The 20th Free Zone Festival will showcase award-winning films from prestigious festivals including Venice, Cannes, Berlin, Sarajevo, and Pula. Among the highlights are Valter Salles' "I'm Still Here", which won Best Screenplay in Venice, Nebojša Slijepčević's "The Man Who Couldn't Be Silent", recipient of the Short Film Palme d'Or at Cannes, and "My Favourite Cake" by Marjam Mogadam and Bentaš Sanaiha, which took home the Ecumenical Jury Prize and FIPRESCI Prize at Berlin.
Valter Salles’ historical drama "I'm Still Here" tells the story of Eunice Paiva, a mother turned activist during Brazil's military dictatorship (1964-1985). The film, based on the memoirs of Eunice's son, has been selected as Brazil's Oscar candidate.
Nebojša Slijepčević explores timeless human dilemmas in "The Man Who Couldn't Be Silent", inspired by the true story of Toma Buzov, who stood against injustice. Meanwhile, Emanuel Parvu's "Three Kilometres to the End of the World" examines the complexities of parental love, winning the Heart of Sarajevo Award and representing Romania at the Oscars.
Silvestra Kolbas' documentary "Our Children" delves into familial relationships and the struggles of parenting, earning him the Best Director award at the Pula Film Festival. The Free Zone Festival runs from November 6 to 11 across multiple cities in Serbia, featuring over 65 films, including the regional premiere of "Anora" by Sean Baker.