Employees of the National Parks of Montenegro (NPCG) and representatives of the NGO Green Home have removed ambrosia from the National Park (NP) Skadar Lake, a plant with extremely allergic pollen, which causes a late summer and autumn pollen fever.

NPCG announced that the Professional Associates for flora protection in that company educated employees in the Ambiental Hygiene Service NP Skadar Lake about ways to eliminate and importance of the destruction of ambrosia.

"Bearing in mind the fact that the pollen of this invasive species is also a very strong allergen, as well as that the ambrosia blooms in August and September, this action was primarily focused on the removal of that plant from the most visited locations in NP Skadar Lake - Vranjina and Virpazar," it was said in the statement.

Ambrosia in Vranjina (Photo: National park Montenegro)

NPCG explained that ambrosia is an invasive plant species with extremely allergic pollen, which causes late summer and autumn pollen fever.

It is said that it is recommended that this plant should be removed before the season of flowering, that is, the release of pollen from June to the beginning of August.

"The most effective and environmentally sound way of removing it is picking it from the roots or mowing, but the first way provides better results since after mowing, new lateral spawns occur in the plants," the NPCG said.

Ambrosia originates from North America, was brought to Europe in the 19th century, while in Montenegro it was not recorded until early 2000.

Text by MINA News, on July 26th, 2019, read more at Vijesti

WWF Adria (World Wide Fund of Nature), one of the world's largest and most influential nature conservation organizations, has launched an initiative to the Montenegrin Government to suspend activities on the construction of small hydropower plants and to establish a working group to review the concession policy in that area.

This comes after domestic environmental organizations have accused the Montenegrin government of issuing new concessions after the alleged ban on the construction of mini hydroelectric power plants, which is denied by the Government.

Will the Government act on the initiative of WWF Adria? This is the question which Radio Free Europe (RSE) sent by email to the address of the Montenegrin Ministry of Economy, but the answer has not yet been received. 

Cabarkapa: To involve as many interested people as possible 

"We believe that there is a willingness to involve as many persons as possible in this business and to include members of different structures from the state institutions, local organizations, professors, representatives of NGOs and locals," Milija Cabarkapa, representative of the World Wildlife Fund in Montenegro said to Radio Slobodna Evropa (RSE).

In a letter to the Montenegrin Government on July 25th, he proposed the establishment of a multidisciplinary working group, which would analyze the documentation related to the construction of small hydropower plants and re-examine the concession policy in that area.

From one of the most influential nature protection organizations in the world, they propose to the Government that, while this working group does not complete its work, concessionaires recommend the suspension of all activities on mini-hydropower projects. What are the expectations of Mili Cabarkapa?

"Bearing in mind the seriousness of the situation and the protests that are almost daily organized on the Montenegrin rivers, we are confident and we sincerely hope that the Government will have the opportunity to recognize this problem and respond positively to our request," said interlocutor to RSE.

Citizen to pay for the subsidies

Projects for the construction of small hydropower plants in Montenegro have been attracting the attention of the domestic public for years.

The reason for this is the high state subsidies, which until recently fell directly at the expense of citizens, which are included in the calculation of the electricity bill as the costs of "encouraging the development of renewable energy sources".

On the other hand, due to the negative impacts of mini-plants on the environment, at locations where their construction was planned, there was a protest of the local population.

Therefore, the Government in Podgorica recently decided to take a moratorium on the construction of new small hydropower plants and instructed the Ministry of Economy to review the licenses and approvals issued for the electricity plants from 2009 to date.

Minister of Economy Dragica Sekulic said in late May this year that the state will no longer give new concessions for mini-plants. However, in July, the government approved two concessions to Hidroenergija Andrijevica, majority-owned by the brother of the mayor of that city in the east of Montenegro, who already runs two power plants in the municipality Andrijevica. From the Ministry of Economy, this was explained as a retroactive decision since the demands of the concessionaire from Andrijevica were received three or four years ago. "Invasion" on watercourses In the past few years, according to the ecological movement “Ozon”, a real "invasion" of small power plants projects on Montenegrin watercourses took place. At the expense of those organizations that were critical towards the issuance of numerous concessions for the construction of mini power plants by the Government, accusations were made that in this way they created an unfavorable investment environment. For RSE, this is emphasized by Aleksandar Perovic, director of “Ozon”, who on July 16 invited the government to inform the public about the origin of the property of investors who built or are still building small hydropower plants. This non-governmental organization also called on the state prosecutor's office to investigate whether there were any corruptive criminal activities by the investors. "The government tried to counteract the effects of its obviously bad policy when it opted for the construction of small hydropower plants and concessions, especially so many of them. We then thought that all the maps should be opened and that it should be shown who are the investors, from where they acquired the property, they invest in mini-hydro power plants," Perovic says. 

"In the end," Perovic comments, "where do the references come to them to deal with energy projects?"

"I repeat, this is an energy market that is profitable and guarantees revenue and success. Especially in the context of small hydropower plants that are privileged and for which, first of all from the citizens, and now from the state budget, they receive subsidies for their business," Perovic explains.

In the meantime, the rebellion of citizens living near the rivers on which the construction of small hydropower plants has been planned has become stronger, and their demands that the state suspends the construction of these plants are becoming louder.

Defense of Bukovica

The most drastic example of resisting the construction of a mini power plant was the one near the River Bukovica near Savnik, in central Montenegro, where residents were guarding day after day to prevent Bukovica watercourse from being re-routed to the pipeline for the needs of two small power plants.

Their protests were fruitful after the Minister of Economy Dragica Sekulic visited them one month ago, who managed to convince the defenders of Bukovica to stop the protest, and asked the investors to guarantee that there will be no work at the site until the decision is made.

"You do not have to protect Bukovica anymore from no one, and when we make a decision, we will come to announce it to you," Sekulic told local residents at a joint meeting.

While in Montenegro a conflict of environmental and economic interest in the construction of mini-hydropower plants is intensifying, representatives of Green Home and several other NGOs delivered 6,300 citizens' signatures to the state parliament. The signatories are demanding the permanent stopping of the construction of small hydropower plants.

They are 13 currently operating in Montenegro and al are privately owned. As we have been told from Green Home, there are still between 5 and 10 such plants in the construction, and at different stages of realization there are another 80 projects for the construction of small hydropower plants.

Text by Radio Slobodna Evropa, on July 26th, 2019, read more at Vijesti

If someone said to the tourist workers in Bar a decade ago that the summertime will come when the sea beaches would be empty, while Stari Bar and Crmnica would be full of people, which is exactly what is happening this July, their answer would probably be of disdain.

Just a year ago, an even greater underestimation would have been received by claiming that the Rumija massif would be more vibrant with visitors than the promenade in Bar in the afternoon, but that time has come. Times are changing, with them also the interests of tourists. Bar is now offering more to active holiday lovers, and the undoubted hit of this season is canyoning.

Canyoning in Bar became known to the wide public only this summer thanks to the promotional campaign of the Tourism Organization of Bar, but the passionate nature adrenaline fans all five canyons in Bar are the favorite destination for several years.

On social networks, canyoning tours are advertised on a daily basis, most often in Bunar and Medjurec, and with the beauty and temptations that the two canyons will offer, the widest audience in Serbia will soon be introduced. TO Bar organized a premier media "adrenaline tour" to a group of journalists from the most viewed and most popular Serbian media. They descended down the canyon of the river Bunar, just above the Old Bar, from which they came out with an unhidden excitement.

"Nobody is expecting this only fifteen minutes from the beach, this mountain adventure. It was really spectacular, I’ve surprised myself by passing through the canyon. This is good for a person to test their strength, whether he can or cannot do certain things. Rumija Mountain is full of so many secrets, when we went down to the canyon, they told us - now there is no turning back. What followed next overcame all my expectations. This was the Montenegrin 'Survivor', we jumped into the river basins from 10 and 12 meters, and I was the most afraid of those jumps. We descended a series of ropes, saw the rainbow in the waterfall, the love ecstasy of a dragonfly ... I really did not expect this kind of experience. People who see this, canyoning will be the first for them, and the rafting will be much, much lower," said Gordana Neskovic Lopicic from "Zikina sarenica", a show on TV Pink.

"I'm in Bar for the third time in a short time, and I knew that there are beautiful beaches here. But this canyon is a discovery, just like the Old Town Bar itself. This street in Old Bar, it's a real little Montenegrin old Naples," said Gordana Neskovic Lopicic. 

Jelena Djordjevic-Popovic, the editor of the show "Serbia on the Line" on RTS, did not hide her fascination with the beauty of the nature of the massive Rumija.

"As I descended down the canyon, I sat in silence at one point and uttered out loud that this should be included as the obligatory subjects at least in high school in both countries because our children today are overprotected. This is a serious survival school, this is not just adrenaline and extreme sport. All in all - phenomenal, I am speechless. A great challenge, great adrenaline, great experience, but also great temptation. The whole organization of the tour is very good, the guys on the field are brilliant guides and good psychologists, patient. TO Bar did a great job, well done," said Djordjevic-Popovic.

Goran Doljancevic, journalist of the daily newspaper "Serbian Telegraph", was the only one in the group to have a canyoning experience, from the canyon Nevidio. He acknowledges that before descending in Bunar, there was little fear based on Nevidio's experience, "because he is physically ready for something more."

"Bunar is much easier, more relaxed - people with children, teenagers, elderly people can come here, and it's still exotic, it has many parts that are different from Nevidio. This untouched nature is fantastic, that people do not believe that there is something untouched by a human hand and that it is so close to the city."

The travel organizer of the group, journalist Irena Stolic from the agency DPC, who carries out the promotional activities of the National Tourist Organization for Serbia, was particularly emphasizing the city's proximity to the canyon.

During the tour in the canyon (Photo: Goran Senic)

"It gives room for people who are spending their vacation in Bar to make a small trip, I think it has already been surpassed that people are on the beach all day long. There is a growing tendency in tourism that people are looking for content and to move from the beach and from the sea to embark on the untouched nature. This is also a good way to examine yourself and somehow get out of your comfort zone, we all came out empowered from this whole story."

The famous canyon guide Zeljko Pejovic from Kolasin, with his colleague Djuro Martinovic from Cetinje, conducted the journalists from Serbia through Bunar. He says there was a little fear at some jumps, but as far as the vertical is concerned, "all of them mastered everything that was needed were quick, there were no problems." 

A route of about 700 meters from the bridge to Menka to Brbot, the group crossed for about two and a half hours, because the verticals of 8-12 meters high required the implementation of alpine descending techniques. At the end of the tour they had only words of praise, they also seemed to be very satisfied. This is otherwise one of the three most attractive canyons in Bar, along the Medjurec and the Vruca Rijeka. Bar is unique on the coast, having a total of five, there are also the canyons of Nikezica potok and Perin potok. Bunar is a true training center for canyoning, ideal for first-time experiences because it is not very demanding. Medjurec, which is probably the most beautiful Montenegrin canyon for me, due to the vertical of 30 meters, is a bit more demanding. For these tours you only need will, no special physical preparations," said Pejovic.

Depending on the canyon, or the number of groups, it is from 40-100 euros per person.

TO Bar Director Emil Kukalj points out that Bar has the highest potential for developing new tourism products for an active holiday, not just on the coast. He points out that this is the first time that a canyoning tour for a media group is organized at the coast.

We will support the development of this and similar adrenaline tourist products, as they extend the tourist season and bring new groups of tourists to Bar ... By doing so, we also position Bar as a place where we can accept groups of tourists who like such adrenaline tours on one-day excursions from other coastal cities. We will insist that groups through the canyons in Bar are conducted by licensed guides," Kukalj said.

"This group of journalists came to Bar for a reason, we asked our offer to be adrenaline, and this is exactly what this canyon Bunar is representing that is not so physically demanding as Medjurec. Here are the representatives of all the media with national coverage in Serbia, which, hopefully, will credibly transfer what they saw here. In the adrenaline tour, besides the canyoning, we also organized a tour of the terrain vehicles in Bar Municipality, from the sea to the lakeshore, from the village Zupci, via Sutorman through the old railway tunnel, to Virpazar and Godinja, where they met with traditional architecture, and in Murici on the beach have tried the traditional products of the region in Bar."

Text by Radomir Petric, on July 28th, 2019, read more at Vijesti

Concert "EVERGREENS"  which will be performed by the "OVERCROSS ENSEMBLE", consisting of Milica Milovic (guitars, vocals), Nedeljko Pejovic (guitar) and Jelena Zivkovic (Violin) will be performed at the Purgatorije festival on Tuesday, July 30 at 9:30 pm at Lustica Bay.

As announced from the Culture Centre Tivat, the concert contains 15 representative pop music tracks (the term Pop is used in the broader sense – apart from pop, also includes rock, funk and related genres), which have experienced the test of time, transcended the style and genre in which they were written and ranked in the treasury of the universally recognized values ​​of world culture. Hence the name of the concert - Evegreens / always green, an expression that has been recognized in the world for this kind of music. These tracks have been signed by performers such as Sting, Daft Punk, The Beatles, Queen, Toto. In short, the genre of Dean Martin to Maroon5 - from funk to chanson and back. Apart from them, representative tracks were selected from so-called popular music from Yugoslavia and the Balkans, i.e. of our domicile space that is close to us and which once did not stay behind (in its "golden years") the world trends.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Transportation for the concert is provided and departure to Luštica Bay from the old bus station is at 20,30.

On Monday, July 29 at 9:30 pm, on the small scene of  Atrium Buća in Tivat, within the Festival of Mediterranean Theatre "Purgatorije", the theatre performance "HASANAGINICA" by Culture Center Tivat will be performed. The play will be reprized on July 30 and 31, also on the small scene of the Atrium Buća at 9.30 p.m.   The play is written by Ljubomir Simović and directed by Jagoš Marković. Starring: Kristina Stevovic, Branimir Popovic, Anita Mancic, Radmila Zivkovic, Nebojsa Kundacina, Aleksandar Sreckovic, Misa Obradovic, Petar Novakovic, Emir Covic and Milos Pejovic.      

What we remember very well from high school and lessons on literature is the Slovenian antithesis at the very beginning of this tragic ballad in which the narrator points to the white color of the tent of Hasan-aga, i.e., on the innocence of his loyal love, which due to the patriarchal upbringing, the jealous husband and the rules of the Qur'an must not leave the house and visit her master who "suffers from anger wounds". From the very beginning to the very end of this tragedy, we are aware of the injustice that happens to the wife and mother Hasanaginica, who is morally, mentally and physically destroyed because of the civilization in which she lives and where the male principle defines the fate of women and takes a right and role of God to decide on others life.

"Hasanaginica is the DNA of all our pain, our grief and our love. This is a true ancient tragedy placed on our premises and in our mentality, and what we have tried to do is a homage to this great drama and its endless beauty"- Jagoš Marković.

A severe Genoa Low, unusual for this time of year, moved towards the Boka Bay area on Saturday night.

Changeable and overcast weather is expected in Montenegro for Sunday, mainly dry in the morning, with rain, heavy showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon and especially overnight.

There is also a possibility of localised hailstorms, with heavier precipitation forecast for southern and central regions.

Winds will be south to south-west, moderate to strong, with very strong gusts.

Morning temperatures will be between 12 and 25°c, with afternoon highs of between 22 and 33°c.

Roman Night 2019, planned for 28th July in Risan, will be postponed until Tuesday, 30th July due to the bad weather, the organisers stated.

28 July 2019 - The current activities of state bodies in improving media legislation and the safety of journalists represent a significant contribution to strengthening media freedom in Montenegro, it was concluded at the second session of the Rule of Law Council held recently in Podgorica.

The quick reaction of the Montenegrin police and decisive response to recent threats posed to journalist of Vijesti Samir Adrović, as well as ongoing activities in other cases in this area, send a clear message that the State will not tolerate any form of violence against journalists, Deputy Prime Minister and President of the Rule of Law Council Zoran Pažin stressed, as his Office reported.

"It is very important that we quickly and decisively respond to these threats and demonstrate the State's determination to protect the safety and personal integrity of journalists effectively. I am convinced that the State's response to threats is the best prevention of the violence itself," DPM Pažin said.

The Council concluded that the level of progress Montenegro has made in the area of the rule of law since the beginning of the EU accession negotiations process requires an innovative approach in reporting to citizens and international partners on the results in fulfilling obligations under chapters 23 and 24. To that end, unique information on Montenegro's achieved results since the opening of negotiations in Chapters 23 and 24 to date, both in the field of media and in other priority areas of the rule of law, needs to be prepared.

The Rule of Law Council, chaired by DPM Pažin, consists of heads of the judiciary, prosecutors, government and independent institutions in charge of the rule of law issues. The task of the Rule of Law Council is to monitor the implementation of obligations under chapters 23 and 24 in the process of Montenegro's accession to the European Union, as well as to make recommendations to the competent institutions for urgent action in order to fulfill these obligations. According to the Government's decision of 13 June 2019, a new Council was established with fewer members and a focus on concrete results in meeting the conditions of the negotiation process and further strengthening of the rule of law in Montenegro.

Read more news about lifestyle in Montenegro at TMN's dedicated page.

27 July 2019 - Soprano Ena Topčibašić will be in the focus of the Evening of Montenegrin and Russian Art on Thursday, August 1st, which will take place at the Great Hall (Montenegrin: Velika sala) of the Cultural and Informational Centre Budo Tomović in Podgorica, starting at 8 pm.

The artist will perform with Russian pianist Elena Larina and Montenegrin actors Anđelija Rondović, Marko Rajković, Jovan Dabović and Jelena Šestović who will perform the works of Mihailo Lalić and Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky. The actors will also recite the poetry of Obrad Nenezić, Sergei Alexandrovich Yesenin and Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin.

The concert program includes works by Brinčki, Prebanda, Krstić, Babić, Hatze, Rahmaninov, Rimsky-Korsakov, Smetana, as well as numerous Montenegrin and Russian songs.

Ena Topčibašić graduated from elementary school in Bijelo Polje. She also graduated from elementary music school in Bijelo Polje. As a member of a piano duo, she won a silver lyre at the state competition held in Herceg Novi in ​​2014. The same year, she was declared a winner at the NIS Olympics in Russian language held in Novi Sad. In June 2014 she represented Montenegro at the World Russian Language Olympics, held in Moscow, where she won the first prize in the competition of representatives from 26 countries. She finished high school at the Art School for Music and Ballet Vasa Pavić, at the department of solo singing, in the class of Professor Zorana Latković. Numerous prizes she won during high school include: Golden Lyre at the state solo singing competition, the second prize at the international competition of solo singers Bruna Špiler, the special prize as a member of the chamber ensemble at the state competition and the third prize at the international solo singers competition Nikola Cvejić in Ruma

Since October 2018, Topčibašić has been studying singing at the Vienna Music Academy - Universität für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Wien in the class of Professor Martin Vácha. In September 2018, she became a member of the famous choir - Arnold Schoenberg Chor. She also performs at the Vienna Opera Theatre - season 2018/19, in the performance of the opera Orleanskaya deva by the composer Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky and also in the performance of the opera Oberon by the composer Carl Maria von Weber. In October of the same year, she got a chance to be the lead in a project under the leadership of world renowned tenor, Michael Schade. As the youngest member of the group, she gained experience in the Vienna music scene singing Monteverdi's works in December 2018. She performed well-known Napolitano melodies in February 2019 at the concert in Waldenstein. During her studies at the Music Academy she performed at concerts at the Schönbrunn-Schlosstheater in January and May 2019. She currently has excellent cooperation with Russian pianist Elena Larina and is continuing her path in the spirit of Russian music, singing at the Russian Cultural Centre in Vienna, focusing on the works of composers Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky.

Read more about cultural events in Montenegro at TMN's dedicated page.

27 July 2019 - Traffic laws in Montenegro still have not defined the use of self-balance e-scooters on public roads and that is why the Montenegrin National Police plans to launch an initiative requiring amendments to the road safety legislation. Until then, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Montenegro urges the citizens to be more careful on roads/pavements, reported CdM.

E-Scooters with electric motors are already commonly used in many cities of Montenegro, not just by children but the adults as well.

Despite many advantages, experts warn of potential dangers with powered scooters, having in mind they can travel up to 35 km/h. As they represent a completely new mode of transport on Montenegro’s roads, laws governing road safety still haven’t defined it closely, the Ministry of Internal Affairs stated.

However, the Office for Communal Affairs, Transport and Energy Efficiency for the Tivat Municipality have announced that between the hours of 7 PM and 11 PM daily, the Pine Boardwalk, Marshal Tito Street and Ivo Vizin Boardwalk will be closed to bicycles and e-scooters.

“The measure has been taken in response to an increase in the number of cycle and scooter users on the boardwalk who travel at a speed that is a real danger to pedestrians, particularly small children,” highlighted the Tivat Municipality representatives on this occasion.

Read more news about lifestyle in Montenegro at TMN's dedicated page.

27 July 2019 - Film Production house Beacon Pictures from Santa Monica, California, is interested in producing films and other audio and visual content and music events in Montenegro, as reported CdM and Ministry of Culture of Montenegro.

This company Beacon Pictures was founded by a famous Hollywood film producer, director and screenwriter, Armyan Bernstein. The company’s representative, Mark Penel, is in charge of the new films and special projects and he recently spoke with the Minister of Culture of Montenegro, Aleksandar Bogdanović.

They spoke mostly about the possibilities for film production in Montenegro, with the emphasis on turning our country into a famous film destination. In that context, Bogdanović showed Montenegro's locations to the representatives of the Hollywood company in details.

The guests expressed deep interest in the cooperation with Montenegro and making films of different audio and visual formats on our territory. They also offered other forms of cooperation concerning modern musical and stage audio and visual productions.

Minister of Culture Aleksandar Bogdanović pointed out that Beacon Pictures House might be particularly interested in cooperation with the Film Center of Montenegro.

One of the most important global automobile brands, Ferrari, recently filmed a car advertisement in Montenegro, which is the result of the program VR Montenegro, behind which is the production house Artikulacija, supported by the program of the Ministry of Culture of Montenegro and the Creative Montenegro Project.

This is one of the most significant results of the entire Creative Montenegro Project so far. Namely, for the first time in Montenegro, renowned global clients chose locations for recording with VR equipment.

Read more news about lifestyle in Montenegro at TMN's dedicated page.

The 33rd Herceg Novi Film Festival - Montenegro Film Festival, this year with the slogan “All Day on Film” will be held from the 1st to 7th of August. The programme for the festival was revealed at a press conference by the President of the Board Marija Perović, together with Feature Film, Cinema Europe and Midnight Screenings Selector Ivan Bakrač, Festival Business Director Zoran Živković and Director of Herceg Fest Gordana Krcunović.

The festival will commence with a premiere screening of the film “Grudi” (Breasts) by Marija Perović (out of competition) and “Dohvati nebo” (Reach the Sky), by director Milutin Darić.

President of the Festival Board, director Marija Perović, stated that this year they would be supporting the idea, promoted at other festivals, regarding equal participation of women in film. Along these lines, actors Mira Banjac, Dubravka Drakić, Marija Škaričić and “all women present” would together be opening the festival.

Perović said she believed that the festival was much enhanced, with showings of more films in a variety of categories, although there would be no highly-regarded documentary film category.

Film and TV director Ivan Bakrač, Winner in short film category at international festivals and selector for the Slobodna Zona Film Festival, assessed the second half of 2018 and first half of 2019 to be extremely successful for Montenegrin Cinema as, besides the major productions that were premiered at prestigious film festivals in Venice (Ti imaš noć - You Have the Night) and Montreal (Između dana i noći - Neverending Past), and the four smaller Montenegrin co-productions premiering at major festivals in Karlovi Vari (Mamonga), Sarajevo (Sam samcat - All Alone, Granice kiše - Borders, Raindrops) i Palić (Ajvar), two Montenegrin films will premiere in Herceg Novi (Grudi and Dohvati nebo). With such a good start, there was no question that the other films selected in the main category should have a focus on Balkan cinema, explained Bakrač.

During the week-long festival, Kanli Kula Fortress will be also be hosting public screenings of Ti imaš noć (You Have the Night) by Herceg Novi director Ivan Salatić (Montenegro), Monstrumi (Monsters) by Marius Olteanu (Romania), short film Peloid by Bojan Stijović (Montenegro); Između dana i noći (Neverending Past) by Andro Martinović (Montenegro, Serbia); Mamonga by Stefan Malešević (Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro); Bog postoji, ime mu je Petrunija (God Exists, Her Name is Petrunia) by Teona Strugar Mitevska (North Macedonia, Belgium, Slovenia, Croatia, France), Sam samcat (All Alone) by Bobo Jelčić (Croatia, Netherlands, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina); Šavovi (Stitches) by Miroslav Terzić (Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina); Küçük Şeyler (Little Things) by director Kıvanç Sezer (Turkey); Ajvar by Ana Maria Rossi (Serbia) and Granice kiše (Borders, Raindrops) by Vlastimir Sudar and Nikola Mijovića (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Sweden, Great Britain). Cannes Winner Parasite by director Bong Joon Ho (South Korea) will be shown out of competition at the closure of the festival.

The jury for the official selection comprises director Vinko Brešan (Croatia), actor Nikola Ristanovski (North Macedonia), producer Dunja Klemenc (Slovenia), producer Jelena Mišeljić (Montenegro) and director Nikola Ljuca (Serbia).

The selector for student film this year is once again director Dušan Kasalica. Films will be shown in the Dvorana Park (Park Hall) Amphitheatre. In total, 16 short films from the region’s film schools (Cetinje, Belgrade, Zagreb, Skoplja, Sarajevo and Romania) will be shown during the festival. The jury for this selection comprises producer Bojana Radulović (Montenegro), director Dušan Grubin (Serbia) and screenwriter and director Eleonora Veninova (North Macedonia).

The Cinema Europe selection includes films that have been particularly successful in major European festivals. Films shown will include Portrait de la Jeune Fille en Feu (Portrait of a Lady on Fire) by Céline Sciamma, My Extraordinary Summer with Tess by Steven Wouterlood, Alice et le Maire (Alice and the Mayor) by Nicolas Parisier, Le Jeune Ahmed (Young Ahmed) by Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne, Lara by Jan Ole Gerster, C'est ça l’Amour (Real Love) by Claire Burger, Il Traditore (The Traitor) by Marco Bellocchio, Dolor y Gloria (Pain and Glory) by Pedro Almodovar, Synonyms by Nadav Lapid, Sorry We Missed You by Ken Loach, Celle Que Vous Croyez (Who You Think I Am) by Safy Nebbou, Bashata (The Father) - featured in the main selection - by Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov, and El Reino (The Candidate) by Rodrigo Sorogoyen.

Midnight screenings in Dvorana Park, an idea started by Ivan Marinović, have received the full support of this year’s selector Ivan Bakrač. The local public will have the opportunity to see films shown at the biggest festivals - Cannes (Liberté - Freedom and Zombi Child), Berlin (Die Kinder Der Toten - Children of the Dead, and Répertoire des Villes Disparues - Ghost Town Anthology) and Toronto (High Life).

This year, one absence is the category of documentary film, with the resignation of the segment’s selector Vladimir Perović.

Responding to journalists, Marija Perović, Zoran Živković and Gordana Krcunović explained among other things that this year, as ever, they had been working on the same terms and in the same circumstances, and that Perović had been present at all the festival Board meetings up until June. When he announced his resignation, a replacement was not sought as very little time remained until the opening of the festival. However, it was noted that particular attention would be paid to documentary film, starting with cooperation with Beldocs Festival, and as a separate programme. It was indeed noted that documentaries deserve particular attention, but it was noted that the Herceg Novi Festival was primarily conceived with full length feature films in mind.

Repeated suggestions were accepted that the festival needs continued preparation throughout the year and that the programme should be announced earlier, however Marija Perović recalled that many aspects of the festival may need to be amended, in spite of its long-standing tradition, and added that The Cannes Festival is planned for May with good reason. However, decisions on this level not only need to be taken by the Festival Board, but also the relevant authorities (Herceg Novi Municipality and The Ministry of Culture), particularly due to the fact that the event is of national significance to the culture of Montenegro.

Source: Radio Herceg Novi

All photographs: Zvezdana Kujović