ILIĆ: THE FOCUS IS ON MAKING THE FIRST FEATURE FILM

Ilić said that the Center is hoping to attract the first foreign producers, and to see the Ministry of Education and Culture launch a call for allocation of incentives to domestic and foreign productions to film in Republika Srpska.

BANJA LUKA, MAY 8 /SRNA/ - The Audiovisual Center of Republika Srpska will focus on the production of the first feature film, the Center's director Anja Ilić told SRNA. Ilić emphasized that the Center's work will also focus on strengthening international cooperation, creating conditions for the development of co-productions, and further professionalizing the domestic film sector. "We plan to continue workshops for filmmakers, support for films, as well as improving the location and service database for foreign productions. The Center will remain a strong support for domestic creators and a bridge to international co-productions in the future," Ilić said in an interview with SRNA. CENTER HAS BECOME A RECOGNIZABLE INSTITUTION THAT SUPPORTS THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE AUDIOVISUAL SECTOR She said that the Center has announced over 60 calls for applications and supported more than 100 projects over the past four years, emphasizing that she is proud of the results achieved by this institution. Reflecting on the past four years of the Audiovisual Center's existence, she expressed satisfaction with the fact that the Center has become a recognizable institution that systematically supports the development of the audiovisual sector in Republika Srpska. "Over the past four years, more than 60 calls for applications have been announced, and more than 100 projects have been supported. The number of applications, completed projects, and partners from the region and abroad indicates that we are moving in the right direction," said Ilić. SPECIAL ATTENTION FOCUSED ON THE PRODUCTION OF FILMS ON NATIONAL THEMES She says that there are currently open calls for co-financing the production of a feature film about the suffering of the Serbian people in World War II, in early 1942, in the area of Drakulić near Banja Luka, which is a topic of national significance. Additionally, calls are open for co-financing the production of student graduation films and short animated films. Ilić emphasized that the call for co-financing the production of a feature film on the national theme of the suffering of the Serbian people in Drakulić is particularly important, and that the Center has been focusing on this since its establishment. "We approach this with special attention. It is an important project that will require significant funds, and so far, we have supported it in the script and film project development phase, and we expect it to be submitted for the call," said Ilić. She considers it a great success that there were 15 projects submitted for the minority co-production film call, and that this year, in addition to projects from Serbia, projects from North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Croatia have also been supported. BROCHURE WITH FILM LOCATIONS GENERATED GREAT INTEREST Ilić reminded that the Center created a brochure with more than 100 locations in Republika Srpska that are interesting for film production, and emphasized that it has generated great interest among domestic and foreign producers. "Its value lies in the fact that it systematically presents a variety of locations - from urban and rural areas to natural settings that can serve as scenes for different genres," said Ilić, adding that the Center has received concrete inquiries. Ilić said that the Center is hoping to attract the first foreign producers, and that the Ministry of Education and Culture will launch a call for the allocation of incentives to both domestic and foreign productions for filming in Republika Srpska. CONSTANTLY WORKING ON THE EDUCATION OF YOUNG AND ESTABLISHED AUTHORS Ilić also emphasized that the Center is constantly improving the criteria and systems for financing film projects, and that it is improving the education of young and established authors through cooperation with experts from the region. "Networking with similar institutions is also important to us, as well as participation in film festivals, which always bring new contacts and open new doors for our creators," said Ilić. She said that the celebration of the Center's four-year anniversary was marked by several events that combined film art, education, and development, with the aim of celebrating the anniversary by creating new knowledge, exchanging ideas, and strengthening professional connections. Ilić said that the central part of the program was a closed screening of three new films — the animated "Živa" by Tamara Maksimović, produced by Aeon, the documentary "The Old Man and His Dream" by Duško Mazalica, produced by Igra, and the feature film "How I Spent My Summer Vacation" by Milica Vujasin, produced by Kadar ide 169, as well as a three-day workshop for authors and producers aimed at improving public presentation skills to present projects to producers and financiers.