News
Competition Programme Selection
We Want Your Films
Awards and Closing Ceremony
Awards of 11th Kustendorf Presented
Aleksandar Berček Arrives in Mećavnik
Talk with Tancrède Ramonet
Fourth Night of the Competition Programme
Workshop with Stephan Komandarev
Miljen Kreka Kljaković Exhibition Open
Workshop with Paolo Villaluna
Stephan Komandarev first time in Drvengrad
Third Night of the Competition Programme
Workshop with Michaël R. Roskam
Second Night of the Competition Programme
Workshop with Vlastimir Sudar
Workshop with Qiang Wang and Producer Li
First Night of the Competition Programme
Michaël R. Roskam at the Festival
Workshop with Paolo Sorrentino
Villaluna Arrives for Kustendorf
Workshop with Ruben Östlund
Opening of 11th Kustendorf
Sorrentino Arrives at Kustendorf as a Special Guest
Vlastimir Sudar First Time in Mećavnik
Ruben Östlund Landed in Drvengrad
Serbian Minister of Culture Arrives for Kustendorf
First Member of the Jury Arrives in Drvengrad
Competition Program Selection
We want your films
Kustendorf Voted Among 25 Coolest Festivals On The Planet
Festival Schedule
Competition Programme
Jury
Serge Regourd
Serge Regourd is Professor at the University of Toulouse 1-Capitole, where he was Head of the Department of Law, Culture and Communication for a long time and the Head of a research laboratory in these fields.He is the author of fifteen books on cultural policies and French cinema. Some of his books include The Cultural Exception, From the exception to cultural diversity, The second roles of French cinema, grandeur and decadence, Actors of character, the unknown French cinema, The television of European, Towards the end of public television, etc.
He has worked as an expert with various professional film and government organizations in France, particularly for the cultural exception negotiations and for the UNESCO convention on cultural diversity.
Long time vice-president of the Cinémathèque de Toulouse, he also started and edited Cine-actors magazine. He has participated in the production of several films in various capacities. Member of the Academy of Caesar, he is also since 2015 president of the cultural and audiovisual commission of the Region of Occitania, and within this framework, animator of the Fund of support to the audio-visual creation.
Regourd is also President of the theatre company Tattoo established by director Mladen Materić.
Petar Popović
Petar Peca Popović is a Serbian rock critic, journalist and publicist. He was born in 1949 in Belgrade, in Topčider, where he still lives in his family home. The courtyard of this house had the part in Serbian pop culture that Aristotle’s garden had in Classical philosophy. The idea about first open-air rock concerts was born here, like Bijelo Dugme‘s concert at Hajdučka česma in 1977 and the greatest Yugoslav pop star Zdravko Čolić’s concert at Marakana. The latter was part of the singer’s tour Travelling earthquake when the documentary I sing day and night was filmed, with Petar Popović’s nonintrusive interviews as part of it. The courtyard of Peca’s house saw the change of an influential new-wave band’s name from Dečaci to Idoli (Boys to Idols), the first performances of some epic pop and rock songs, and was even described in the book by Boban Petrović Rokanje (Rockin’). In 1984, Popović also came up with the name Instruktori, the name of Momčilo Bajagić’s band performing at this year’s Küstendorf. Peca Popović edited and wrote for magazines such as Džuboks and Rok (Jukebox and Rock). He wrote the book Rokopisi (Rockscripts) and co-wrote Biti rokenrol (Being Rock rock’n’roll) with Mihajlo Pantić, joining this music genre and literature. Peca Popović made rock’n’roll part of the Yugoslav and Serbian mainstream culture. His view of these events was also shown in the film Trapped Time.
Vlastimir Sudar
Vlastimir Sudar was born in Sarajevo where he grew up and completed his secondary education. Since August 1992 he has lived in London, where he started studying at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in October 1993. He graduated in 1997 with his short lm Out, which was screened at an experimental lm festival at the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona.
After graduation, he directed a number of short lms, which were screened at various recognised festivals in London, Berlin and Madrid. He also made short promotional music videos, as well as promotional fashion videos. Of the latter, he made one in collaboration with the celebrated photographer Nick Knight and cult designer Peter Saville, known for his record sleeves for Joy Division. He also made two pop-videos Alone and You think it’s cool… for Bus 47, a London based hip-hop duo from Belgrade, and both were screened on Serbian television in late nineties.
In the autumn of 1999, he returned to Central Saint Martins. In January 2004, he started his PhD as part of a research project in Balkan Cinema. He submitted his doctoral thesis on the work of Aleksandar Saša Petrović in 2007 at the University of Saint Andrews in Scotland. His book, A Portrait of the Artist as a Political Dissident: The Life and Work of Aleksandar Petrović, based on his doctoral thesis was published by Intellect in Bristol, in 2013. He has taught history and theory of cinema at Oxford Brooks University and the University of the Arts and Goldsmiths College in London. He currently teaches at Kingston University in London. He has published a number of essays mainly on Balkan cinema, and regularly contributes to Sight and Sound magazine. He is a co-author and co-producer of the film Borders, Raindrops.
István Borbás
István Borbás was born in 1954 in Budapest, Hungary. The Swedish commercial and feature film cinematographer began his work with Roy Andersson in 1984. During the past 30 years that he has spent at Studio 24, they have created countless commercials and films of different lengths, from 15 seconds to 2 hours. He has also participated in the creation and shaping of books, exhibitions, commercial and billboard campaigns. All of these projects have had the ambition to portray human joy, sorrows and vulnerability in environments and situations we can all identify with. If shown in a specific way, even the most trivial situation (space, light, characters) can succeed in giving us a very precise description of human existence.
Most of these projects have received much attention both in Sweden and internationally. This confirms that it is possible and important to use images to influence our conditions in life and our view on existence. His most recent work with Roy Andersson, A Pigeon sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence received the Golden Lion at the 2014 Venice Film Festival.
Photo galleries
Women Love Directors
Awards Winners
Awards and Closing Ceremony
Book Promotion: Šargan–Mokra Gora, Nature Park
Award Season Open
Aleksandar Berček Arrives in Mećavnik
Let Me Burn
Space Police
Workshop with Stephan Komandarev
Miljen Kreka Kljaković Exhibition Open
You’re Made Out of Fire
Le Café des Gens
Stephan Komandarev First Time in Drvengrad
Workshop with Paolo Villaluna
No Đani No Party
Wavelenght
Lubarda at Andrićgrad
Workshop with Michaël R. Roskam
Workshop with Vlastimir Sudar
Everybody Loves to Party
Before The End
Workshop with Wang Qiang and Producer Li
Workshop with Paolo Sorrentino
Villaluna Arrives for Kustendorf
Japalkan, First Time in Balkans
Workshop with Ruben Östlund
Opening of 11th Küstendorf
Sorrentino Arrives at Kustendorf as a Special Guest
Wang Qiang and István Borbás Arrive to Drvengrad
Vlastimir Sudar and Andrew Horton First Time in Mećavnik
Ruben Östlund and Serge Regourd Landed in Drvengrad
Serbian Minister of Culture Due to Open Kustendorf
First Member of the Jury Arrives in Drvengrad
Kustendorf, Day Zero
Kustendorf Posters
Video galleries
Favourite Films of Paolo Villaluna
Favourite Films of Stephan Komandarev
Kustendorf Awards Winners
Awards and Closing Ceremony
Homage to Aleksandar Berček
Talk with Tancrède Ramonet
Plugged Music
Excerpt from Workshop with Stephan Komandarev
Favourite Films of Michaël R. Roskam
Humans of Kustendorf: Miki Polonski
Humans of Kustendorf: Emma Paoli
Humans of Kustendorf: Milena Grujić
Humans of Kustendorf: Rakan Mayasi
Excerpt from Workshop with Paolo Villaluna
Humans of Kustendorf: Kordian Kądziela
Humans of Kustendorf: Antoneta Alamat Kusijanović
Excerpt from Workshop with Michaël R. Roskam
Excerpt from Workshop with Vlastimir Sudar
Humans of Kustendorf: Nikola Vučinić
Favourite Films of Ruben Östlund
Humans of Kustendorf: Léopold Dewolf
Excerpt from Workshop with Wang Quiang and Producer Li
Favourite Films of Paolo Sorrentino
Excerpt From Workshop With Paolo Sorrentino
Excerpt From Workshop With Ruben Östlund
Bound by Film – Opening Ceremony
Homage to Paolo Sorrentino
Opening Animation – Kustendorf 2018
Homage to Gordan Mihić – Kustendorf 2017
Homage to Jacques Audiard – Kustendorf 2016
Homage to Andrei Konchalovsky – Kustendorf 2015
Homage to Asghar Farhadi – Kustendorf 2014
Homage to Zhang Yimou – Kustendorf 2013
Homage to Kim Ki-duk – Kustendorf 2012
Homage to Abbas Kiarostami – Kustendorf 2011
Homage to Johnny Depp – Kustendorf 2010
Homage to Nikita Mikhalkov – Kustendorf 2008
About the Festival
11th International Film and Music Festival Küstendorf, taking place from January 16 to 21 in Drvengrad, Mokra Gora, is organized by Rasta International under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Serbia, the town of Mećavnik and The No Smoking Orchestra. As in the previous years, Küstendorf is dedicated to emerging filmmakers and the greats of world auteur film.
Competition programme of the 11th Interntional Film and Music Festival Küstendorf is screening 21 films by local and foreign authors. Films by young directors from the Netherlands, China, Lebanon, Russia, Serbia, Montenegro, Poland, Egypt, Israel, France, USA, Croatia, Mexico and from the Philippines are competing for the Festival awards ‒ Gold, Silver and Bronze Egg. Members of the international jury are professors Serge Regourd, citizen-professor and expert in culture policies, Vlastimir Sudar, film history and film theory professor, and rock critic Petar Popović. The Vilko Filač award will be given by István Borbás.
The competition received over 600 submissions, and the selected films stood out for their style, craftsmanship and authentic worldview.
Contemporary trends shows some of the best films of recent production. The Square by Cannes winner Ruben Östlund is opening the Festival. The acclaimed director Paolo Sorrentino is the Festival’s guest on the second day with his controversial series The Young Pope, while his awarded films are going to be shown during Retrospective of Greatness. Contemporary trends will also show You Were Never Really Here by Lynne Ramsay, the Philippine film Pedicab which won of the Golden Goblet Award in Shanghai, Bulgarian Directions, Chinese Sunshine That Can Move Mountains, and the French-Belgian film Racer and the Jailbird. The directors of these films, Paolo Villaluna, Stephan Komandarev, Qiang Wang and Michaël R. Roskam are hosting the workshops with students.
Retrospective of Greatness is dedicated to prominent artists ‒ actor Aleksandar Berček and director Paolo Sorrentino. This program is also showing two Yugoslav films from 1967 ‒ The Birch Tree by Ante Babaja and The Feast by Đorđe Kadijević.
The additional Festival programme, Küstendorf Presents, is showing two new films by younger authors ‒ The Song of Sway Lake by Ari Gold and Tancrede Ramonet’s documentary No Gods, No Masters, A History of Anarchism.
Gary Lucas, TNSO, acrobat Sanja Radulović from Cirkusfera and contemporary dancer Dušan Murić are performing at the opening ceremony. The Japanese band JapaLkan are opening the Music programme later that evening. Küstendorf’s guests are also among the first to hear songs from the new album by Emir Kusturica and The No Smoking Orchestra in concert on the second day of the Festival. Others scheduled to perform are Vlatko Stefanovski Trio, the French band Les Barbeaux and the legendary Serbian rock band Bajaga i Instruktori.
Mećavnik can be reached from three different directions: from Belgrade, from Višegrad, or from Zlatibor.
From Belgrade, there are multiple routes. From Belgrade, the most frequent route is taking national road M22 to Preljina, and then taking road M5 through Čačak, Požega, and Užice. From Užice, follow E761 through Kremna. At the tenth kilometer after Kremna, there is a sign on the right-hand side to turn for Mećavnik where Drvengrad is located. The second way to travel from Belgrade is through Valjevo, Bajina Bašta, and Kremna, and then to continue as previously explained.
From the west of the Balkans, take the M5 highway across the national border. The turn for Drvengrad will then be on the left-hand side of the road. From the south of the Balkans, travel through Zlatibor, following E761 and E763.
From the Belgrade bus station, there are several daily departures for Višegrad. In this case, the passenger should tell the driver in advance to stop at Mokra Gora railway station as this is not one of the regular stops.
The Kustendorf International Film and Music Festival was founded in 2008 with the idea to bring together the icons of contemporary author’s cinema and young, future filmmakers. The festival takes place every year in January in Drvengrad in Mokra Gora, organized by “Rasta International” and under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Serbia. The founder of this unique film and music festival is celebrated film director Emir Kusturica.
Kustendorf is a unique festival, without red carpet, billboards and advertisements, fully devoted to film, music, friendships and exchange of creative ideas and energy.
Drvengrad, the town made of wood, is the center of all festival happenings. It is a place where films are screened, concerts performed, where people meet, make friends, fall in love, work, learn, rest, sleep, eat, think and enjoy. Like any other town, Drvengrad has a central square with the church of St. Sava, a library, an art gallery, a market, a kindergarten, a “prison”, a swimming pool, a sauna, a hair salon, a pastry shop, a grocery shop, a sports area, cinemas, restaurants and many other facilities that make the visit to the Festival an unforgettable experience.
Film programme
The film programme at Kustendorf Festival is screened in several theatres. The Competition Programme and the Contemporary Trends Programme is screened at the biggest, Damned Yard theatre. Other films are shown in the Noam Chomsky amphitheater. After the projections of films, workshops are held by renowned film authors.
Music program
Every night at midnight, after the screenings and workshops, various music stars perform on stage.
Accommodation
No two rooms are alike in Drvengrad, since each room contains uniquely painted and handcrafted furniture, a different view and a different path leading to it. The rooms are located in authentic log cabins and all provide a bathroom, TV, phone and Internet access. During the Festival, accommodation in Drvengrad is booked for guests and participants of Kustendorf. Guests are also accommodated in hotel Iver in a newly opened ski resort, and Vizitorski centar, in close proximity of the village.
Restaurants
Restaurant Visconti – local and international cuisine provided for the Festival participants and guests
Cafe The Damned Yard – a perfect place to meet people in a great atmosphere
National restaurant Lotika – a national cuisine restaurant
Pastry shop Kod Ćorkana – sweets and hot drinks
Kapor Bar – a place to enjoy jazz music
Reception
Kind and diligent staff at the reception of the Mećavnik hotel will provide you with all necessary information about the festival, accommodation and events, and give answers to all your questions.
Like in previous years, young filmmakers and students whose films will be presented at the International Film and Music Festival Kustendorf, will be picked up from Belgrade’s Nikola Tesla Airport by our welcome service and transferred to Kustendorf – Drvengrad.
Emir Kusturicа, Svetolik Mićа Zаjc, Dunjа Kusturicа, Mаrko Milosаvljević, Milicа Jelаčа, Mаrijа Meršnik, Mаjа Kusturicа, Nаnа Kusturicа, Nenаd Meršnik, Drаgаn Rаdivojević Lаv, Drаgаn Teodorović Zeko, Žаrko Brecl, Strаhinjа Mаrković, Aleksаndаr Jаkonić, Christopher Mondt, Dаnijelа Rаkić, Zorаn Lončаrević, Bojana Antonić, Vlаdimir Milаnović, Mаrinа Pаlаlić, Anа Uzelаc, Oliverа Isаilović, Brаnko Tomović, Božidаr Mаrinković, Uglješа Vrcelj, Žаrko Bubаlo, Željkа Bаšić Stаnkov, Jelenа Stojаnović, Sаšа Kаrаnović, Wolfgang Lange, Anđela Ilić Rajović
The 11th Küstendorf
International Film and Music Festival
16-21 January 2018
Rasta International
Milorada Mitrovića 15
11 000 Belgrade
tel / fax: +381 11 24 31 505
Festival Office
rastaint@gmail.com
Programme Coordinator – Guest Service
Nana Kusturica
rastaint@gmail.com
Press Office
Danijela Rakić
presskustendorf@gmail.com
Publishing
Marko Milosavljević
milosavljevicorama@gmail.com
UNDER THE AUSPICES OF
