Cinema of Serbia

The Cinema of Serbia refers to the film industry and films made in Serbia or by Serbian filmmakers. Serbia, both as an independent state and as part of Yugoslavia, has created many films that are known and loved around the world. Many important movies from the Balkans come from Serbia, and these films have been very popular and successful. Serbian filmmakers have made a big impact on cinema, sharing stories and talents with people everywhere.

History of cinema

Kingdom of Serbia (1896–1917)

André Carr, a representative of the Lumière brothers, was the first to show a moving picture in the Balkans and Central Europe in Belgrade on June 6, 1896. Serbian cinema began in 1911 with the release of the oldest movie in the Balkans, The Life and Deeds of the Immortal Vožd Karađorđe. Traveling cinemas went around Serbia, showing films in rented halls or tents. The first permanent cinema opened in Belgrade in 1909, and more cinemas opened across the country. Modern-day Vojvodina was part of Austria-Hungary, and cinema developed there around the same time, with the first cinema opening in Sombor in 1906.

Kingdom of Yugoslavia (1918–1941)

Cinema grew in Serbia, with 12 films made before World War II. Important filmmakers included Ernest Bošnjak, Aleksandar Lifka, Vladimir Totović, and Stanislav Krakov. In 1931, a new law helped make more local films. Serbian poet Stanislav Vinaver and Boško Tokin were early leaders in film criticism and film ideas in the country. Famous films from this time include Sve radi osmeha, Rudareva sreća, Kralj Čarlstona, Grešnica bez greha, and Kroz buru i oganj. The most famous film from before the war is Mihailo Popović's The Battle of Kosovo from 1939.

Republic of Yugoslavia (1945—1992)

After World War II, the new government created the Federal Committee for Cinematography, and the Faculty of Dramatic Arts was started. Most films made were action, adventure, historical dramas, documentaries, and news films. Films about the partisan army during the time of Nazi-occupied Yugoslavia became very popular. Many famous directors and actors appeared, and films like Captain Lechi, March on the Drina, and Battle of Neretva were seen around the world.

Cinema in the 1960s

The 1960s brought many comedy films in Yugoslavia. Actors like Milena Dravić and Ljubiša Samardžić became stars, appearing in many popular films. Comedies such as A Trip Around the World and Ljubav i moda were loved by many. Other types of films like dramas and musicals also did well, with actors like Olivera Marković and Đorđe Marjanović becoming famous.

Black Wave

The Black Wave was a time of new kinds of filmmaking in the early 1960s. Directors explored serious topics and social problems, and their films won awards at big film festivals around the world. Films like When I Am Dead and Gone and It Rains in My Village were recognized. Dušan Makavejev, known for Love Affair: Or the Case of the Missing Switchboard Operator, was a key leader of this movement.

Cinema in the 1970s

The 1970s brought new types of films, including horror with movies such as The She-Butterfly. Comedy films stayed popular, with series like Žika's Dynasty being very loved. Romantic comedies with actors like Ljubiša Samardžić were also favorite movies. Important films from this time include Special Education, The Dog Who Loved Trains, and Fragrance of Wild Flowers.

Cinema in the 1980s

The 1980s had many famous comedies, including Who's Singin' Over There?, Balkan Express, The Marathon Family, and Balkan Spy. The Belgrade school of documentary filmmaking was also very successful, winning many awards.

Cinema in the 1990s and early 2000s

During the 1990s, Bosnian Serb Emir Kusturica became a leading figure in film. His movie Underground won a Palme d'Or. Serbian-born director Stefan Arsenijević won the Golden Berlin Bear for his short film (A) Torzija in 2003.

Republic of Serbia (2006—present)

After private ownership began, many cinemas in Belgrade closed. In 2014, a group took over the empty Zvezda cinema, later called Novi Bioskop Zvezda. Hollywood blockbusters and big studio films are now common in Serbian cinemas. Films by Srdan Golubović, such as Circles and Klopka, have won awards around the world. The Other Side of Everything by Mila Turajlić won a big award in 2017. Only two Serbian animated feature films were made during this time: Noir and Edit i Ja.

Festivals and awards

FEST began in 1971 and has grown into one of the largest film festivals in Serbia and the surrounding area. The main prize at this festival is called the "Beogradski Pobednik", given to the best film.

The Belgrade Documentary and Short Film Festival, started in 1954, is still a key event for short, experimental, and documentary films.

The Küstendorf Film and Music Festival happens every January in the village of Drvengrad, which was created for making the movie Life Is a Miracle.

Other well-known festivals are BELDOCS - International Documentary Film Festival Belgrade, the Auteur Film Festival, the European Feature Documentary Film Festival Magnificent Seven, the International Film Directors' Festival LIFFE in Leskovac, and the Palić European Film Festival.

Notable people

Actors

Some of the most famous Serbian actors are:

• Mija Aleksić
• Slobodan Aligrudić
• Rade Šerbedžija
• Neda Arnerić
• Mira Banjac
• Predrag Bjelac
• Dragan Bjelogrlić
• Žarko Laušević
• Petar Božović
• Predrag Miletić
• Vojislav Brajović
• Zoran Cvijanović
• Bogdan Diklić
• Anica Dobra
• Milena Dravić
• Sergej Trifunović
• Predrag Ejdus
• Taško Načić
• Bekim Fehmiu
• Mirjana Karanović
• Branka Katić
• Nikola Kojo
• Branislav Lečić
• Miki Manojlović
• Dragan Mićanović
• Dragan Nikolić
• Miodrag Petrović Čkalja
• Predrag Laković
• Dragan Maksimović
• Zoran Radmilović
• Lazar Ristovski
• Olivera Marković
• Rade Marković
• Jelisaveta Seka Sablić
• Mirjana Joković
• Ljubiša Samardžić
• Danilo Stojković
• Mira Stupica
• Nataša Šolak
• Slavko Štimac
• Sonja Savić
• Ljuba Tadić
• Bora Todorović
• Vesna Trivalić
• Srđan Todorović
• Pavle Vujisić
• Bata Živojinović
• Dragan Jovanović
• Slobodan Beštić
• Stevo Žigon
• Petar Kralj
• Danilo Lazović
• Milorad Mandić
• Svetozar Cvetković
• Tanja Bošković
• Jasna Đuričić
• Boris Komnenić
• Nenad Jezdić
• Ljubomir Bandović
• Milan Gutović
• Aleksandar Berček
• Nebojša Glogovac
• Nataša Ninković
• Dubravka Mijatović
• Miodrag Krivokapić
• Nikola Đuričko
• Nikola Pejaković
• Gorica Popović
• Gordan Kičić
• Vojin Ćetković
• Nebojša Dugalić
• Stefan Kapičić
• Miloš Timotijević
• Nikola Rakočević
• Vuk Kostić
• Miloš Biković

Directors

Serbian cinema has grown a lot, even in hard times. Emir Kusturica won two big prizes at the Cannes Film Festival, one for When Father Was Away on Business in 1985 and another for Underground in 1995. In 1998, he won a top award for directing Black Cat, White Cat.

• Timothy John Byford
• Srđan Dragojević
• Emir Kusturica
• Peter Bogdanovich
• Dušan Makavejev
• Goran Marković
• Gojko Mitić
• Goran Paskaljević
• Živojin Pavlović
• Aleksandar Petrović
• Lazar Ristovski
• Slobodan Šijan
• Želimir Žilnik
• Boro Drašković
• Žika Mitrović
• Ljubiša Samardžić
• Nikola Ležaić
• Srdan Golubović
• Mila Turajlić
• Stefan Arsenijević

Diaspora

Many filmmakers with Serbian roots living in other countries have made creative works. Slavko Vorkapic created famous movie sequences and led the USC Film School, while Vlada Petrić helped start the Harvard Film Archive.

Serbian-born winners of big awards include Karl Malden, Steve Tesich and Peter Bogdanovich. Darko Tresnjak won a Tony Award, and Marina Zenovich won two Emmy Awards.

Well-known actors with Serbian heritage include Iván Petrovich, Brad Dexter, Lolita Davidovich, Branko Tomovic, Rada Rassimov, Nadja Regin, Rade Šerbedžija, Milla Jovovich, Sasha Alexander and Stana Katic.

Notable films

Main article: List of Serbian films

Serbia, both as its own country and as part of Yugoslavia, has made many well-known movies. Many important films from the Balkan region come from Serbia and are popular with people.