Belgrade will once again put short films in the spotlight this September as the Fine Line Film Fest returns for its fifth edition from September 18 to 20 at the MTS Hall. The international short film festival will bring together filmmakers, film crews and audiences from Serbia, the wider Balkan region and beyond, with a program featuring 23 short films across two competition categories. The international selection, titled “Beyond the Borders,” will feature 11 films from filmmakers around the world, while the regional “Made in the Balkans” selection will present 12 productions from Serbia and neighboring countries. Alongside the screenings, visitors will have the opportunity to attend discussions and meet filmmakers and members of the participating film crews.
The regional selection explores subjects including family relationships, identity, growing up, social pressure and personal loss. Among the featured films is “Cathedral” by Uroš Lakić, which follows a married couple whose relationship with the world begins to change after the wife’s blind friend arrives. Stefan Ivančić’s “After Sunrise” focuses on a single mother who, after losing her job, turns to a small deception in an effort to provide for her son. The award winning film has received recognition at international festivals, including in Freiburg and Tirana. “Welcome Home” by Filip Jembrih Jandras follows a return to a home village that develops into a confrontation with family conflicts, secrets and memories, while “Healthy Hands” by Stefan Tomić explores the pressure faced by a talented 12 year old swimmer. Another regional entry, “Nightcap” by Đorđe Vojvodić, brings together four childhood friends who are forced to confront truths they have avoided for years.
The international “Beyond the Borders” program also features films that have already attracted attention at major international festivals. “Nobody Barks” by Julia Coldwell Serra won the Grand Prix at the Busan International Short Film Festival and follows a woman whose attempt to deal with accidentally running over her nephew’s dog leads her deeper into a web of lies. “Cosmonauts” by Leo Chernitz, which received the main prize at the Regensburg International Short Film Week, tells a story about lonely people searching for love during an unusual intergalactic journey. “First Essay” by Aria Sanchez and Marina Meira was recognized for directing at the Locarno festival, while “Abracadabra” by Amaia Mehirishi focuses on a 12 year old boy confronting feelings he has never expressed. The selection also includes “Dead Air” by Andreas Haring, set in 1991 as war breaks out in neighboring Yugoslavia and a radio presenter attempts to report the news despite military pressure and censorship. Other international entries come from Italy, France, Germany, Belgium and the United Kingdom.
Two professional juries will select the winning films in the two competition categories. The “Beyond the Borders” jury includes actor Ognjen Mićović, director Adem Tutić, cinematographer Nico Schrenk and director Jelica Jerinić. The “Made in the Balkans” films will be evaluated by cinematographer and director Aleksa Borković, actor Alessandro Eger, actress Laura Anić Kaliger and director Petar Lakić. Screenings will begin at 7 p.m. throughout the three day festival, with the final day featuring discussions with filmmakers followed by the awards ceremony. Organizers say that although Fine Line Film Fest continues to grow each year, its central idea remains unchanged: giving every selected short film the attention, space and audience it deserves, while creating an opportunity for the connection between filmmakers and viewers to continue even after the screening ends.
