The 20th edition of the Free Zone festival, a significant milestone for this renowned event, will feature a selection of fresh and critically acclaimed films from prestigious international festivals. The program will include:

  • I’m Still Here by Walter Salles, awarded Best Screenplay at the Venice Film Festival
  • The Man Who Couldn’t Stay Silent by Nebojša Slijepčević, winner of the Palme d’Or for short film at Cannes
  • My Favourite Cake by Maryam Moghadam and Bentash Sanaeeha, recipient of the Ecumenical Jury Award and FIPRESCI Prize in Berlin
  • Three Kilometres to the End of the World by Emanuel Parvu, winner at the Sarajevo Film Festival
  • Our Children by Silvestar Kolbas, awarded Best Director at the Pula Film Festival

Promo video: Hits of the 20th Free Zone – Watch here

The internationally acclaimed Brazilian director and screenwriter Walter Salles will present his historical drama I’m Still Here, which explores the tragic consequences of Brazil’s military dictatorship (1964-1985). The story follows Eunice Paiva, a mother of five who becomes an activist after her husband, former congressman Marcelo, is arrested. The film is based on the memoirs of Marcelo and Eunice’s son, Marcelo Rubens Paiva, and was recently chosen as Brazil’s official Oscar submission.

Nebojša Slijepčević, after his hit film Srbenka, brings his latest work The Man Who Couldn’t Stay Silent to the Free Zone. This short film, which won the Palme d’Or at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, touches on the timeless human dilemma of how to react when witnessing injustice or violence. Inspired by a column by Boris Dežulović about Toma Buzov, the only JNA captain to oppose war crimes, the film features an ensemble cast, including Goran Bogdan and Dragan Mićanović.

My Favourite Cake is one of the standout films in the official competition of the 74th Berlin International Film Festival. Directed by Iranian filmmakers Bentaš Sanaiha and Maryam Moghadam, the film is a tender drama about a lonely widow who invites a taxi driver into her home in an attempt to break her isolation. The film’s depiction of women defying societal norms earned it the Ecumenical Jury Award and FIPRESCI Prize, though the directors were banned from attending the Berlin premiere.

Romanian director Emanuel Parvu’s Three Kilometres to the End of the World explores the story of 17-year-old Adi, who experiences a brutal attack in his hometown. The film delves into the fragility of familial love and was awarded the Heart of Sarajevo for Best Feature at the 30th Sarajevo Film Festival.

Silvestar Kolbas’ documentary Our Children offers a deeply personal look into the challenges of parenting. The film, which follows Kolbas’ relationship with his three children, won Best Director at the 71st Pula Film Festival and has been praised as “the best documentary you’ll watch this year.”

Festival Details:

The 20th Free Zone will take place from November 6 to 11 in Belgrade, Novi Sad, Niš, and Kragujevac. Audiences can enjoy over 65 thought-provoking films across multiple venues, including Dom Omladine, Cultural Center Hall, Art Cinema Kolarac, and more.

The opening ceremony will be held on November 6 at 7:00 PM in the Blue Hall of the Sava Center with the regional premiere of Sean Baker’s Anora, winner of the Palme d’Or.

Tickets for the opening are available for 1200 RSD through the Tickets and eFinity platforms, as well as at their sales points. Tickets for other screenings can also be purchased online or at cinema box offices.

For more information about the full program and schedule, visit the official website: www.slobodnazona.rs.

This year, a part of the festival program will be available online through the KinoKauch platform, allowing audiences across Serbia to participate.

The festival is supported by the MEDIA sub-program of Creative Europe, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Serbia, the Women’s Fund Reconstruction, the City of Novi Sad, the Film Center of Serbia, and the French Institute.

by Dragana Kostica
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