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Press Report / Day 2

Radoslav Zelenović: The the Aleksandar Lifka Award laureates are the foundation of European and our cinema

On the second day of the 30 th Palić European Film Festival, on Sunday, July 16, executive producer Ilija Tatić, festival director Radoslav Zelenović, program director and programmer Miroslav Mogorović, the Aleksandar Lifka Award laureate Bogdan Diklić, Official Selection programmer Nikolaj Nikitin, Parallels and Encounters programmer Julia Sinkevych, Documentaries sections programmer Igor Toholj, as well as the leaders of the Student Film workshop - Aleš Pavlin and Andrijana Sofranić Šućur spoke at the press conference on the Great Terrace.

Ilija Tatić, executive producer of the Festival, spoke about the opening and what the audience will be able to see at the Festival and beside the main programs: "We are really pleased with how the Festival started, and with the fact that we gathered again in Palić to celebrate this significant anniversary of ours. Apart from the competitive programs, there are some really good programs. Today, we are focusing on the opening of exhibitions at the Open University, and the student film workshop is also starting, which is in a way a pilot project focusing on young authors’ films. Those who we will, hopefully, see in years and decades to come at Palić in the competition programs".

Radoslav Zelenović, director of the Festival, reflected on the opening ceremony: "For me, a particularly emotional moment was when the previous Aleksandar Lifka Award laureates began to appear on the big screen. Out of 48 or 49 of them, only three did not come to Palić to receive the Award. Those people are the foundation of European and our cinema. The fact that a relatively small festival managed to bring such people is the best and most impressive identity card of our Festival".

Miroslav Mogorović, program director and selector of the EFF Palić, announced what comes to the audience in the rest of the Festival: "I would definitely highlight our second competition program Parallels and Encounters." The quality of films in this program is at the level of our Official Selection, so it should not be missed. The focus programs dedicated to the cinema of Hungary and North Macedonia are also a great place to watch some titles that cannot otherwise be seen here. The Young Spirit of Europe program stratss tonight with exceptional short film productions.

Actor Bogdan Diklić, this year's laureate of the Aleksandar Lifka Award in the category of domestic creators, spoke about the ovation he received during last night's presentation of the award at the Festival opening: "I received such a warm applause. You know, at that moment, I felt very well and somewhere from my subconscious I think that maybe my career was worth it after all. I thanked everyone who sailed with me for those 48 years, but I didn't mention the actors. Probably because I take them for granted. I thank to them too." About his approach to acting, Bogdan Diklić said: "I haven't changed it since 1975. I made every role of mine at home. Both theater and film roles. Of course, in communication with the director, and primarily in communication with the writer, that is, the screenwriter. When it comes to theater, I only went to rehearsals to check how much sense was made of what I had prepared, or what I wanted to use to overcome a problem. Film is faster and more expensive, and one must come absolutely prepared".

Nikolaj Nikitin, programmer of the Main Competition Program, among other things said: "At the thirtieth edition of the Festival, we wanted to present you with the best possible selection, which in some way reflects the times we live in. At the same time, we look back on our own history. You will see the works of the best European authors. We encourage the audience to watch very positively European films. I don't think it's time to show heavy films, dramas, long black-and-white films, but those that are really positive."

Julia Sinkevych, programmer of the "Parallels and Encounters" competition program, said about her selection of films: "There is a reason why each of these films is in the selection. My intention was to present the best Eastern European films, diversity in storytelling and directorial style. But also to address important topics, as well as to support debutant directors. There are some themes and trends that are common to the films in the selection, such as the relationship between parents and children, or the way new technologies affect our lives".

Igor Toholj, programmer of the Eco Dox and New European Documentaries programs pointed out: "In both programs, the documentaries reflect the drama of the situation in which we are all together, in various aspects of life - geopolitical, climatic, and generally civilizational. All these films have one universal anthropological component. In the Eco Dox section, in the past, films tried to point out some problems and processes that had just begun, and now these processes are already well underway and we often have interpretations or reactions to them".

Andrijana Sofranić Šućur, one of the leaders of the Student Film workshop, commented on the new section of the Palić Festival: "We were quite pleasantly surprised that Palić decided to include a student film and to establish that section. Maša Šarović did a great job choosing films. She has selected films by students from different academies, feature films, documentaries, even an experimental one, so we are looking forward to watching them. I am looking forward to meeting students from different academies, to hear what their experiences are, how they work at the faculties and what their ambitions are."

Aleš Pavlin added about the workshop: "I am looking forward to have a conversation with the students, and learn what we, as more experienced people, can do to help them. I hope that it will be to our mutual satisfaction".

On the third day the Festival, on Monday, July 17, on the Summer Stage in Palić, presents Wim Wenders's "Perfect Days" (out of competition) at 9 p.m., and at 11 p.m., the film "Afire" by Christian Petzold. Parallels and Encounters section, at the Abazija cinema in Palić presents the films "Ordinary Failures" by Cristina Grosan (5 p.m.) and "Bread and Salt" by Damian Kocur (7 p.m.).