The FAST FORWARD 2021 Festival on the second day presents three new premieres in Podgorica with the opening of Kotor edition

The FAST FORWARD Human Rights Film Festival Montenegro 2021 today presents three new Montenegrin premieres at the Montenegrin Cinematheque in Podgorica, and in ’Boka’ Cinema the Kotor edition will be opened.

On the second day, Sunday 12 December, starting at 17h00, at the Montenegrin Cinematheque the audience will have the opportunity to watch a documentary LITTLE GIRL,  by a French author Sébastien Lifshitz, which deals with the issue of gender identity and the struggle for acceptance by society, and from the point of view of a seven-year-old Sasha and her family. The film won the French Film Critics Union Award for Best French Documentary, the Best Feature Film Award at Austin Gay & Lesbian International Film Festival in the USA, and the Grand Prix Award at Ghent Film Festival, Best Documentary Award film at Chicago International Film Festival, as well as at the Seville European Film Festival. According to critics, this film goes beyond the previous framework and scope of the documentary, and thanks to the extraordinary skills of the director, it leaves the audience with the impression that they are watching a feature film.

From 18h30, the repertoire includes the film BEAUTIFULL SOMETHING LEFT BEHIND, signed by Danish director Katrine Philp, which explores the most important struggle of an individual – the inner one, the struggle with one’s emotions through a story about a holistic approach to grief and the memory of loved ones. This film won the UNICEF Award at the Japan Prize, but also the Grand Jury Prize for Feature Documentary at the SXSW Film Festival in the USA.

The second film day in Podgorica, at 20h30, concludes the film LEAVE NO TRACES, by Polish director Jan P. Matuszynski, based on a true story from 1983 about the repressive actions of the Polish state apparatus – secret service, police, media and courts in their fight against dissidents. This film entered the main competition at the 78th Venice International Film Festival, won the Polish Film Festival Award and Review of Polish Film Abroad, the Best Production Design Award, and the Silver Lions Award, while the Cottbus Film Festival of Young East European Cinema (Germany) won the Special Award for Best Director.

Also, tonight is the official opening of the Kotor edition of the FAST FORWARD Festival at 19h00, at  ‘Boka’ Cinema with a screening of TEREZA37, by Croatian director Danilo Šerbedžija. Followed by a selection of short films, starting at 20h45, which includes the films DUSK, directed by Hungarian author Bálinta Bíró, SUMMER PLANNING, by Romanian director Alexandru Mironescu, as well as the film FROM THE BALCONY, directed by Greek Aris Kaplanidis.

Entrance to all film screenings is free of charge, with respect to current epidemiological measures.

 This year’s edition of the Festival was supported by the Ministry of Economic Development of Montenegro, the Embassy of Finland in Belgrade, UNDP within the project Reform of the National Disability Assessment System, the Municipality of Berane and the Municipality of Kotor. Partners are BELDOCS, Sarajevo Film Festival and Montenegrin Cinematheque.

In the part of the business sector, support was provided by hotel Cue, PG taxi, Gostiona 1928 and Compania de Vinos Montenegro.

Media sponsors are public service Radio Television of Montenegro (RTCG), with the portal RTCG.me, then the independent daily, Portal and Television Vijesti, Radio Berane and Radio Kotor, as well as the portal CdM. Also, this year’s media partners are televisions Gradska TV, Nova M and Prva, the radio stations Antena M and Gradski radio, the dailies Pobjeda and Dnevne novine, as well as the portal Dnevni novine and Antena M.

Milica ZINDOVIĆ, PR of the FAST FORWARD Human Rights Film Festival Montenegro 2021