Film Festival in Sopot begins: At the opening of the film melody and performance KUD Kosmaj

The 54th edition of the Sopot Film Festival opened on June 29 with the screening of the film Yugo Florida, directed by Vladimir Tagić. The festival, which runs until July 4 under the slogan “Sunce je novo svaki dan” (“The sun is new every day”), takes place at the Center for Culture in Sopot. This year’s edition continues the tradition of showcasing contemporary Serbian cinematography alongside significant minority co-productions from the region and around the world. The opening ceremony featured a parade of actors and film crews, followed by the presentation of the Statue of Freedom to Jovan Marković for his exceptional contribution to film art and production.

The evening's main attraction was the premiere of Yugo Florida, marking the start of the festival's programming. The film, directed by Vladimir Tagić, was introduced after the traditional performance by the KUD Kosmaj ensemble and fireworks display. The opening night also included a concert by the National Orchestra and Chorus of RTS, titled “Ko to tamo…,” dedicated to some of the most iconic melodies from domestic films and series. These include songs from movies such as Skupljači perja (Feather Collectors), Grlom u jagode (With a Mouth Full of Berries), Maratonci trče počasni krug (Marathoners Run Around the Honor Ring), and Dom za vešanje (House for Hanging). Additionally, music from popular TV series such as Kamiondžije (Truck Drivers) and Pozorište u kući (Playhouse in the House) were performed.

As part of the accompanying program, an exhibition of posters from Jovan Marković’s films and FIT productions was unveiled, along with a memorial installation dedicated to Professor Radenko Ranković. These exhibits will be available to the public throughout the duration of the festival in the gallery and foyer of the Center for Culture in Sopot. A panel discussion titled “Champion of Viewership – Jovan Marković, Screenwriter and Producer” is scheduled for Tuesday, June 30, starting at noon in the gallery of the Center for Culture. The panel will feature participants including Dr. Dijana Metlić, Dr. Ognjen Rakčević, Vukan Marković, Dušan Cicvara, Jovan Marković himself, and Aleksandar Avramović, who will serve as the moderator.

For the awards, 21 films will compete, judged by a jury composed of Dijana Metlić, a professor of art history at the Academy of Arts in Novi Sad; Veselin Krčmar, a director of photography and winner of the Special Award at the Sopot Film Festival for outstanding creative contribution to cinema; and Danilo Bećković, a recipient of the Statue of Freedom for directing (Jesen samuraja – Autumn Samurai), and a professor at the University of Arts in Belgrade. The festival’s lineup includes three films in the non-competitive section, two films dedicated to young filmmakers—Ozi – Glas šume (Ozi – Voice of the Forest) and Sunđer Bob – Prokletstvo pirata (Sunđer Bob – Curse of Pirates)—and the documentary film Brate (Brothers).

The festival concludes with a formal closing ceremony featuring the awarding of prizes and the screening of the film Svadba (Wedding), directed by Igor Šeregija. Admission to all films remains free, as has been the case in previous years, with tickets available for reservation via phone at the Center for Culture in Sopot. The festival continues its long-standing commitment to making cinematic culture accessible to the public, offering a diverse range of artistic expressions and cultural dialogues.