Serbia’s major filmmaking associations have issued a joint statement highlighting the lack of public funding from government body Film Center Serbia, and “a coordinated campaign of state-sponsored censorship”.
Signed by nine organisations including the Association of Film Producers of Serbia and Serbian Film Directors’ Guild, the statement says Film Center Serbia has made no public calls for more than 14 months despite having funds allocated in their budget. “By not doing so, it is openly breaking Serbian law,” claims the statement.
Scroll down to read the full letter
The organisations say that “political interference, informal blacklists of filmmakers, and public attacks on artists have become systemic”, and that local productions have been prevented from accessing public tax incentives with previously approved rebates to Serbian and international investors remaining unpaid.
Representatives of the organisations are attending the Berlinale and looking to meet international partners to raise awareness of the issue.
“Your support and solidarity are particularly important in ensuring that these developments do not remain unseen within the broader European and international film landscape,” said the statement.
Macedonian filmmaker Kosara Mitic’s first feature 17 received Film Center Serbia backing, and launches in the Perspectives strand at Berlin Film Festival on Wednesday 18.
Full letter from Serbian associations
Dear Members of the International Film Community,
We are reaching out on behalf of the representative associations of Association of Film Producers of Serbia (UFPS), Serbian Film Directors’ Guild (AFRS), DokSerbia - Documentary Filmmakers of Serbia, Screenwriters Guild of Serbia (USA), Serbian Society of Cinematographers (SAS), Association of Film Artists of Serbia (UFUS), Union of Film Animators of Serbia (UFAS), Association of Film Actors of Serbia and Association of Film and Television Sound Designers of Serbia (UDZS) to inform you of the alarming situation of cinema in Serbia.
The Serbian film industry is currently facing a coordinated campaign of state-sponsored censorship. While Film Center Serbia continues to project a “business as usual” image internationally, the reality is a total freeze on funding calls designed to starve independent production. Instead of supporting the industry, the Ministry of Culture exercises open hostility, publicly branding filmmakers as “anti-Serbian” and labeling cultural investment as “wasted” funds.
Film Center Serbia has announced no public calls for more than 14 months, despite having funds allocated in their budget. By not doing so, it is openly breaking Serbian law. Political interference, informal blacklists of filmmakers, and public attacks on artists have become systemic. Domestic projects have been excluded from accessing the public tax incentives, while previously approved cash rebate obligations to local and foreign investors remain unpaid.
Filmmakers vocally critical of the authorities are systematically denied access to public funding, regardless of their professional track record and international recognition. The leadership of film and cultural institutions has been handed to political appointees with no professional qualifications, whose primary function is to act as gatekeepers and censors. These practices represent a serious violation of artistic freedom, transparency, and the rule of law. We call on the international film community and the European public funding institutions to be fully aware of the current conditions in Serbia and to raise their concern until lawful, transparent, and independent institutional film practices are restored.
We, Serbian filmmakers, urgently call on your solidarity and active support in defending artistic freedom and protecting the integrity of cinema in Serbia.
Sincerely,
Association of Film Producers of Serbia (UFPS)
Serbian Film Directors’ Guild (AFRS)
DokSerbia - Documentary Filmmakers of Serbia
Screenwriters guild of Serbia (USS)
Serbian Society of Cinematographers (SAS)
Association of Film Artists of Serbia (UFUS)
Union of Film Animators of Serbia (UFAS)
Association of Film Actors of Serbia (UFGS;
Association of Film and Television Sound Designers of Serbia (UDZS)
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