The third day of the Montenegrin Human Rights Film Festival FAST FOWARD 2024 is marked by the opening of the Kotor edition at the “Boka” Cinema, premieres in Podgorica accompanied by a panel discussion, and the guest appearances of directors Aleksandar Reljić and Željko Stanetić.
In Podgorica, the third festival day begins at 17:00 at the Montenegrin Cinematheque with the premiere of the film Joymakers by director Jelena Radenović. The film explores the musical mastery of Roma trumpeters in Serbia, revealing the struggles and hardships that lie behind their dynamic melodies. Milan Nikolić continues the important mission of teacher Maksut Maksutović, working to teach Roma children how to play properly and preserve their health. An encounter with American professor Nada Miljković and Milan offers us an authentic and emotional insight into their lives.
At 18:00, the festival will screen Black Box Diaries, a documentary by journalist and film producer Shiori Itô. The film investigates her own sexual assault case and her relentless pursuit of justice against a prominent offender. This journey unfolds into a significant legal case, exposing outdated judicial and societal frameworks in Japan. After the screening, a panel discussion titled Women in the Media: Fighting for a Voice and Image? will follow. The panel will address sexist and sensationalist discourse in the media and the importance of supporting women in public spaces. The panelists will include journalist and program coordinator of the Media Institute of Montenegro Vesna Rajković Nenadić, journalist Ivana Boljević, and professor of Montenegrin language and literature at Golubovci Secondary School Svetlana Jovetić Korpivica.
The third day in Podgorica will conclude with the screening of Kix at 20:30, directed by Hungarian intermedia artist Dávid Mikulán. The film spans twelve years, following the life of Sonji, a mischievous boy from the streets of Budapest, through his journey into disillusioned youth. Inspired by an unusual friendship with filmmakers Dávid and Balint, the film captures Sonji’s life marked by family struggles, school troubles, and the burden of surrogate fatherhood toward his newborn sister. As Sonji faces the challenges of adolescence, the filmmakers shift from active participants to observers of his turbulent life, culminating in a tragic twist that forces him to confront the responsibilities of adulthood.
The Kotor edition of FAST FORWARD Festival will open today at 18:30 at the “Boka” Cinema with the screening of Novi Sad Remembrance by director Aleksandar Reljić. The film reflects on the 1942 pogrom known as the Novi Sad Raid and the efforts of those fighting against forgetfulness and historical revisionism. The opening evening in Kotor will conclude with the screening of the short fiction film Milena by director and screenwriter Željko Stanetić at 20:00. The film explores the refugee experience of those who were forced to leave their homes in Croatia in 1995 and the life-changing twists that followed. Festival guests in Kotor will include directors Aleksandar Reljić and Željko Stanetić, who will also address the audience.
The second and final day of the FAST FORWARD Festival in Berane begins with the screening of Joymakers at 17:00 at the Cultural Center, while the evening will close with Black Box Diaries at 20:00. The Berane edition will also feature the screening of Living Large by Czech director Kristina Dufková at the “Panto Mališić” Gymnasium, addressing bullying in schools and ending with powerful life lessons.
Admission to all screenings is free, and more information is available at https://ubrzaj.me/.
This year’s edition is financially supported by the EU Delegation to Montenegro, the Ministry of Public Administration, and the Municipality of Kotor, with additional support from KIC “Budo Tomović,” the Montenegrin Cinematheque, JU KC “Nikola Đurković,” and the Cultural Centre of Berane. Festival partners include BELDOCS, Sarajevo Film Festival, and the Human Rights Film Network.
The festival also highlights socially responsible business practices through sponsorships by Hotel Cue, PG Taxi, Compania De Vinos Montenegro, and Metropolis. Media sponsors include RTCG television and portal, Nova M television, Gradska TV, Gradski Radio and portal gradski.me, Prva TV, E TV, Radio and portal Antena M, Pobjeda daily newspaper, portals CdM and Analitika, as well as Radio Kotor, Radio Berane, Radio Tivat, Radio Titograd, and radio stations Elmag, El, Mag, and Arena.
Marlena Ivanović, Programme Associate