Synopsis
Bisenija returns to her village in the heart of the undisturbed Nature of the Derdap National Park, one of the most important national parks of Europe. During this emotional journey back to her childhood she observes beautiful landscapes, meets cousins, but also discovers frightening bits of recent Serbian history.
Dragan S. Nikolic
Serbian director and producer
Dragan Nikolić (born 1974) is a director, screenwriter, and cinematographer. His notable films include Pogrebnik (2013), Caviar connection (2008) and National park (2006) , all of which premiered at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA). These films have been showcased at over 80 international festivals and have collectively won 18 awards.
The undertaker was particularly acclaimed, being ranked among the top 10 best European TV documentaries by the expert jury at the Prix Europa festival and winning the award for Best Serbian Documentary Film at Beldocs. Cavia connection also received numerous accolades, including Best Documentary Film at major regional festivals such as the Sarajevo Film Festival, Zagrebdox, and the Trieste Film Festival.
As a (co-)screenwriter, his works include Direct, Made in Serbia et Run Bunny, run (Cannes Film Festival, 2003). He gained extensive production experience as the founder and artistic director of Prababa production doo, established in 2007.
Nikolić has participated in several training programs, including EURODOC, Berlin Talent Campus, IDFA Summer School, Atelier Varan Paris, and the Aristoteles Workshop. He has also served as a selector for the Belgrade Short and Documentary Festival (March Festival 2017), Beldocs (2018), and the Belgrade International Festival of Ethnographic Film, as well as a jury member for various international and domestic festivals. Additionally, he was a member of the Film Commission of the Center of Serbia in 2016 and 2017.
In the theater world, Nikolić is known for his playwriting, particularly Transylvania, which has been part of the Belgrade Drama Theater's regular repertoire for over 10 years, and I, an American, which was shortlisted for the Sterija Award in 2014. He holds a degree in Dramaturgy from the Faculty of Dramatic Arts and a degree in Philosophy from the Faculty of Philosophy, both in Belgrade. He completed his Master's studies in Film and TV Directing at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts, University of Arts in Belgrade, where he is currently pursuing a PhD in the Department of Theory and History.
About : Workshops in the Balkan region
In the 2000s, workshops are organized in Belgrade, for the filmmakers from the region. The workshop re-starts in 2021, and the Varan Balkan association is created in 2023 by former trainees.
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