Serbian actress and director Mirjana Karanović is preparing her third feature film, Folk Play, after the project received a major European industry award. The drama, known in Serbian as Narodna drama, is currently in post-production and is expected to premiere in 2027.
The film recently won the European Work in Progress The Post Republic Award in Hamburg, securing €30,000 worth of post-production services.
The project brings together filmmakers and production companies from Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, France and Luxembourg.
A Story About Love, Freedom and Family Expectations
Mirjana Karanović’s new film follows Anka, a 22-year-old woman living in a conservative provincial community.
She cares for her sick father and helps run the family’s tavern. Under pressure from her family, she agrees to marry her longtime boyfriend, Milan.
However, her life changes when she meets Branka, a free-spirited folk singer from Belgrade, during her engagement celebration.
After discovering that her father has sold the family business to Milan’s father, Anka leaves for Belgrade with Branka.
The two women develop a romantic relationship, forcing Anka to confront the expectations that have shaped her life.
The story explores personal freedom, family obligations and the difficulties of challenging traditional social norms.
The screenplay was written by Bojan Vuletić and is based on a theater play by Olga Dimitrijević.
The leading cast includes Iva Ilinčić, Tihana Lazović, Milan Zarić and Ermin Bravo.
Karanović also appears in the film alongside Ljubomir Bandović, Milena Vasić and other regional actors.
International Recognition Before the Premiere
Folk Play received recognition at the ninth European Work in Progress event in Hamburg, where it won the program’s main post-production award.
The prize provides €30,000 in services intended to support the film’s completion.
The production has an estimated budget of approximately €1.1 million.
Serbian company This and That Productions leads the project, with international partners including Croatia’s Kinorama, Slovenia’s Bela Film and Montenegro’s Kino.
French and Luxembourg-based production companies are also involved.
The film has received support from several European film institutions and funding programs, including Eurimages and Creative Europe MEDIA.
For Karanović, the project marks another step in her directing career following A Good Wife and Mother Mara.
Although she is internationally known for her acting career, she has increasingly explored directing stories centered on complex personal relationships.
The new film continues that approach through a story about a young woman’s struggle to make her own choices.
With post-production underway and its first major industry award already secured, Folk Play is expected to reach audiences in 2027.
An exact premiere date has not yet been announced.
