Screening of Power Station and a conversation about supporting communities affected by mining

Screening of Power Station and a conversation about supporting communities affected by mining
19th November 2026, 5 p.m.
Cultural Centre of Belgrade Movie Theatre, Kolarčeva 6, Belgrade

The screening of Power Station, a 2025 British feature-length documentary directed by artist-activists Hilary Powell and Dan Edelstyn, offers an opportunity to open a conversation about supporting communities living in the vicinity of mines in Serbia.

Inspired by the film, we decided to share this story with a wider audience and initiate a discussion about the challenges faced by communities living alongside mining operations.

The village of Rudovci lies on the edge of the Kolubara mining basin, the largest coal-mining complex in Serbia. Most residents work in the mines or for Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS), the state-owned electricity company.

In 2023, the creative team 1+1=3 worked with students and staff of Rudovci Elementary School to create murals dedicated to Energy Superheroes and to reimagining their surroundings through shared imagination and in response to local needs. During their visits, the team became aware of the school’s daily water supply disruptions, heating bills that exceeded its budget, and the cold, inadequately heated rooms of the Rudovci Cultural Centre.

The screening in Belgrade is an opportunity to bring together decision-makers, potential funders, representatives of civil society organisations and friends who may be interested in supporting this initiative.

A second screening is planned for spring 2027 at the Rudovci Cultural Centre. This event will focus on bringing the local community together and creating space for a shared discussion about the challenges they face and the possibilities for initiating positive change in their village.

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Inspired by lockdown mutual aid initiatives, artist-activists Hilary Powell and Dan Edelstyn decided to turn their street into an energy-generating powerhouse – a prototype for a new way of living, with the hope of galvanising a wider push towards sustainable alternatives.

The film follows the duo on their turbulent journey: from presenting their idea to their neighbours and sleeping on the roof of their own home, to raising funds and attempting to get their song to the top of the Christmas music charts.

By turns funny and heartwarming, Power Station is a vibrant portrait of their local neighbourhood, and a charming testament to the power of art in changing minds about what could be possible.