM 8 EXCITING, CURRENT CINEMA 9 DOCUMENTARIES OPEN DEBATES 21 POLISH FILM PEARLS 27 SPECIAL SCREENINGS 31 ENFF DISCOVERIES 34 SHORT FILMS BY GREAT MASTERS 42 MASTERCLASS BY DAMIR IMAMOVIĆ 49 MASTERCLASS BY LEON LUČEV 50 MASTERCLASS BY MARTA POPIVODA 51 FILM & CLASS 52 EUNIC DAY OF LANGUAGES 53 LUX FILM PRIZE 54 BRUNCH WITH… 55 WINE TASTING AND TALK PRO 57 ENFF ON TOUR 58 AUDIENCE PRIZE 63 FILM INDEX 64 PARTNERS AND SPONSORS 65

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WELCOME TO THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE EASTERN NEIGHBOURS FILM FESTIVAL A word by artistic director Rada Sesic During its previous 9 editions, the Eastern Neighbours Film Festival has grown into one of the most representative and leading events focusing on the East-European film and culture and established itself within the Dutch film festival scene. This year we present 40 exciting films from East and South-East Europe to the Dutch and international community in The Hague (and other Dutch cities in our On Tour program). Why Eastern Neighbours? We believe that cinema brings people closer together. With an inside view into the mentality and history of Eastern regions, these films help to create a deeper understanding of other cultures. In the many confronting and powerful stories in our program, the harsh, sometimes even frightening reality is staring straight at us; it compels us not to remain indifferent.

The Opening Film is the humorous and thought-provoking documentary Korida by Sinisa Vidovic. It is in a way our festival statement; we want to honour every film category - fiction, documentary or short when it is powerful, compelling and meaningful. Secondly it unites 3 countries, both production and content-wise, connecting the Balkan with the rest of Europe. Austrian but Croatian born author tackles the Bosnian multi-cultural situation, the political absurdity 4

and the complexity of living together.

In the year when several top festivals signed a petition for gender equality in the film industry, we are proudly underlining that half of our selection is made by female authors. To name a few: The Marriage by Blerta Zeqiri, daringly deals with homosexuality in Kosovo and is submitted for the Oscars; Dede by Georgian Mariam Khatchavani, is a compelling drama shot marvellously in her breathtaking region Svaneti; The Miner by another courageous director, Hanna Slak from Slovenia, recalls a shocking true story, while Paradise ‘89 by Madara Dislere from Latvia reflects on the time when the country fought for independence and democracy. Biljana Tutorov in When Pigs Come, gives a humorous, yet serious take on life and politics in Serbia and, like many other films at our festival, embarks on a journey to revisit historical truths.

We are thrilled that 70% of our program consists of debut films: a.o. The Frog, a remarkable psychological post-war drama by Elmir Jukic from Bosnia and Herzegovina; the disturbing contemporary take on Albanian reality Daybreak by Gentian Koci; Men Don’t Cry by Bosnian Alen Drljevic which impressively deals with post-war traumas; Coyote, a lucid contemporary western from the East by Mark Kostyal from Hungary; Secret Ingredient, a Macedonian dark comedy

by Gjorce Stavreski (submitted for the Oscars).

The program Polish Film Pearls contemplates on national and personal identity, as well as our traditional ENFF Discoveries and Short Films by Great Masters sections where we present exciting styles, new talents and new works by masters.

Two of our programs, Exciting, Current Cinema and Documentaries Open Debates, bring films that reflect the admirable filmmakers’ dedication to bring important topics to the table, issues that matter to all of us, like migration, the multi-cultural society and the widespread political shift in Europe towards intolerance, conservatism and nationalism.

We endorse the initiative of Dutch distributors to show films from the Southeast Europe. All Alone, the brand new film by the great Croatian director Bobo Jelcic that premiered in Sarajevo this year, and the Bulgarian Posoki

by Stephan Komandarev that premiered in Cannes and was last year’s winner in Sarajevo, will hit the cinemas after featuring at our festival.

Among our Highlights are two unique Masterclasses. One is given by Leon Lucev from Croatia, silver screen icon of South-East Europe. We screen 3 films in which he performs brilliantly: Ivan by Janez Burger (Slovenian submission for the Oscars), a compelling social thriller about love and crime, as well as the already mentioned Men Don’t Cry and The Miner. The other special masterclass is by our guest Damir Imamovic, a famous musician from Sarajevo and ‘The King of Sevdah’. He is also the main character in the film Sevdah by Marina Andree Skop.

Our Closing Film is a real treat for connoisseurs: the Czech classic Larks on a String by Oscar winning director Jiri Menzel.

The film was made in 1969 and immediately forbidden. This lasted till 1990, when it won the main prize at the Berlinale. Special guest at the closing ceremony is main actor Vaclav Neckar, also known for his role as the young Milos Hrma in Menzel’s Closely Watched Trains.

Our Festival is not just an event with high quality cinema. We have especially designed the entire festival to initiate networking and new partnerships and create fun and unforgettable moments for all participants and visitors.

Come and enjoy East and South European films. They are now in your neighbourhood!

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Dutch première

film program

KORIDA

Director: Sinisa Vidovic 2016 | Austria | 87 min.

PRODUCERS: Arash T. Riahi, Karin C. Berger – Golden Girls Film SCREENPLAY: Senad Halilbasic, Sinisa Vidovic CINEMATOGRAPHY: Lukas Kronsteiner EDITING: Cordula Werner OPENING CEREMONY: November 7 | 19:00 hours | Zaal 1 by invitation only REGULAR SCREENING: November 7 | 19:15 hours | Zaal 3 November 8 | 16:45 hours | Zaal 3

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OPENING FILM

A charming and humorous journey into the fragile human relations in a crisis-ridden post-war-society. A documentary of archaic poetry with strong characters and beautiful shots.

The Bosnian bullfights are a subject rarely caught on film.

In a Korida bullfight, bulls compete against bulls in an arena, yet unlike the Spanish Corrida de Toros no blood is shed.

The film gives a unique insight into a society that tries to come to terms with its past war experiences in an unusual way. Is it possible that Koridas have brought more peace to the Bosnian people than the European Union? Because of its socio-political relevance and utterly fascinating characters that have never been portrayed before, the world of bullfighting in rural Bosnia offers a tough and realistic look at a country that has not yet recovered from the impacts of war.

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Dutch première

CLOSING FILM

LARKS ON A STRING

Photo credit: ©NFA Prague

director: Jiri Menzel

SKRIVANCI NA NITI 1969 | Czechoslovakia| 94 min.

PRODUCER: Karel Kochman CAST: Vaclav Neckar, Rudolf Hrusinsky, Vlastimil Brodsky SCREENPLAY: Bohumil Hrabal, Jiri Menzel CINEMATOGRAPHY: Jaromir Sofr EDITING: Jirina Lukesova

SCREENING: November 11 | 19:00 hours | Zaal 1

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A remarkable, dark, bitter comedy directed by Oscar winning director Jiri Menzel. The film was banned by the Czechoslovak government and went unseen until the fall of the Communist regime and its premiere at the 1990 Berlinale, where it won the Golden Bear.

Set in the late 1950s in communist Czechoslovakia, the story concerns the irrepressible goodness of a bunch of intelligent and educated people who are imprisoned by the government in labour camps for being ‘bourgeois elements’ and forced to work in a junkyard for the purposes of re-education. It focuses on the playful, perky and romantic interactions between the male and female groups of prisoners while in the meantime some of them are taken away in a mysterious black car, never to be seen again. A funny, bitter, satirical, allegorical and meaningful Czech classic about the significance of humour and the strength of human spirit while living under repressive regimes. The well-known Czech actor Vaclav Neckar, who many remember from Jiri Menzel’s Oscar winning “Closely Watched Trains” (1966), will be our special guest at this year’s festival.

EXCITING, CURRENT CINEMA

ALL ALONE director: Bobo Jelcic

SAM SAMCAT 2018 | Croatia, Netherlands, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro | 74 min.

PRODUCERS: Zdenka Gold - Spiritus Movens; De Productie, Dokument Sarajevo, Dart film, Adriatic Western CAST: Rakan Rushaidat, Miki Manojlovic, Snjezana Sinovcic Siskov SCREENPLAY: Bobo Jelcic CINEMATOGRAPHY: Erol Zubcevic EDITING: Vladimir Gojun

SCREENING: November 9 | 21:45 hours | Zaal 5 November 10 | 21:30 hours | Zaal 4

A captivating, darkly humorous, well-acted intimate drama by award-winning director Bobo Jelcic, recently premiered at the Sarajevo Film Festival.

Filmmaker Bobo Jelcic, whose “A Stranger” premiered at the prestigious Berlinale and won many awards including the Heart of Sarajevo for acting and seven Golden Arenas at the Pula FF, takes us on a powerful, emotional journey of modern fatherhood in his impressive second feature. It’s a story of a divorced father Marko who fights to spend more time with his daughter. He is hardly ever alone: either surrounded by his family, friends, co-workers and neighbourhood fixers. However, he is driven to the brink by limited contact with the one person he loves more than anyone – his daughter, who lives with her mother. When he starts the legal proceedings to get more time with his child, he enters the Kafkaesque world of a social-services system in meltdown. An intimate character study and a snapshot of a community, but nevertheless, an up-to-date, universal, deeply human story.

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director: Gentian Koci

director: Mark Kostyal

PRODUCERS: Gabor Kalomista, Dorottya Helmeczy - Megafilm CAST: Andras Meszaros, Maria Dobra, Laszlo Matray, Lehel Salat, Gabi Szabo SCREENPLAY: Balazs Lengyel, Balazs Lovas, Mark Kostyal CINEMATOGRAPHY: Mark Kostyal, Attila Csoboth EDITING: Mano Csillag SCREENING: October 19 | 19:30 hours | Laaktheater November 8 | 19:00 hours | Zaal 3

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EXCITING, CURRENT CINEMA

DAYBREAK

COYOTE

KOJOT 2017 | Hungary | 126 min

Dutch première

Dutch première

EXCITING, CURRENT CINEMA

A serious struggle for the land, love and life! Debutant director Mark Kostyal transfers the Wild West to the East Europe with extraordinary imagery.

Sultry heat, dinginess, unspoken social problems and hierarchical infighting. This is the town of Tuzko, somewhere in present-day Hungary where Misi arrives to inherit his grandfather’s house and property. Misi is a disillusioned and frustrated young man who is constantly on the run and who does not find his place in the world, in work or in relationships. Soon he begins the hardest struggle of his life for land, love and for his life. A rough neo-western about land expropriation and human stress. An excellent action drama by Mark Kostyal, a new voice in the Hungarian cinematic landscape.

DITA ZE FILL 2017 | Albania, Greece | 85 min PRODUCERS: Gentian Koci - Artalb Film; Graal Films CAST: Ornela Kapetani, Suzana Prifti, Kasem Hoxha SCREENPLAY: Gentian Koci CINEMATOGRAPHY: Ilias Adamis EDITING: Christos Giannakopoulous, Bonita Papastathi

SCREENING: November 9 | 22:00 hours | Zaal 3 November 10 | 19:00 hours | Zaal 3

Academy award nominee from Albania in 2017. A compelling contemporary drama of a single mother dealing with morality and compromises, in a struggle for survival in today’s Albania.

Daybreak is a story on people’s day-by-day’s struggle to keep going on in a society. A universal story of a woman, a single mother, abandoned by her family, who has to make difficult choices in order to provide a basic existence for a child and herself. A glimmer of hope appears when she is offered to take care of sick and old Sofie. To make sure she and her kid have food and a place to live, Leta must do her best to keep Sofie alive as long as possible. Faced with desperation, the young mum makes choices that might be seen as less moral or dubious. According to the director, his feature debut was filmed without camera movements in order to “capture the raw reality of things”. This social drama won the Best Actress award at the Sarajevo Film Festival.

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Dutch première

EXCITING, CURRENT CINEMA

IVAN

DEDE

director: Janez Burger

director: JMariam Khatchvani 2017 | Georgia, Qatar, Ireland, Netherlands, Croatia | 97 min.

PRODUCERS: Vladimer Katcharava - 20 Steps Productions; F&ME, MP Film Production, Montauk Film Production CAST: George Babluani, Natia Vibliani, Girshel Tchelidze SCREENPLAY: M. Khatchvani, V. Katcharava, Irakli Solomanashvili CINEMATOGRAPHY: Konstantin Esadze EDITING: Levan Kukhashvili SCREENING: November 8 | 19:15 hours | Zaal 5 November 10 | 21:00 hours | Zaal 3

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EXCITING, CURRENT CINEMA

An outstanding cinematic piece and authentic story of woman’s restless fight for freedom set in the deep Caucasus Mountains.

It’s 1992. Young Dina lives in a remote mountain village where life is strictly governed by centuries of tradition.

Dina’s grandfather has promised her to David, who is returning from the war. But with him comes a comrade-inarms, the handsome Gegi, and Dina falls in love. Is it possible to defy the firmly established order? A fascinating debut by Mariam Khatchvani set in the Svaneti region, her birthplace in the historical Georgian highland protected by UNESCO. Inspired by the story of her grandmother, the director wanted to retain a palpable sense of authenticity and show a way of life that has not been seen on film before. Except one professional actor on set, she engaged local people speaking endangered language. Khatchvani exposed the severe customs deeply rooted in her community following the rhythm of four seasons as the climate conditions also determine the pattern of human behaviour. Winner of the Special Jury Prize at the Karlovy Vary IFF.

2017 | Slovenia, Croatia | 95 min.

PRODUCERS: Miha Cernec; B.T. Matic - Staragara Productions, RTV Slovenija, Tramal Films, Propeler Film CAST: Marusa Majer, Matjaz Tribuson, Natasa Barbara Gracner Screenplay: Janez Burger, Ales Car, Melina Pota Koljevic, Srdjan Koljevic CINEMATOGRAPHY: Marko Brdar EDITING: Milos Kalusek SCREENING: November 9 | 19:45 hours | Zaal 3 November 10 | 16:45 hours | Zaal 3

A rough and thrilling drama about the dilemma of taking the wrong choices. Slovenian candidate for the Oscars and the best feature film at this year’s LET’S CEE Film Festival in Vienna.

Ivan comes into this world on the background of a corrupted world and a chain of unexpected and nerve wrecking events begins. Ivan’s father Rok, a married businessman whom Mara his mother obsessively loves, is missing. When she finds out that Rok is accused of a white-collar crime, she gets brutally beaten by his wife’s cronies. Mara and Rok manage to get together, but Mara finds herself in an impossible situation when she has to choose between her lover and her child. The film received eight trophies at the Festival of Slovenian Film, including the best feature film award for its ‘’vertiginous dance of images and sound that take hold of the viewer already in the first scene and don’t let go until the end. A deeply moving comment of the state of mind in contemporary Slovenia, but not only that. His almost hypnotic oscillating between feelings of yearning and desperation is something we are all familiar with, one way or the other.”

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MEN DON’T CRY director: Alen Drljevic,

MUSKARCI NE PLACU 2017 | Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia, Germany | 99 min PRODUCERS: Damir Ibrahimovic, Jasmila Zbanic – Deblokada; Produkcija Ziva, Iridium Film, Manderley Films CAST: Boris Isakovic, Leon Lucev, Emir Hadzihafizbegovic, Ermin Bravo, Ivo Gregurevic SCREENPLAY: Alen Drljevic, Zoran Solomun CINEMATOGRAPHY: Erol Zubcevic EDITING: Vladimir Gojun SCREENING: November 9 | 19:30 hours | Zaal 5

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A compelling Bosnian story with brilliant performances of the main actors Isakovic, Bravo, Hadzihafizbegovic, Lucev and Gregurevic. This remarkably refined film won the best film awards at the Karlovy Vary, Bratislava, Ljubljana, Zagreb and Goteborg FF. It has been more than 20 years after the wars in former Yugoslavia ended, but the wounds of those who participated in them are still open. In this tense drama, a group of war veterans are trying to overcome lack of trust, prejudice and cross the invisible enemy lines by opening their hearts to each other. They are hoping to find a relief from the nightmares which are haunting them for over two decades.

Despite the support of a patient and devoted facilitator, it is obvious that a reconciliation both with one’s own traumas and with the former enemies is an unpredictable path full of thorns. Brilliantly written and directed, the film does not only deal with personal emotional discomforts, it also brings up the treatments and position of war veterans in the post-conflict societies..

Dutch première

Dutch première

EXCITING, CURRENT CINEMA

EXCITING, CURRENT CINEMA

PARADISE ’89 director: Madara Dislere PARADIZE ’89 2018 | Latvia, Germany | 90 min.

PRODUCERS: Aija Berzina, Alise Gelze - Tasse Film; Bastei Media CAST: Magda Lote Auzina, Liva Locmele, Marta Gertrude Auzane SCREENPLAY: Madara Dislere CINEMATOGRAPHY: Gints Berzins EDITING: Heike Parplies SCREENING: November 9 | 19:15 hours | Zaal 4 November 10 | 16:30 hours | Zaal 4

In 2018, Latvia celebrates a hundred years since it has become an independent state. This compelling film is a part of the rich centenary program. The story is situated in 1989 and it’s based on actual events during the fall of the Iron Curtain when Latvia was on its way towards restoration of democracy and independence.

The year is 1989 and the TV news are reporting a state of emergency in Latvia. Girls who have been left with no adult supervision are preparing for war. Paula and Laura are city girls and they spend their summer holidays in a small town with their cousins, Maija and Linda. Left unattended, they enjoy freedom, imitate the life of adults, plunge into reckless adventures and get into trouble. When a state of emergency is announced on TV, Paula, full of hope, heads to the Baltic Way demonstration to join hands with two million people in a human chain spanning across the three Baltic states: Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. The film is a part of the centenary program of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia.

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POSOKI

PRODUCERS: Stephan Komandarev, Katya Trichkova, Stelios Ziannis, Vera Weit, Vladimir Anastasov, Angela Nestorovska CAST: Vassil Vasilev–Zuek, Ivan Barnev, Assen Blatechki Screenplay: Simeon Ventsislavov, Stephan Komandarev CINEMATOGRAPHY: Vesselin Hristov EDITING: Nina Altaparmakova SCREENING: November 10 | 19:15 hours | Zaal 4

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EXCITING, CURRENT CINEMA

THE FROG

Director: Stephan Komandarev DIRECTIONS 2017 | Bulgaria, Germany, Macedonia 103 min.

Dutch première

Dutch première

EXCITING, CURRENT CINEMA

director: Elmir Jukic A bitter-humoured realistic drama in which the fate of various people’s lives collides and gets affected during each individual taxi ride. All are victims of the decline of a suffering nation.

ZABA 2017 | Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia | 78 min

A road movie through the dystopia of Bulgaria today, a country that remains optimistic because all realists and pessimists have left it. During an appointment with his banker, the owner of a small business, who drives a taxi to make ends meet, discovers that the bribe he will have to pay to obtain a loan has doubled. The ethics board that examined his blackmail complaint is now asking for his share. Not knowing which saint to devote himself to, the owner kills the banker and commits suicide. This incident has sparked a national radio debate about the despair that reigns in civil society. Meanwhile, five taxi drivers and their passengers move through the night, each hoping to find a clearer way forward.

PRODUCERS: Ademir Kenovic – Refresh Production; Skopje Film Studio, Living Pictures, Propeler Film, Iridium Film CAST: Emir Hadzihafizbegovic, Aleksandar Seksan, Mirsad Tuka SCREENPLAY: Pjer Zalica, Elmir Jukic CINEMATOGRAPHY: Dejan Dimeski EDITING: Vladimir Gojun SCREENING: November 10 | 19:30 hours | Zaal 5 November 11 | 18:45 hours | Zaal 5

Based on a record braking stage play that has been loved by the audience not only in Sarajevo but the whole Ex-Yu for more than a decade. Winner of three Golden Arenas at Pula FF and the Audience Award at the Sarajevo FF. Brilliant performances of Emir Hadzihafizbegovic, Aleksandar Seksan, Mirsad Tuka, Moamer Kasumovic.

Zeko is a barber and war veteran suffering from PostTraumatic Stress Disorder. One day he invites his brother Braco and friend Svabo to Eid festivities. He intends to take advantage of the holiday mood and ask his brother, a gambler and alcoholic, to get back on the right path. When he realize that Braco does not have any intention to change himself, he tries to force him. A violent conflict breaks out between them and Zeko starts to lose his ground. Alone, without his only friend and his brother, he decides to kill himself – until a young man, selling books door-to-door, suddenly arrives. The first feature film by well-known Bosnian theatre and TV series director Elmir Jukic, based on the iconic stage play by Dubravko Mihanovic.

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Dutch première

EXCITING, CURRENT CINEMA

THE MARRIAGE director: Blerta Zeqiri

MARTESA 2017 | Kosovo, Albania | 97 min.

PRODUCERS: Keka Kreshnik Berisha beze; Bunker Film+ CAST: Alban Ukaj, Adriana Matoshi, Genc Salihu SCREENPLAY: Blerta Zeqiri, Keka Kreshnik Berisha CINEMATOGRAPHY: Sevdije Kastrati EDITING: Keka Kreshnik Berisha SCREENING: November 8 | 21:30 hours | Zaal 5 November 9 | 17:30 hours | Zaal 3

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A touching and compassionate drama which unfolds the impossibility of gay love in a patriarchal society from a humane perspective, beyond the postulates of political correctness.

Bekim and Anita are getting married in two weeks, so they are adding the final touches to the big day. Despite expecting news of Anita’s parents, declared missing since the 1999 Kosovar War, and with Bekim’s controlling family in turn, the couple seem to manage with preparations. But when Bekim’s secret gay ex-lover, Nol, returns from abroad unexpectedly, the situation complicates, especially by the fact that Nol is still in love with Bekim. Inevitably, the wedding banquet loads with tension. The director Blerta Zeqiri considers that same sex love in Kosovo is today’s Romeo and Juliette story, thus she wanted to make the audience leave the three main characters’ gender aside and feel for them in this complicated triangle, where no decision is without a victim. The result is a well-performed, absorbing and empathetic debut film, winner of the FIPRESCI and Special Jury prizes in Tallinn and Kosovar submission for the Oscars.

EXCITING, CURRENT CINEMA

THE MINER director: Hanna Slak

RUDAR 2017 | Slovenia, Germany | 102 min.

PRODUCERS: Sinisa Jurecic, Miha Knific - Nukleus film; Volte CAST: Leon Lucev, Marina Redzepovic, Boris Cavazza, Zala Djuric SCREENPLAY: Hanna Slak CINEMATOGRAPHY: Matthias Pilz EDITING: Vladimir Gojun, Hanna Slak SCREENING: November 10 | 21:45 hours | Zaal 5 November 11 | 16:15 hours | Zaal 5

A powerful film based on a true story of a miner who risked everything to uncover one of the darkest secrets of Slovenian history.

In 2007, a Slovenian miner of Bosnian origin was sent to check an abandoned mine. His task was to quickly make sure the mine was empty before management sells the company. But in the deep underground, Mehmedalija Alic found a hidden mass grave of 4000 war refugees killed after the end of WW2. The discovery was a shock to the Slovenian society, but the miner was made redundant for insisting to identify and arrange a funeral for those victims.

Acclaimed Slovenian female director Hanna Slak helped Alic pen his story and his autobiography ‘A nobody’ was published in 2013. She subsequently adapted it into a fiction film about the miner, his family, his persistence to dig out the truth, and his strive for social justice. The film won two Special Mentions at the Warsaw IFF and three Vesna Awards for Best Director, Actor and Editing at the Festival of Slovenian Film.

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THE SECRET INGREDIENT director: Gjorce Stavreski ISCELITEL 2017 | Macedonia, Greece | 102 min.

PRODUCERS: Gjorce Stavreski – Fragment Film; Graal S.A. CAST: Blagoj Veselinov, Anastas Tanovski, Aksel Mehmet, Aleksandar Mikic SCREENPLAY: Gjorce Stavreski CINEMATOGRAPHY: Dejan Dimeski EDITING: Martin Ivanov SCREENING: November 9 | 21:30 hours | Zaal 4

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‘’Tragicomic gem that could well end up charming its way into niche distribution beyond the festival circuit.’’ – The Hollywood Reporter Social distress, economic hardship, attempted suicide, family tragedy, illegal drugs, violent thugs and late-stage, metastasized lung cancer are the ingredients of this intriguing debut film about good intentions going really bad.

The story follows Vele, an underpaid train mechanic who uses stolen marijuana to make a cake for his father to relieve his cancer pain. Suddenly, he finds himself cornered by the criminals who want their drugs back and the nosy neighbours who want the recipe for the “healing cake”.

Expecting the worst, all of sudden an actual miracle occurs...

A fantastic black comedy that won the Audience Award at the Thessaloniki FF and several jury prizes at prestigious film festivals worldwide. Macedonia’s submission for the Oscars.

DOCUMENTARIES OPEN DEBATES

Dutch première

Dutch première

EXCITING, CURRENT CINEMA

HOTEL JUGOSLAVIJA director: Nicolas Wagnieres 2017 | Switzerland | 78 min.

PRODUCER: Benjamin Poumey – C-Side Productions SCREENPLAY: Nicolas Wagnieres CINEMATOGRAPHY: Denis Jutzeler, Benoit Peverelli EDITING: Damian Plandolit SCREENING: November 10 | 12:45 hours | Zaal 4 November 11 | 20:15 hours | Zaal 3 November 11 | 15:00 hours | Dakota

A documentary-reflection of a Serbian society in search of new points of reference, premiered at this year’s Berlinale.

The Hotel Jugoslavija was a mythical place, both a symbol and a witness to the different moments that shaped former Yugoslavia. From Tito to Milosevic, from NATO’s bombing to corrupted liberalism. With journey through the times and spaces of the building, the Swiss-born director explores a collective unconscious as well as a part of his own Yugoslav identity as a second generation immigrant. By exploring the Hotel Jugoslavija and by meeting people with a strong link to the building, he wanted to bring his own testimony to a country that does no longer exist. What secrets are hidden in the Hotel Jugoslavija?

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DOCUMENTARIES OPEN DEBATES

DOCUMENTARIES OPEN DEBATES

OCCUPATION 1968

directors: Stephan Komandarev, Marie Elisa Scheidt, Linda Dombrovszky, Magdalena Szymkow, Evdokia Moskvina 2018 | Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Bulgaria, Poland| 130 min.

PRODUCERS: Peter Kerekes Ltd.; Hypermarket Film, ELF Pictures, Agitprop, Silver Frame CINEMATOGRAPHY: Moritz Tessendorf, Jakub Halousek, Vesselin Hristov, Akos Nyoszoli, Zuzanna Kernbach EDITING: Matej Benes, Denize Galiao, Nina Alataparmakova, Levente Papp, Izabela Pajak SCREENING: November 10 | 13:00 hours | Zaal 5 November 11 | 15:45 hours | Zaal 3

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5 directors from 5 countries, countries that occupied Czechoslovakia in 1968. The documentary travels back to the place of invasion focusing on the stories of soldiers who took part in the occupation.

This omnibus documentary gives a new perspective to the occupation of Czechoslovakia seen from the eyes of the occupiers. Former soldiers and their friends reflect on circumstances surrounding their participation on the side of occupier’s armies coming from the Warsaw Pact countries.

Some wonder whether what they believed to be true was actually a real truth? Was the West about to attack? Was their mission noble, as some of them believed? Were they saviours or occupiers of Czech and Slovaks? They wonder whether they would obey the orders if they were in the situation to shoot at the civilians. Despite some still being proud of their involvement, they all cast a new perspective at their personal past and historic truths.

THE OTHER SIDE OF EVERYTHING director: Mila Turajlic DRUGA STRANA SVEGA 2017 | Serbia, France, Qatar 104 min PRODUCERS: Mila Turajlic – Dribbling Pictures; Carine Chichkowsky - Survivance, HBO Europe SCREENPLAY: Mila Turajlic CINEMATOGRAPHY: Mila Turajlic EDITING: Sylvie Gadmer, Aleksandra Milovanovic SCREENING: November 8 | 17:00 hours | Zaal 5

A thought-provoking, remarkably layered winner of the IDFA Award for Best Feature-Length Documentary.

A locked door inside a Belgrade apartment has kept a family separated from their past for seven decades. As the director begins an intimate conversation with her mother - a retired university professor and renowned pro-democracy activist - the political fault line running through their home reveals a house and a country haunted by ghosts of the past. The chronicle of a family in Serbia turns into a searing portrait of an activist in times of great turmoil, from communism in Yugoslavia, through the Milosevic regime, until the present day, questioning the responsibility of each generation to fight for their future. An intriguing documentary by acclaimed Serbian filmmaker Mila Turajlic (“Cinema Komunisto”) nominated for this year’s European Film Awards and awarded with more than twenty international awards. “The other side of everything” is the only LUX Prize documentary nominee this year (read more on page 54).

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DOCUMENTARIES OPEN DEBATES

DOCUMENTARIES OPEN DEBATES

THE TRIAL: THE STATE OF RUSSIA VS OLEG SENTSOV director: Askold Kurov 2017 | Estonia, Poland, Czech Republic | 75 min.

PRODUCERS: Marx Film, Message Film; Czech Television CAST: Oleg Sentsov, Vladimir Putin, Victor Yanukovich, Agnieszka Holland, Wim Wenders CINEMATOGRAPHY: Askold Kurov EDITING: Michal Leszczylowski, Evgeny Zaozernykh SCREENING: November 10 | 15:00 hours | Zaal 3 November 11 | 14:15 hours | Zaal 5

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A documentary about Ukrainian film director Oleg Sentsov who was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for terrorism and arms trafficking after a trial denounced as “Stalinist”.

Oleg Sentsov, an Ukrainian filmmaker, is on trial in a courtroom in Rostov-on-Don. He is charged with leading an anti-Russian terrorist movement and planning terrorist attacks on Russian infrastructure and monuments, because he was against the annexation of Crimea by the Russian state. He is denying the crimes and defends himself with courage and determination. However, he is sentenced to 20 years imprisonment and started an open-ended hunger strike on 14 May 2018. The film explores the truth behind the highly politicised trial and reveals many flaws in the way the State obtained evidence against Sentsov. The notorious case inspired protests around the world and the director Askold Kurov was so shocked by the trial that he decided to show solidarity to his filmmaking colleague: “I came to the first hearing as Oleg’s acquaintance – to support him, then I understood that the only thing I could do in this situation was to make a film about it”.

THE WONDERFUL YEARS directors: Svitlana Shymko, Galina Yarmanova SHCHASLYVI ROKY 2018 | Ukraine | 9 min.

PRODUCERS: Ella Shtyka, Olha Reiter - Lviv Film Commission, Indie Lab EDITING: Svitlana Shymko SOUND: Vladyslav Sirenko, Roman Gomenyuk SCREENING: November 9 | 17:15 hours | Zaal 4 November 11 | 12:30 hours | Zaal 5 November 11 | 17:00 hours | Dakota

An unique exploration into the lives of queer women in Ukraine in the late Soviet Union, based on the archive video materials and interview excerpts.

“The Wonderful Years” is a short documentary film which explores the lives of queer women in Ukraine in the late Soviet Union. It is based on archive video material from the Center for Urban History of Central East Europe in Lviv and interview excerpts from the research projects “Sexuality under Globalization” (2005-2006), “Being a Lesbian in Ukraine: Gaining Power” (2007), and “LGBT Families in Ukraine: Social Practices and Legislative Regulations” (2011-2012). Winner of Special Jury Diploma at the Molodist International Film Festival in Kiev for its subtle display of an unknown world.

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WHEN PIGS COME director: Biljana Tutorov KADA DODJU SVINJE 2017 | Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina | 72 min.

PRODUCERS: Biljana Tutorov - Wake Up Films; Kinematograf, Al Jazeera Balkans, HRT - Croatian Television SCREENPLAY: Biljana Tutorov CINEMATOGRAPHY: Orfeas Skutelis EDITING: Thomas Ernst, Ana Lagator, Natasa Pantic SCREENING: November 8 | 21:45 hours | Zaal 3 November 11 | 18:30 hours | Zaal 3

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A charming, well directed documentary tragi-comedy of a very special old lady. A retired teacher in Serbian province, devotedly monitors elections believing that all individuals could and should make a difference in building democracy.

Dragoslava has four TV sets, three grandchildren, two best friends, and one husband with whom she fights over the remote control. She has lived in five countries without ever moving from her flat in a small border town in Serbia. The media and politics seep into the family intimacy but she tackles it with humour and determination. She recounts tales from real life to the kids, instead of fairy tales, powered by her desire to create a future of hope. For her, each and every one of her actions, from morning till night, is an act of responsibility which sparks changes in the world. A multi-awarded documentary about never giving-up and making a difference in a society where many have lost the hope of using their voice.

POLISH FILM PERLS

Dutch première

Dutch première

DOCUMENTARIES OPEN DEBATES

ONE TWO ZERO director: Anna Pawluczuk RAZ DWA ZERO 2017 | Poland | 15 min.

PRODUCERS: The Polish National Film, Television and Theatre School in Lodz SCREENPLAY: Anna Pawluczuk CINEMATOGRAPHY: Piotr Zurawski Editing: Alan Zejer SCREENING: November 9 | 17:15 hours | Zaal 4 November 11 | 12:30 hours | Zaal 5 November 11 | 17:00 hours | Dakota

What are the limits of the body and mind of a 9-year-old gymnast trained to achieve top results?

A though-provoking, beautifully made short doc.

Every day Justyna needs to be stronger and more determined if she wants to beat her colleagues in all competition races. She is nine year old girl who is training professionally in rhythmic gymnastics. She also takes part in competitions where she needs to show perfection in her performance and demonstrate the level of discipline that goes beyond the abilities of girls of her age. Instead of having fun, her trainings are filled with sweat and tears. If she is not able to endure, trainers suggest her to take up chess as a hobby. But she is not ready to give up. However, despite the enormous efforts she does not always manage to stand on the podium. When she loses her hopes for wining, she decides to start training five-year gymnasts by herself.

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PATRIOTIC LESSON director: Filip Jacobson

LEKCJA PATRIOTYZMU 2017 | Poland, Germany | 20 min.

PRODUCER: Filip Jacobson SCREENPLAY: Filip Jacobson CINEMATOGRAPHY: Lukasz Ostalski, Filip Jacobson EDITING: Tomasz Polsakiewicz SOUND: Filip Jacobson, Ralf Schipke SCREENING: November 9 | 17:15 hours | Zaal 4 November 10 | 14:45 hours | Zaal 4 November 11 | 12:30 hours | Zaal 5 November 11 | 17:00 hours | Dakota

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A charming, lucid and though-provoking film in the tradition of the best Polish documentaries. Winner of DOK Leipzig’s main prize – the Golden Dove. ‘‘Patriotic Lesson’’ tells the story of a Polish primary school singing contest, in which children perform patriotic songs, full of heroism, bravery, blood, sweat and tears. By presenting performances and the audience, tensions between parents and teachers, and finally jury deliberations, the film raises questions about what is patriotism over generations and its institutional reaffirmation in today’s Polish society. Filmed in black and white, Jacobson’s film keeps a delicate line between critical approach to the event and fascination and respect to the characters of the movie.

Patriotic song contests take place every year and have local and national range.

POLISH FILM PERLS

Dutch première

Dutch première

POLISH FILM PERLS

POLONAISE

director: gnieszka Elbanowska POLONEZ 2016 | Poland | 16 min PRODUCERS: Studio Munka, Impakt films SCREENPLAY: Agnieszka Elbanowska CINEMATOGRAPHY: Pawel Chorzepa EDITING: Agnieszka Elbanowska SCREENING: November 9 | 17:15 hours | Zaal 4 November 11 | 12:30 hours | Zaal 5 November 11 | 17:00 hours | Dakota

Hilarious, quite satirical, yet very serious observational, straightforward, smartly directed documentary that deals with new trends in Polish society, politics and everyday life affecting very much the young generation.

On Poland’s National Independence Day, the jury consisting of the director, the mayor, a priest and a poetess chooses the winner of a competition for the region’s number one patriot. The director of the Cultural Centre in a provincial town announces a competition. Participants have to creatively present what patriotism means for them. The only requirement is that everyone must come up with their own ideas on the subject. Singing, recitation, gesture, speech, staging - all forms are allowed. As Independence Day on November 11 approaches, the tension is raising. The jury will soon choose the best patriot in the region. Famous Polish producer Studio Munka and the director who is a graduate of well-respected Wajda documentary school, made a film that echoed so well around the world and was chosen for dozens of film festivals.

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POLISH FILM PERLS

SPECIAL SCREENING – THE ESSAY FILM

THE UGLIEST CAR director: Grzegorz Szczepaniak NAJBRZYDSZY SAMOCHOD SWIATA 2017 | Poland | 47 min.

PRODUCERS: Grzegorz Szczepaniak, Joanna Popowicz – Anagram; TVP SCREENPLAY: Grzegorz Szczepaniak CINEMATOGRAPHY: Marek Kozakiewicz EDITING: Jerzy Zawadzki, Grzegorz Szczepaniak SCREENING: November 10 | 14:45 hours | Zaal 4

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A heartwarming, humorous documentary of a man who drives his 94-year-old mother in an old, rusty Wartburg, righty called “Poland’s Ugliest Car”. Winner of Grand Prix for the Best Polish Film at the Krakow Film Festival.

The youngest protagonist of the documentary is Wartburg, the almost museum-ready automobile over 50 years of age. The car is still on the road, driven by Bogdan, who’s accompanied by his mother Kazimiera. This road movie which takes place between the concentration camp of Majdanek in Poland, and a former Nazi labor factory in Germany is actually a journey into the past, retracing the memories from the war. It is also a portrayal of an extraordinary relationship between mother and son.

Bogdan devotes almost all his time to Kazimiera – except for the moments when he proudly presents the quaint ugliness of the car to the people he accidentally meets.

IN PRAISE OF NOTHING director: Boris Mitic

SLATKO OD NISTA 2017 | Serbia, Croatia, France | 78 min PRODUCERS: A Dribbling Pictures, Anti-Absurd, La Bete SCREENPLAY: Boris Mitic CINEMATOGRAPHY: 62 cinematographers incl. Roman Bondarchuk, Vitaly Mansky, Michael Glawogger EDITING: Boris Mitic SCREENING: September 25| 18:30 hours De Nieuwe Regentes

‘Pretty cool’, said legendary Iggy Pop after narrating verses on amazing images shot in 70 countries by dozens of cinematographers around the world. An outstanding cinematic meditation by the always lucid and surprizing Serbian director Boris Mitic.

A feel good documentary and satirical parable about Nothing’s weekend on Earth, in which Nothing, tired of being misunderstood, runs away from home and comes to address us for the first and the last time. To be able to make a simple narration and give chance Nothing to express itself, the director Boris Mitic made a massive research through 20.000 pages of the most eclectic bibliography ever used in a documentary film. Using an unique online platform, the documentary footage was brainstormed and filmed over 8 years by 62 cinematographers in 70 countries. The music was scored by cabaret grandmasters Pascal Comelade and the Tiger Lillies, while Iggy Pop lent his voice to Nothing addressing us in simple childish verse.

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SEVDAH

director: Marina Andree Skop 2009 | Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina | 66 min.

PRODUCERS: Darija Kulenovic Gudan, Marina Andree Skop - Studio dim; Fabrika CAST: Damir Imamovic, Edvin Hadzic, Vanja Radoja, Amira Medunjanin SCREENPLAY: Jelena Paljan, Marina Andree Skop CINEMATOGRAPHY: Sandi Novak EDITING: Stasa Celan, Marina Andree Skop SCREENING: 10 November | 17:45 hours | Zaal 5

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Sevdah is a feeling about life imbued with melancholy, yearning and beautiful sorrow. This film takes us on an intimate journey through the world of, as often called, the Bosnian Blues.

The song that expresses the feeling of Sevdah is known as Sevdalinka. This unique song-form that tells of love and the pain of love, has been alive over 400 years in Bosnia and often compared with fado or blues. The death of their mutual friend and a passionate fan of Sevdalinka, Farah, has brought musician Damir Imamovic and director Marina Andree Skop together. Trying to deal with their own loss and grief, they decide to create a film about Sevdah capturing local culture and experiences of common men as well as known professionals like Amira Medunjanin. The result is an emotionally charged, lyrical and visual journey to the very heart and soul of Bosnia, a story of personal loss echoing the destiny of a small country, told through its deeply soulful music. Winner of the prestigious Audience Award at the Sarajevo Film Festival. The film will be screened after the Masterclass with Damir Imamovic (read more on page 49).

Dutch première

SPECIAL SCREENING & MASTERCLASS BY DAMIR IMAMOVIC

SPECIAL SCREENING – THE ESSAY FILM & MASTERCLASS

YUGOSLAVIA, HOW IDEOLOGY MOVED OUR COLLECTIVE BODY Director: Marta Popivoda 2013 | Serbia, France, Germany 62 min.

PRODUCERS: Marta Popivoda – TkH (Walking Theory), Alice Chauchat – Les Laboratoires d’Aubervilliers, Universitat der Kunste Berlin; Ann Carolin Renninger – joon film SCREENPLAY: Ana Vujanovic, Marta Popivoda EDITING: Natasa Damnjanovic

A research-based essay film, which deals with the collective history and politics in a specifically cinematic way, via foundfootage.

Yugoslavia, How Ideology Moved Our Collective Body is a cinematic essay that deals with the question of how ideology performs itself in public space through mass performances. The author collected and analysed film and video footage from the period of Yugoslavia (1945 – 2000), focusing on state performances as well as counterdemonstrations and civic demonstrations in the ‘90s. Going back through the images, the film traces how communist ideology was gradually exhausted through the changing relations between the people, ideology and the state. After its world premiere at the Berlinale, the film travelled internationally and received a Special Jury Mention at the Sarajevo Film Festival. The filmmaker Marta Popivoda will be present for the interview and Q&A during our special programme in Utrecht. Read more on page 51.

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ENFF DISCOVERIES

Dutch première

ENFF DISCOVERIES

DIAGNOSIS

HIDE AND SEEK

director: Kamen Kolarov

director: Beno Gabor Baranyi

DIAGNOZA 2018 | Bulgaria | 28 min.

An intriguing chamber drama awarded by the audience at this year’s Sofia International Film Festival.

BUJOCSKA 2016 | Hungary | 14 min.

PRODUCERS: Krastyo Lambev – Concept Studio CAST: Meglena Karalambova, Slava Racheva, Margita Gosheva SCREENPLAY: Olga Ivanova, Kamen Kolarov CINEMATOGRAPHY: Damian Dimitrov EDITING: Stoyan Velinov

Highly intriguing short which follows the intense relationship between a lonely mother and her successful daughter. Boryana has the difficult task of combining her career of a TV host with caring for her mother, who lives out of town. In the two days they spend together, the mother and daughter start rebuilding their broken relationship.

However, the lies between them have serious consequences.

PRODUCERS: Zsuzsi Gyurin, Beno Gabor Baranyi - Salamandra Film CAST: Matyas Kabok, Roza KoricsanszkI, Laszlo Petro, Konrad Quintus SCREENPLAY: Beno Gabor Baranyi CINEMATOGRAPHY: David Gajdics EDITING: Laszlo Dunai

SCREENING: November 9 | 17:45 hours | Zaal 5 November 11 | 12:15 hours | Zaal 3

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SCREENING: November 9 | 15:30 hours | Zaal 3 November 10 | 11:45 hours | Zaal 3

A compelling, thought-provoking short film based on a true story. Remarkably performed and well-directed, one of those valuable films that has potential to trigger relevant social debates.

Matyi is a 7-year old boy who loves to play hide and seek, but knows no boundaries. He is constantly hiding somewhere, annoying his parents and refusing to come out even when the whole family is looking for him. He is the smallest, unplanned member of a large family and just another pain to his mother suffering from extreme poverty and her husband’s drinking addiction. However, the father is very fond of the boy and the only one with sufficient patience. One day, the father disappears and the mother is left alone with an undisciplined child.

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KOLIVA

MARY

director: Andrey I. Volkashin KOLIVO 2017 | Macedonia, Bulgaria | 24 min.

PRODUCERS: Elena Stanisheva VEDA Film Productions; Krastyo Lambev - Concept Studio CAST: Joana Popovska, Labina Mitevska, Simeon Damevski SCREENPLAY: Andrey I. Volkashin CINEMATOGRAPHY: Kiril Prodanov EDITING: Nevelin Vulchev SCREENING: November 9 | 17:45 hours | Zaal 5 November 11 | 12:15 hours | Zaal 3

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ENFF DISCOVERIES

Dutch première

ENFF DISCOVERIES

director: Juraj Primorac A well-directed short film by a promising young filmmaker about the second chance for romance, even in the most unexpected circumstances.

In a poor Macedonian village, overwhelmed by the daily duties of a typical housewife, Dana’s life revolves around her mother, husband and three children. On the day of the traditional pig slaughter, instead of the usual butcher, the appearance of her former lover Marko, draws her deeply buried secrets and fears back to the surface. Dana misses the moment to say farewell to her sick mother, Persa.

MARIJA 2017 | Croatia | 28 min.

An ironic, amusing story of a tow-truck operator who has visions of Virgin Mary. He doesn’t know what to do with her.

PRODUCER: Ivan Maloca – Interfilm CAST: Josip Lukic, Niksa Butijer, Igor Serdar SCREENPLAY: Ivan Turkovic-Krnjak, Juraj Primorac CINEMATOGRAPHY: Luka Matic EDITING: Sara Gregoric

Marinko is an assistant worker in the tow-away service. He lives in a cheap rented flat in Zagreb and has only one friend although it sometimes seems better not to have even that one. Recently, he has been having visions of the Virgin Mary everywhere: in stone, in the clouds, in a glass. Marinko is not sane. An amazing short fiction debut by Croatian director Juraj Primorac who has already received several prizes, including the Special Mention at the Film Fest Gent, Mediterranean Film Festival Split and the Best Screenplay at the Croatian Film Days.

SCREENING: November 9 | 15:30 hours | Zaal 3 November 10 | 11:45 hours | Zaal 3

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SCHOOLMATES director: Darko Sinko 2017 | Slovenia| 26 min.

PRODUCERS: Barbara Daljavec, Edo Brzin - RTV Slovenija CAST: Marusa Majer, Olga Kacjan, Mojca Partljic, Sabina Kogovsek SCREENPLAY: Darko Sinko CINEMATOGRAPHY: Lev Predan Kowarski EDITING: Darko Sinko SCREENING: November 10 | 13:15 hours | Zaal 3 November 11 | 14:00 hours | Zaal 3

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A cautionary tale of a simple dispute gone terribly wrong.

Winner of the Vesna award for Best screenplay at the Festival of Slovenian Film.

The young teacher Sonja attempts to solve a dispute between two schoolmates calmly. However, due to the interference of the parents the more or less ordinary primary school event result in something with considerably far more reaching consequences. Will young teacher Sonja succeed in solving the argument? What will the school do?

The director points out: “Injustices and crimes are often presented as something loud, clear and dramatic, although we know from experience they are frequently far from it.

On the contrary, we often find them banal, vague, evasive, etc. The film presents a small, seemingly unimportant injustice caused by a small everyday crime.’’

ENFF DISCOVERIES

Dutch première

Dutch première

ENFF DISCOVERIES

SINKING OBJECTS director: Filip Peruzovic PREDMETI KOJI TONU 2018 | Croatia | 23 min.

PRODUCERS: Dijana Mladenovic Kinematograf CAST: Vinko Kraljevic, Mirela Brekalo Popovic, Marina Redzepovic, Bernard Peric SCREENPLAY: Ivan Turkovic Krnjak CINEMATOGRAPHY: Dubravka Kurobasa EDITING: Iva Ivan SCREENING: November 9 | 15:30 hours | Zaal 3 November 10 | 11:45 hours | Zaal 3

A family gathering takes a strange turn when the daughter appears with a bruise on her eye and a cliché excuse. Winner of the Golden Arena for Best Cinematography at this year’s Pula Film Festival.

Silence hurts more than bruises. Once she was daddy’s little girl, but now she’s sitting in front of him with her husband and a bruise on her eye. What is a father supposed to do, if there is nothing he can do? A well-directed short by promising Croatian director Filip Peruzovic. As part of omnibus ‘’Deep Cuts’’ dealing with violence in all its form, the film was screened at the Sarajevo Film Festival and Pula Film Festival where it won the Golden Arena for Best Director of Photography.

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“THE STRANGER” IN MY HEAD director: Petra Balekic “STRANAC” U MOJOJ GLAVI 2017 | Croatia| 4 min.

PRODUCERS: Vinko Bresan, Aleksandar Batista Ilic – Zagreb film, ALU (Academy of Fine Arts) CAST (voice): Jadranka Djokic SCREENPLAY: Petra Balekic ANIMATION: Petra Balekic EDITING: Petra Balekic SCREENING: November 9 | 15:30 hours | zaal 3 November 10 | 11:45 hours | zaal 3

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ENFF DISCOVERIES

Dutch première

ENFF DISCOVERIES

An interesting visual expression about the fragility of memory. This refined animation was selected for a number of international festivals, including the prestigious Annecy.

The film is the director’s attempt of reconstructing Albert Camus’ The Stranger, which she read 12 years ago. With time, the memory of the book has been reduced to fragments and atmosphere, which the director tries to provide with a context in an effort to evoke the original. ‘’It’s challenging to make a connection with the audience through something that is exclusively personal as my own memories. But in the same time it represents a universal phenomenon because everyone’s memories are unstable and time is transforming them into a certain atmosphere that contains no guarantee in details’’, underlines the talented Petra Balekic, who not only directed the film, but also wrote it, animated and edited it.

WHEN THE DRAGON CAME (MONOLOGUES) Director: Stefan Pavlovic 2018 | Romania| 21 min.

PRODUCERS: Dan Nutu, Cristina Hoffman SCREENPLAY: Stefan Pavlovic CINEMATOGRAPHY: Aylin Gokmen EDITING: Stefan Pavlovic SOUND: Sergio Gonzalez, Maria Balanean SCREENING: November 10 | 13:15 hours | Zaal 3 November 11 | 14:00 hours | Zaal 3

An intimate story of two people walking the same landscape, separately.

It is morning, there is fog.

A horse approaches.

Laundry hangs from colorful strings. Church bells.

Wasps swirl around a piece of jam on the ground.

He leaves.

She remains with the children, (but will soon also leave.)

A short poetic documentary about two people, their eight children, the caring for a herd of cows: the acceptance of a life not quite turned out as expected. A film by Stefan Pavlovic, a young filmmaker based in Amsterdam, which premiered at the Netherlands Film Festival this year and won the Best Student Award at the Zlatna International Ethnographic Film Festival in Romania.

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A HANDFUL OF STONES director: Stefan Ivancic KAMEN U RUCI 2017 | Serbia| 14 min.

PRODUCERS: Mina Djukic - Film House Kiselo Dete CAST: Ognjen Zlatic, Dubravka Kovjanic, Igor Bencina SCREENPLAY: Stefan Djordjevic, Andrijana Stojkovic CINEMATOGRAPHY: Stefan Djordjevic EDITING: Dragan von Petrovic, Milena Z. Petrovic SCREENING: November 10 | 13:15 hours | Zaal 3 November 11 | 14:00 hours | Zaal 3

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Screened in ACID Cannes selection, this short feature brings up an embittered 11-year-old boy’s perspective on his parents’ separation.

Industrial wastelands of a small town in Serbia provide a playground and a safe space for 11-year-old Ivica. He is spending his days exploring the abandoned terrains with a group of peers. Today he is in a less exploratory mood, as he learns about the most disturbing event of his life - his parents’ divorce.

Dutch première

Dutch première

SHORT FILMS BY GREAT MASTERS

SHORT FILMS BY GREAT MASTERS

DREAM

director: Laila Pakalniņa SAPNIS 2016 | Latvia | 7 min.

PRODUCERS: Laila Pakalniņa Hargla Company SCREENPLAY: Laila Pakalniņa CINEMATOGRAPHY: Ivars Burtnieks EDITING: Ivars Burtnieks SCREENING: November 9 | 17:15 hours | Zaal 4 November 11 | 12:30 hours | Zaal 5 November 11 | 17:00 hours | Dakota

In the middle of nowhere there is a shop called “Dream” where people go to only to inevitably wake up. A film by Laila Pakalnina, one of Latvia’s most prolific directors today.

A shop by the side of the road. One after another, people enter and exit the small building. The randomness and illogical nature of the action feels unreal. The sense of timelessness and of being in an unnamed place further heightens the dreamlike nature of the scene. The nearly motionless black-and-white camera records a fragment of life in a place torn from the context of the world. A short documentary by talented Laila Pakalniņa, one of the best known Latvian film directors working in documentary and feature film genre. Her films were screened in official programmes at Cannes, Venice, Berlinale, Locarno, Karlovy Vary, Rome and other international festivals, where they won numerous awards.

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LOVE ON THE ROOF OF THE WORLD director: Jan Cvitkovic LJUBEZEN NA STREHI SVETA 2015 | Slovenia | 16 min.

PRODUCERS: Miha Cernec – Staragara; RTV Slovenija CAST: Marjana Brecelj, Ivo Barisic SCREENPLAY: Jan Cvitkovic CINEMATOGRAPHY: Jure Cernec EDITING: Andrej Nagode MUSIC: Niko Novak SOUND: Bostjan Kacicnik SCREENING: November 10 | 13:15 hours | Zaal 3 November 11 | 14:00 hours | Zaal 3

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A poetic, comical look on love and memories of vivacious 80-year-old couple directed by Jan Cvitkovic, Cannes Award-Winning director from Slovenia.

Viktor and Ana have spent their whole lives together. All they have is each other, and all that remains are the little things, the small events. They live in a modest house with an idyllic old-fashioned rustic feel to it. Are they still attracted to each other, can they still stand each other? Time is a blur, and old resentments can surface in a split second. But are they real? Can they come between them? A black and white gem and winner of four Vesna awards for Best Director, Best Short Film, Best Music and Best Actor at the 18th edition of the Festival of Slovenian Film.

Dutch première

Dutch première

SHORT FILMS BY GREAT MASTERS

SHORT FILMS BY GREAT MASTERS

TAM 4500

director: Momir Matovic 2016 | Montenegro | 23 min.

An incredible story about a bizarre lorry and a man…

PRODUCER: Momir Matovic MATFILM Montenegro SCREENPLAY: Momir Matovic CINEMATOGRAPHY: Momir Matovic EDITING: Ljiljana Vukobratovic SOUND: Velibor Hajdukovic, Nebojsa Zoric

Every single day, Risto Bacovic (age 62) from the Montenegrin village of Klenak leaves in his vehicle some irreal life of his own for the life of reality, which is demanding and requires its own ways: meetings, assistance, worries, duties... One of the best known documentary makers from Montenegro, whose films were screened at the IDFA, DOK Leipzig, Krakow and many other big festivals, is nourishing his own style for already 30 years. This is his latest short film gem.

SCREENING: November 9 | 17:45 hours | Zaal 5 November 11 | 12:15 hours | Zaal 3

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UNTRAVEL

directors: Ana Nedeljkovic, Nikola Majdak Jr. NEPUTOVANJA 2018 | Serbia, Slovak Republic | 9 min.

PRODUCERS: Jelena Mitrovic - Bas Celik; Your Dreams Factory, BFILM CAST: Masa Mileusnic (voice) SCREENPLAY: Ana Nedeljkovic CINEMATOGRAPHY: Nikola Majdak Jr. EDITING: Milina Trisic

SCREENING: November 9 | 17:45 hours | Zaal 5 November 11 | 12:15 hours | Zaal 3

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ENFF X NUTSHUIS SPECIAL

Dutch première

SHORT FILMS BY GREAT MASTERS

A girl from a grey city surrounded by a huge wall tells a story about the relationship between personal and political boundaries and the far-reaching consequences of living in an isolated country.

Premiered at this year’s Berlinale, this stop motion animation and plasticine puppets short takes us on the ride into the depths of a childhood in an isolated country. A girl who never travelled anywhere is torn between living within the borders of the grey world and a desire to reach out to the unknown world called “Abroad”. Crowned with the Grand prix at the Belgrade Documentary and Short Film Festival and Animator Festival in Poznan, “Untravel” questions whether sticking to the status quo is a right choice and explores the complex relationship between patriotism, tourism and emigration. What is the contrast between the romantic ideal of a tourist travel and the need to escape the country where the basic livelihood of people is endangered?

Gámer

director: Oleg Sentsov 2011 | Ukraine | 93 min.

PRODUCERS: Oleg Sentsov, Olga Zhurzhenko CAST: Zhanna Biryuk, Alexander Fedotov, Vladislav Zhuk SCREENPLAY: Oleg Sentsov CINEMATOGRAPHY: Yegor Petrik, Gennadiy Veselkov EDITING: Dmitriy Kundryutskiy SCREENING: November 3 | 20:00 hours Het Nutshuis

Gámer represents the sudden and premature end of Sentsov’s promising directing career. In 2015, he was arrested by the Russian state and sentenced to 20 years in prison for his involvement in the protests against the Russian occupation of Crimean peninsula.

Alex is an adolescent living a life of poverty in a tiny village in the Ukraine. His relationship with his mother is going downhill fast and his school results are disastrous to say the least. The only ray of light in his dark and dinghy world is the online arena of competitive shooting games on the computer. Alex is known as Koss in this world, where he is a talented gamer with a realistic ambition to win the world title. Alex is determined to reach the top and is invited to go to Los Angeles to take part in a prestigious tournament. But what if becoming world champion isn’t the answer to all his problems? And what if he doesn’t win?

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A MULTIMEDIA LECTURE

BY DAMIR IMAMOVIĆ

Photo credit: Amer Kapetanovic

masterclass

side program

‘EAST’ AND ‘WEST’ IN THE GENRE OF SEVDAH

SATURDAY 10 NOVEMBER | FILMHUIS DEN HAAG Masterclass by Damir Imamović: 16.00 – 17.30 hours Film “Sevdah” with Damir Imamović as guest: 17.45 hours

The Guardian calls Damir Imamović «a new take on Balkan blues», while The Huffington Post goes even further with the flattering “King of Sevdah” title.

This great musician and a true revolutionary of the genre, will give a multimedia lecture at Eastern Neighbours FF. Damir is the protagonist of the multi-awarded documentary “Sevdah”, directed by Marina Andree Skop, which will be screened after the masterclass. Synopsis on page 32.

Damir is one of the leading voices of contemporary music from the Balkans.

As a performer and teacher Damir brought a renewed attention to the ancient genre of Bosnian traditional music called “Sevdah” or “Sevdalinka”.

His work spreads from performing, recording, producing, teaching and writing on the genre.

Damir Imamović’s Sevdah is based on a passionate research of traditional music of Bosnia and Herzegovina. While meeting the masters, musicians, singers and authors of this art form, he constantly expands his repertoire and creates a special style of contemporary Sevdah.

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masterclass

MASTERCLASS BY MARTA POPIVODA FILMTHEATER ‘T HOOGT, UTRECHT

LEON LUČEV THE ACTING STAR OF SOUTH-EAST EUROPE WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31 15.00-17.00 hours De Balie, Amsterdam

Image-culture has rapidly changed over the past few decades and is a topic that young generations are particularly sensitive and intelligent to. The film develops a complex relationship between images and their viewer, and places this in context with ideology and politics. It also touches on topics such as the performative body and cinematic juxtaposition. Filmmaker Marta Popivoda will be present for an interview and Q & A after the screening. This will provide the opportunity for an in-depth and open discussion about the film, its concepts, the techniques and the researcher/artist’s practice. Synopsis on page 33.

“Everybody is talented to act. Because everybody is acting every day.”

An INSPIRING, DYNAMIC ENCOUNTER with a true star of Eastern European cinema – an actor, director, producer, acting teacher, born in Croatia, who works nowadays in many countries in the region. Three of his films will be screened at this year’s ENFF: IVAN by Janez Burger, MEN DON’T CRY by Alen Drljevic, and THE MINER by Hanna Slak.

“In this work I will try to compress and practically present, by involving the participants very actively, my own creative work and research in the field of cinema. I’ll do that from various perspectives: the acting perspective, the director’s, producer’s and writer’s perspective as well as the pedagogical perspective. In the process of compressing myself to the point from which it all begins and also, by listening to that process, I was able to develop myself further. This is also how I encourage others and we follow each other, creatively, emotionally, as people, as beings. Encountering and getting in touch with ourselves, with partners, with the public, with the camera, with students… these were and are the central points of my work. This is what I share.“

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ENFF On Tour in Utrecht brings a special screening of Yugoslavia, How Ideology Moved Our Collective Body by Marta Popivoda to students of art academies and universities. This research-based essay film traces the way one social system changed by performing itself in public space. The filmmaker collected and analyzed film and video material from the period of Yugoslavia (1945-2000), with emphasis on state performances and celebrations, but also counter-demonstrations in Belgrade.

Marta Popivoda (Belgrade, SFRJ / based in Berlin) is a filmmaker, video artist and cultural worker. Her work explores concerns with the discursive power structures of the contemporary (art) world, intersections between performance and film, as well as through the production of films, video installations and performance. Her work is strongly related to the TkH (Walking Theory), a theoretical-artistic platform and journal, where she is a member of the editorial collective. Her works have been part of exhibitions and programs at Tate Modern London, MoMA New York, MuHKA Antwerp, 21er HAUS Vienna, GARAGE Museum Moscow, Beirut Art Center, Museum of Modern Art + MSUM Ljubljana, Museum of Yugoslav History and Museum of Contemporary Art Belgrade etc.

ENFF On Tour in Utrecht is produced by artTrace.

Visit www.arttrace.nl and http://enff.nl/on-tour-utrecht-2018/ for more information.

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TITITA

Tamas Almasi, Hungary, 2015, 87 min, English subtitles A deeply humane story about the chance for a better life of a young Roma-boy with great musical talent.

Anti is selected for at prestigious guitar summer school. Will he take this golden opportunity and change his seemingly predestined life? A moving coming-of-age documentary awarded with Special Jury Prize at the Sarajevo FF.

MY OWN PRIVATE WAR

Lidija Zelovic, The Netherlands, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2016, 57 min, Dutch subtitles Incredibly touching story from the personal point of view by the filmmaker who experienced the war in many layers: intimate, family related, as a mother and a daughter, as a professional, as a world citizen who tries to understand odds of nationalism and hatred. This TV film confronts us with challenging questions: What is left of each of us once we got displaced? What happens to a family long after a war is over? Can one ensure that our children don’t have to carry our burden?

EUNIC DAY OF LANGUAGES

EDUCATION

film & class

Film & Class, the festival’s educational program enters its third year. ENFF offers schools and universities an opportunity to participate in the program for reduced rates. Not only that the students will learn more about the culture of their eastern neighbours, they will also be part of and feel the vibrant and unique Festival’s atmosphere, mingle with filmmakers, actors, producers, attend masterclasses and learn more about films and filmmaking. Encouraged by last years’ successes and recognising the importance of cultivating the younger audiences, we move on into 2018 edition with equally engaging documentaries. Detailed film readers in English are available.

FRIDAY 9 NOVEMBER | 15.00 – 16.30 HOURS Het Nutshuis, The Hague | free admission

FOR WHOM: high school students GUEST: Professor Radovan Lucic from the University of Amsterdam, Faculty of Humanities, Department of Slavic languages and cultures Verbal language and cinema language are both strong communication tools between people of the same or a different culture. In this program, we want to support learning about each other through getting in touch with different Eastern European languages.

We learn about languages through the medium of cinema, telling stories of different cultures, exciting backgrounds, trying to notice the distinctive sounds of a certain language, melody and linguistic belonging.

Four shorts with different languages During this special event, we present four different short films spoken in one of the languages from Eastern or South Eastern EU countries. The young audience, youth from of the schools that we collaborate with, will guess the language that is spoken in each of the films (multiple choice).

Lecture After the screening, one of the festival’s special guests – professor and linguist Radovan Lucic – will review each film and each spoken language and will give the students basic knowledge about the languages.

FILMS HIDE AND SEEK, Beno Gabor Baranyi, 2016, 14 min LOVE ON THE ROOF OF THE WORLD, Jan Cvitkovic, 2015, 16 min ONE TWO ZERO, Anna Pawluczuk, 2017, 15 min ‘’THE STRANGER’’ IN MY HEAD, Petra Balekic, 2017, 4 min

Interested in bringing students at the Eastern Neighbours Film Festival’s educational programme? Read more information at www.enff.nl/education-2018/ and contact us via education@enff.nl

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THURSDAY 8 NOVEMBER

17.00 hours | Filmhuis Den Haag | free admission Mila Turajlic, Serbia/France/Qatar, 2017, 104 min For Serbian filmmaker Mila Turajlic, a locked door in her mother’s apartment in Belgrade provides the gateway to both her remarkable family history and her country’s tumultuous political inheritance. A thought-provoking, remarkably layered documentary that won more than twenty international awards. Full synopsis on page 23.

“The Other Side of Everything” is one of the finalists for the European Parliament’s Lux Prize 2018 and the only documentary nominee. Join this free screening followed by Q&A with the filmmaker Mila Turajlic. After the film the European Parliament offers you the opportunity to reflect on the film with a complimentary drink.. More info: www.enff.nl

Made possible by the European Parliament.

About Lux Prize The Lux Prize was set up by the European Parliament in 2007 and is intended to promote the European film industry and express shared European values. The European film industry encounters more difficulties than the American, especially due to the existence of many different language areas in Europe. Adapting movies in other languages is a costly process. The winning film of the Lux Prize is therefore, as a prize, subtitled in all official European Union working languages and screened in all EU Member States.

On November 14, the winning film of the 2018 competition will be announced and awarded in Strasbourg. Currently the following films are still included in the competition: “Styx”, “The Other Side of Everything” and “Woman at War”. Read more about the Lux Prize here: www.luxprize.eu

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brunch with...

lux film prize

THE OTHER SIDE OF EVERYTHING

DAMIR IMAMOVIĆ SATURDAY 10 NOVEMBER Filmhuis Den Haag | Studio A 11:30 hours | free admission

Eastern Neighbours Film Festival invites you to meet and greet our special guest – Damir Imamović! You will have the opportunity to have an informal conversation with the iconic Bosnian singer and original sevdah voice of today. Damir will answer your questions and share his knowledge with you!

THE KING OF SEVDAH MUSIC Damir Imamović is a singer, musician, author and sevdah master from Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. He is coming from a family of sevdah musicians and represents a new generation of the traditional music of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Since 2005 Damir performs with his Trio, his “Sevdah Takht” quartet as well occasional projects with Jelena Poprzan, Bojan Z, Eric Vloeimans, Greg Cohen and Derya Turkan and others. He recorded six CDs for different labels, including a renowned The Glitterbeat Records (“Dvojka”, 2016).

He performed in The Kennedy Centre (Washington DC), Concertgebouw (Amsterdam), Kolarac (Belgrade), Centre Pompidou (Paris), etc. He is very active as a traditional music educator with his SevdahLab program. Damir wrote the book “Sevdah”, the first history of the genre (Vrijeme, 2016).

The same afternoon you can watch the film Sevdah (synopsis on page 32) at 17.45 hours with Damir Imamović as the main character and attend his Masterclass ‘East’ and ‘West’ in the genre of Sevdah – A multimedia lecture at 16.00 hours..

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brunch with...

VÁCLAV NECKÁŘ SUNDAY 11 NOVEMBER

Filmhuis Den Haag | Studio A 11:30 hours | free admission

Wine tasting

talk pro HOW TO GET NOTICED?

FRIDAY 9 NOVEMBER

SATURDAY 10 NOVEMBER

17.00 hours | Studio A Filmhuis Den Haag | free admission

SUNDAY 11 NOVEMBER

17.30 hours | Studio A Filmhuis Den Haag | free admission

Meet and greet one of our ENFF VIP guests – Václav Neckář, the main actor of our closing film “Larks on a String” by Jiří Menzel that won the top prize at the Berlinale. You will have the opportunity to have an informal conversation with famous Czech singer and actor.

Václav Neckář (born 23 October 1943 in Prague) is a Czech actor and singer known all over the Eastern Europe. He is best known for his performance as Milos Hrma in Oscar winning film “Closely Watched Trains” by Jiří Menzel.

He sang in the hugely popular trio ‘Golden Kids’ and cooperated with Polish singer Anna Jantar during their performances in Poland and USSR (1978-1979). Selected filmography: ‘Czech Woodstock’ (2004), ‘Larks on a String’ (1969), ‘Lady Macbeth von Mzensk’ (1992), ‘Sing, Cowboy, sing’ (1981), ‘Pan Vok odchazi’ (1979), ‘The Lanfier Colony’ (1969), ‘The Incredibly Sad Princess’ (1968), ‘Kulhavy dabel’ (1968), ‘Little Summer Blues’ (1968), ‘Private Torment’ (1967), ‘Closely Observed Trains’ (1966). Nowadays, he gives concerts in the Czech Republic and abroad.

This year we take a wine tour through Central and Eastern Europe. Come and taste eight different quality wines from countries that are also part of the film festival. Not only the cinema of our Eastern neighbours is becoming more popular every year, also the centuries-old wine culture is flourishing. During this wine tasting you will get an impression of what the region has to offer today. In addition, you will learn more about several indigenous grape varieties, still unfamiliar in rest of Europe.

16.00 - 17.00 hours | Studio B Filmhuis Den Haag | free admission The European film landscape is rich, broad and complex. How to get noticed with my first or second short film or documentary? How to solve a dilemma – whether I need a distributor or a sales agent? How to get one? What is the A.B.C. of the professional coproduction scene?

For who: ENFF guests filmmakers, those coming from the East and Southeast of Europe, Dutch film students and Dutch young filmmakers With whom: Mercedes Martinez-Abarca, film programmer/film industry advisor.

Get kick-started in the film industry at ENFF!

The wine tasting is brought to you by AndereWijn – a wine webshop stocked with many wines from the neighbouring Eastern European countries. Every year they taste hundreds of wines, out of which they choose the best.

Visit their website: www.anderewijn.nl

AndereWijn

Welcome!

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enff on tour

19 OCTOBER 2018 IN LAAKTHEATER, THE HAGUE

23 SEPTEMBER 2018 IN KINO ROTTERDAM 19:30 hours. COYOTE by Mark Kostyal, Hungary, 2017, 126 min. Dutch premiere.

Synopsis on page 10. Tickets: www.laaktheater.nl

20 OCTOBER 2018 IN RIALTO AMSTERDAM

19:30 hours. SCREAM FOR ME SARAJEVO by Tarik Hodzic, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2016, 95 min.

Synopsis on www.enff.nl. Tickets: www.kinorotterdam.nl

25 SEPTEMBER 2018 IN DE NIEUWE REGENTES, THE HAGUE

15:00 hours. THE SECRET INGREDIENT by Gjorce Stavreski, Macedonia, Greece, 2017, 102 min.

Dutch premiere. Synopsis on page 20. Tickets: www.rialtofilm.nl

3 NOVEMBER 2018 IN HET NUTSHUIS, THE HAGUE

18:30 hours. IN PRAISE OF NOTHING by Boris Mitic, Serbia, Croatia, France, 2017, 78 min.

Synopsis on page 31. Tickets: www.denieuweregentes.nl 58

20:00 hours. GAMER by Oleg Sentsov, Ukraine, 2011, 93 min.

Synopsis on page 47. Tickets: www.nutshuis.nl 59

on tour: FILMTHEATER ‘T HOOGT, UTRECHT OCTOBER 28, from 15.00 hours

The new edition of ENFF On Tour in Utrecht brings 4 exciting, thought-provoking films from 3 Balkan countries: Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Bulgaria, shown in presence of a director, actor and screenwriter. The selected films are the audience favourites from last year ENFF, and one Dutch premiere from our new edition. We are proud to present these 4 multi award-winning films that previously screened at Cannes, Hot Docs, Sarajevo, Toronto and Stockholm Film Festivals!

INVISIBLE by Amra Mehic, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, 2016, 7 min A humorous, yet serious film gem on migrants in Europe. Invisible will be screened before the main film in this slot.

18.15 hours Eastern Neighbours Film Festival Cocktail

15.15 hours AVEC L’ AMOUR by Ilija Cvetkovski, Macedonia, 2017, 66 min Special guest: director ILIJA CVETKOVSKI A fascinating documentary about a retiring professor, who owns 115 rotten vintage cars and his dream to turn his unusual collection into a museum, in his small and uneventful town. Avec L’ Amour is a simple story, and also a larger than life portrayal of the universal human saga represented through this old man, his love and his passion. IDFA Bertha Fund supported documentary.

19.00 hours POSOKI (DIRECTIONS) by Stephan Komandarev, Bulgaria, 2017, 103 min, Dutch premiere Special guest: screenwriter SIMEON VENTSISLAVOV ENFF is proud to have a 1st screening of this Cannes festival selected film (2017) before it goes to the regular cinema program in the Netherlands. A dramatic, though-provoking road movie through Sofia.

The country remains optimistic because God, the pessimists and the realists have left Bulgaria a long time ago. Winner of Heart of Sarajevo 2017, awarded with the International Audience Award at the Brussels International Film Festival 2018. Full synopsis on page 16.

16.45 hours MY AUNT IN SARAJEVO by Goran Kapetanovic, Sweden, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2016, 58 min. Special guest: actor IZUDIN BAJROVIC from Sarajevo Deeply compelling drama with an amazing switch in the narrative about a father and daughter going to Sarajevo for the first time after the war. Awarded with the prestigious Swedish Guldbagge Awards for Best Direction and Best Supporting Actress.

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ENFF ON TOUR IN UTRECHT Production: artTrace www.enff.nl/on-tour-utrecht-2018 www.arttrace.nl/current/enff-tour-utrecht

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OCTOBER 31, 19.30 hour

MEN DON’T CRY by Alen Drljevic, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Croatia, Germany, 2017, 99 min.

Special guest: actor LEON LUČEV Bosnia and Herzegovina, 15 years after the war. Ten men are the only guests at a remote mountain hotel. The group is made up of 1 trainer and 9 participants of a workshop with the objective to come to terms with the past. The men are former soldiers of several armies that fought against each other across the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s. Dutch premiere of the brilliant fiction feature debut by Bosnian director Alen Drljevic that was the Bosnian submission for the Oscars. Synopsis on page 14.

Leon Lučev Biography ‘’I was born in Croatia (Sibenik), was raised and lived on the island of Zlarin, in Sibenik, Zagreb, Split, Rijeka, Belgrade and Sarajevo. As a child, I wanted to be a driver. I passed through war, I graduated the Faculty of Dramatic Arts. As an actor, I played in 60 movies, as a director and co-director I have made 2 films, as a writer and co-writer also 2, as co-author 1, as a producer 4. I worked as acting pedagogue on 2 Academies. As an actor, I was member of Theatre ITD in Zagreb and the National Theatre Ivan pl. Zajc in Rijeka. I created and led my own workshops in Pula, Tunis, Vienna, Zagreb… These are numbers and facts. Behind all that is a human being that loves, is vulnerable, honest, brave…and for whom art is a way of communicating with the world he doesn’t understand.’’

audience prize

on tour: cinema De BALIE, AMSTERDAM

WIN A TRIP TO MONTENEGRO! by participating in the ENFF prize for the audience! All voters will enter into a random draw to win a trip to Montenegro with airfare for one and accommodations for up to two persons generously provided by BovenCA. Voting closes after the last feature film screening at Filmhuis Den Haag, on November 11.

The venue You will stay in a spacious and comfortable mountain villa, the Celebic-BovenKuca. It is beautifully located, 100 m above the tiny village of Crhalj, in the unspoiled mountain area of north-eastern Montenegro. Crhalj belongs to the municipality Bijelo Polje; co-ordinates: 42.58.675 N; 19.55.271 E; 1050m above sea level.

What to do in Crhalj During your 7-day stay you will be provided with all the information about what you can do and where you can go. Your host Sevda will guide you for 2 days (4-8 hours per day), take you to visit traditional tourist attractions or hidden villages only Sevda knows about.

Hiking, cycling and horse-riding enable you to visit places outside the beaten path, but if you want to you can rent the resort’s jeep.

Upon arrival, you will also discover the stories and beauty of Tara River and Tara canyon, the deepest and longest canyon in Europe protected as UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will encounter and appreciate the famous Balkan hospitality and Balkan culture and breathe the cleanest air there is.

For more information visit www.enff.nl/audience-prize-2018

Tickets: www.debalie.nl

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film index A HANDFUL OF STONES ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 42 ALL ALONE ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������9 COYOTE ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 10 DAYBREAK ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 11 DEDE ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 12 DIAGNOSIS ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 34 DREAM ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 43 gamer �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 47 HIDE AND SEEK ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 35 HOTEL JUGOSLAVIJA ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 21 IN PRAISE OF NOTHING ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 31 IVAN ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 13 KOLIVA ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 36 KORIDA ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 7 LARKS ON A STRING �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 8 LOVE ON THE ROOF OF THE WORLD ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 44 MARY ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 37 MEN DON`T CRY ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 14 OCCUPATION 1968 ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 22 ONE TWO ZERO ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 27 PARADISE ’89 �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 15 PATRIOTIC LESSON ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 28 POLONAISE ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 29 POSOKI ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 16 SCHOOLMATES ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 38 SEVDAH ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 32 SINKING OBJECTS �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 39 TAM 4500 �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 45 THE FROG ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 17 THE MARRIAGE ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 18 THE MINER ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 19 THE OTHER SIDE OF EVERYTHING �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 23 THE SECRET INGREDIENT ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 20 “THE STRANGER’’ IN MY HEAD ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 40 THE TRIAL: THE STATE OF RUSSIA VS OLEG SENTSOV �������������������������������������������������������������������������� 24 THE UGLIEST CAR ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 30 THE WONDERFUL YEARS ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 25 UNTRAVEL �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 46 WHEN PIGS COME �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 26 WHEN THE DRAGON CAME – (MONOLOGUES) �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 41 YUGOSLAVIA, HOW IDEOLOGY MOVED OUR COLLECTIVE BODY ������������������������������������������������������������ 33 64

partners and sponsors

Sponsors On-Tour Utrecht:

Production: artTrace

AndereWijn

And a great thank you to all the embassies and other partners who generously contribute to ENFF and help make this festival a success!

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COLOFON

ENFF TEAM Festival Directors Rada Sesic Igor Lesic

Website Igor Lesic Zeljka Ferencic

Production Gaby Brinkman

Videography Alma Imamovic-Ivanov

Production Support Tanja Matic Corina Burlacu Kristina Daurova Maarten Savelkoel John Bosters

Design Sander van Heukelom Nena Sesic-Fiser Anna Trofimenko

On Tour Utrecht Stichting artTrace Temra Pavlovic

Education Alma Imamovic-Ivanov Zeljka Ferencic

Hospitality Milica Milic

Catalogue Rada Sesic Zeljka Ferencic Mariana Hristova Oana Stupariu Alma Imamovic-Ivanov Tanja Matic

Social Media Mariana Hristova

Volunteer Coordination Iva Jankovic

Film Coordination Oana Stupariu

EASTERN NEIGHBOURS FILM FESTIVAL IS A PROJECT OF Stichting Hotmix Laan van Meerdervoort 1136 2555 CA The Hague

BOARD

Ferenc van der Sluijs Allard de Zwart Merijn Pancras

ALL FILMS AT ENFF HAVE ENGLISH SUBTITLES TICKETS: www.filmhuisdenhaag.nl 66

STAY INFORMED VIA WWW.ENFF.NL AND FACEBOOK.COM/EASTERNNEIGHBOURSFILMFESTIVAL STAy INFORMED vIA www.ENFF.NL AND FACEBOOk.COM/EASTERNNEIgHBOURSFILMFESTIvAL

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THE BEST RECENT FILMS FROM EAST AND SOUTHEAST EUROPE

7-11 November Filmhuis Den Haag

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