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A Word from our Selectors: Competition Short Film

The 2009 Competition Programme – Shorts is yet another very versatile and energetic selection. Last year there was a great success in the regional animation films, although the short fiction films were not in their full bloom. This year we have both: very innovative short films and very creative animated films.

The Programme consists of ten short fiction films and eight short animations.

The fiction films are very different in style, approach and topics. They also come from directors with very different backgrounds and experience. We will see films by established directors such as Dalibor Matanić from Croatia, Bálint Kenyeres from Hungary, Nadejda Koseva from Bulgaria and Elmir Jukić from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Alongside them will be talented breakthrough directors, such as Pero Pavlović from Bosnia and Herzegovina with THE SOUND OF SILENCE, Emanuel Parvu from Romania with A FAMILY..., Pici Papai from Hungary with COMING OUT, Stavros Raptis and Argiris Germanides from Greece with LEFT RIGHT, Amra Mehić with THE RUIN and Goran Odvoričić from Croatia with CIAO MAMA. Some films have already been shown at Category A festivals, such as THE HISTORY OF AVIATION by Kenyeres (2009 Cannes Quinzaine des Realisateurs), PARTY by Matanić (2009 Cannes Semaine de la Critique), CIAO MAMA by Odvorčić (2009 Cannes Official Competition) and OMELETTE by Koseva (2009 Sundance Competition), and others are yet to tour the world festivals.

The animation section this year shows how technology can be used in story-telling and film creativity. After being silent for over a decade, the regional animation scene has expanded and rejuvenated itself. There are world recognized animation authors such as Géza M. Tóth from Hungary with MAMA, Boris Despodov and Andrey Paounov from Bulgaria with THREE SISTERS AND ANDREY, or Midhat Ajanović Ajan with POINT OF MOUTH; all with outstanding stories and animation techniques. Still, there is a lot of space for talented newcomers such as Ivan Ivanovski from Macedonia with INSIDE, Gökhan Okur from Turkey with WAVE THEORY, Darko Vidačković with MOBITEL MANIA and Darko Kokić with NIGHTMARE, both from Croatia, and Zdravko Cvjetković and Sabina Pezo from Bosnia and Herzegovina with CRAZY DANCE.

With mostly world and international premieres, the Programme will yet again present the best of the regional shorts, and animation in all its diversity and importance, with an accent on the young and upcoming filmmakers and their fresh approach to filmmaking.

Elma Tataragić, programmer

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