The guests of today’s Docu Press Corner at Festival Square were directors Zhora Papoian, Turkan Huseyn, Morteza Atabaki, Branko Schmidt, Bojana Novaković, Isabella Fellinger, and Alen Drljević. In conversation with selector Rada Šešić, they presented their films: THE FERRY FLOWS, 32 METERS, BRO RAM, THE FORBIDDEN AUNT, OF LIGHT GHOSTS, THE CAPTAIN AND THE CASPIAN SEA, and FAHRUDIN.
Alen Drljević’s FAHRUDIN combines documentary elements and animation to tell the story of a seven-year-old boy who survived the Srebrenica mass killings. Drljević chose animation because it deeply connects to childhood. He noted that sharing this experience helps the protagonist process his trauma. Fahrudin watched the completed film for the first time at its Sarajevo premiere, having previously walked out of three test screenings.
The Azerbaijani film THE CAPTAIN AND THE CASPIAN SEA, directed by Turkan Huseyn, also uses animation to revisit “Black January” in 1990, when Soviet forces entered Baku. Huseyn faced major difficulties finding archival material, as much of it was destroyed or hidden by the Soviet army. She explained that animation gave her the visual freedom to recreate scenes when actual footage was missing.
Director Branko Schmidt presented BRO RAM, a short documentary about a foreign worker in Croatia. Inspired to take action after witnessing violence against foreign workers, Schmidt shot the film in a stressful guerrilla style using a helmet camera. He emphasized the importance of screening the film in schools, especially as Croatia’s economy increasingly relies on foreign labor.
THE FORBIDDEN AUNT by Bojana Novaković explores her relationship with her aunt, who was isolated by the family for years due to alcoholism. The film combines collage, reenactments, and humor, drawing inspiration from Turkish soap operas. Novaković shared that fifteen years of generational trauma unfolded in front of the camera.
Isabella Fellinger’s OF LIGHT GHOSTS follows a traditional January 5th ritual in Upper Austria. In 2010, women rebelled and took over the central roles traditionally held by men. Fellinger, who grew up with this tradition, captured the entire documentary during the four-hour procession, describing the work primarily as a study of light.
32 METERS, by Turkish director Morteza Atabaki, follows a group of village women attempting to organize a shooting competition. The film explores solidarity and the power of women achieving goals together. Cinematographer Zeynep Seçil noted that filming took six years, and building deep trust within the community was key to the process.
Zhora Papoian’s THE FERRY FLOWS follows a Ukrainian village conductor forced to become a soldier, using music to express the pain of war. Filming in the small community was difficult because the protagonist initially distrusted the crew. After seeing the final film, the protagonist found it too dark, so Papoian created a second, more lighthearted version just for him.
