BAM 130,900 ALLOCATED FOR SIX STUDENT FILMS

BANJA LUKA, JULY 17 /SRNA/ - Director of the Republika Srpska Audio-Visual Center Anja Ilić today signed contracts in Banja Luka with recipients of funding under the competition for co-financing the production of six student graduation films, for which the Centre allocated a total of BAM 130,900.

The supported projects include the feature film "Eclipse", produced by Neoart and directed by Branislav Stošić, which received BAM 25,600; the feature film "On the Edge", produced by Bigoca and directed by Kolja Vasić, which received BAM 24,500; and the animated film "Wool", produced by Kadar Ide 169 and directed by Matija Purković, which received BAM 23,800.

Support was also granted to the feature film "Marko's Story", produced by Kozara Film and directed by David Jelić, with BAM 18,000; the animated film "The Purpose of Life", produced by AM Solutions and created by Simon Špirk, with BAM 20,000; and the feature film "Everything That Is Not Mine", produced by Sonet and directed by Lea Tošić, with BAM 19,000.

Ilić said these were high-quality projects, a fact also recognized by the selection committee, adding that they demonstrate significant creative potential.

"I hope that through their realization we will see production results at a high level. We expect these projects to reach international audiences, but also to receive support from local viewers," Ilić told reporters in Banja Luka after the signing of the contracts.

She emphasized that this continues the successful cooperation with the Academy of Arts of the University of Banja Luka, which has already resulted in numerous quality projects.

Dean of the Academy of Arts at the University of Banja Luka Dragana Purković Macan said that the establishment of the Audio-Visual Centre is of enormous importance for the institution, as the film department relies heavily on its support.

"The production side of films has improved significantly, as demonstrated by numerous awards at domestic and international student film festivals," Macan said, adding that the supported projects are evidence of continued cooperation with the Audio-Visual Centre of Republika Srpska.

Branislav Stošić, director of the film "Eclipse", the top-ranked project, said that it was his graduation film and represented a form of media allegory.

"The story takes place in 1999, before a total solar eclipse, and the film follows the media hysteria surrounding this event. The film also raises the question of what people are willing to believe, if they believed that they could go blind from the sun," Stošić said.

Producer of the film Đorđe Ćirić said that this competition represents the first step towards professional engagement and work for young authors.

Zoran Pilipović from Kozara Film said that continuous progress has been visible in student film production over the past five years, adding that this competition by the Audio-Visual Centre is among its most important initiatives, alongside activities such as the summer film school and other programs.

Professor Draško Gajić, representing Kadar 169, said that the animated film "Wool" tells a story about the relationship between a mother and a lost child and her struggle to survive that loss.