PREMIERE OF FILM "THE HARVEST" ABOUT CRIMES AGAINST SERBS IN KOSOVO AND METOHIJA ON MARCH 17

BELGRADE, MARCH 13 /SRNA/ – The film "The Harvest," which deals with organ trafficking – a horrific crime committed against Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija – will premiere in Belgrade on March 17, Veselin Dželetović, author of the novel "Serb Heart of Johan," which inspired the film, told SRNA.

Dželetović stressed that the filming was accompanied by numerous pressures and obstacles, expressing confidence that the world will finally see the scale of the horrific crime against Serbs through this film.

Particular symbolic, as he says, it is that the film characters begin their film life on March 17, the 22nd anniversary of the pogrom against Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija.

"We will remember the victims of the pogrom at the premiere; at every subsequent screening we will remember all the victims in Kosovo and Metohija, thus demanding and insisting on the punishment of the crimes," Dželetović emphasized.

He noted that for years he has been warning, and will keep repeating, that the organ trafficking involving Serb victims occurred in peacetime before the international community's eyes.

"I also expect their responsibility and believe this film will raise many questions and make many people wonder how it was possible for all this to happen and how it was possible that someone allowed it to happen," Dželetović said.

He believes the film will resonate worldwide because, above all, it is a warm human story.

"The film follows the fate of a German who carries the heart of a Serb from Kosovo and Metohija and who adopts his son. It is a story that no one can remain indifferent to," Dželetović said.

He noted that he attended the filming of certain scenes and that everything was done in an extremely professional manner, stressing that many people left the production out of fear of the Shqiptare lobby, which attempted to prevent the film from being made.

"It is extremely strong lobby. It has money from drugs which it invests in suppressing such truths, but truth is like water – it finds its way. The truth about the suffering of Serbs will, through this film, see the light of day in many countries. I hope we will manage to distribute it around the world," Dželetović said.

He added that he received threats because of the novel "Serb Heart of Johan," while the film's director, Paul Kampf, received more than 1,000 threatening emails.

"However, before staring directing and screenwriting work, he investigated the matter, his agents checked the story and saw that it was true. A man who has the truth fears nothing, so he managed to stay until the end and complete the film," Dželetović said.

He emphasized that after the Belgrade premiere, the film will be shown across all Serb lands, adding that he is especially pleased that audiences in Republika Srpska will see it, as they followed many promotions of his novel with great empathy and understanding.

"The Harvest" follows the story of German Baron Johan von Wagner, who receives the heart of a Serb victim from the "Yellow House" in Kosovo and Metohija, after which he begins experiencing visions and travels to Serbia to find the family of his donor.

The film, produced as a Serbian-Italian-American co-production, was directed by American director Paul Kampf, while the role of Johan is played by Angus Macfadyen, a Scottish actor known to audiences for his role in the famous film "Braveheart".

The music for "The Harvest" was composed by Goran Bregović.

The premiere is scheduled for March 17 at MTS Hall in Belgrade, while cinema distribution will begin on March 19.

The film was supported as a project of national importance by the Ministry of Culture of Serbia and the Film Centre of Serbia.