Awards for the Best Short Films within the Competition of the TEEN KINO Programme
The TEEN KINO Programme which also includes the competition for the best short film by a young author, 13 to 19 years old, has been initiated by the Cultural Centre of Belgrade’s Cinema Hall, Eurocinema from Subotica and the LM Cinema from Šabac.
The activities within the TEEN KINO project have been aimed at connecting the programmes of the three cinemas from three different cities in Serbia and opening their regular repertoires for young audiences and their participation in the selection of films. Additionally, the goal of the project has been to familiarise the young audiences with European and documentary films on the one hand, while on the other opening another opportunity to showcase young people’s creative output in these cinemas, as well as at the Beldocs Festival with which, on this occasion, a special cooperation has been established.
Out of the twenty-odd received films, the jury composed of Radivoje Raša Andrić, Sarita Matijević, Stefan Arsenijević, Mara Prohaska Marković and Vid Radičević selected three. The Best Short Film Award is received by Jasna Leonova, while two special mentions involve the films made by Mila Boranijašević and the duo including Luka Švec and Gleb Šibanov. All three films will be screened at this year’s Beldocs Festival within the TEEN programme unit, on April 22, 24 and 26, as well as in the cinemas in Subotica and Šabac.
Screenings of all the films received for the competition, and conversations with the young authors will be organised in the Cultural Centre of Belgrade’s Cinema Hall in September.
This will be the official conclusion of the TEEN KINO project.
What follows is the reasoning provided by the Jury:
THE BEST SHORT FILM AWARD
NOTES FROM THE ISLAND
Jasna Leonova
The confessional documentary, skilfully composed of diary entries, convincingly and authentically evokes adolescent confusion. Loneliness, exultation, pain, homesickness and attempts to fit in a new environment, are all interwoven in this film, in an extremely emotional way. It took courage, as well as talent and skills to articulate these intimate feelings cinematically, in a highly visually striking way. Particularly impressive is the stop trick scene compiled of the author’s photographic auto-portraits, with its almost hypnotic introspection.
SPECIAL MENTIONS BY THE JURY
I FALL LIKE RAIN, I FLOW LIKE WATER
Mila Boranijašević
The serious subject of the loss of a close person, which would prove to be challenging even for older authors, is depicted delicately in this short film, with measure and deeply felt emotionality which is also communicated to the audience. What needs to be particularly emphasised is the great success with which the visual language is utilised in depicting the processing of the trauma.
BOYS WITH A CATCH
Luka Švec and Gleb Šibanov
The documentary made by the competition’s youngest participants is actually an honest and emotionally impressive depiction of a friendship, shot in a free, subjective form which beautifully corresponds with the protagonists’ spirit and outlook on the world. The audience itself is infected with the playfulness as the daily hanging out is consistently marked with the question concerning the identity of the crush of one of the boys.
The TEEN KINO Project has been supported by the Collaborate to Innovate support initiative, started in early 2024 by the Europa Cinema network.