Media Release, 9th October 2017
Milijana Nikolic, a highly respected arts and cultural force, is the 2017 Festival Ambassador. Serbian-born Nikolic, is a leading international operatic mezzo-soprano.
Earlier this year, Nikolic was invited to perform for the closing of Bolsoy, a Russian classical music festival. Bolsoy was held at Drvengrad in Mecavnik, Serbia home also to the internationally acclaimed film festival Kustendorf; both of these festivals have been initiated by Serbian filmmaker Emir Kusturica. In 2015/16 she performed in the role of Jane Seymour (Anna Bolena) for the Metropolitan Opera New York and as Dalila (Samson et Dalila) with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra. Recently, Nikolic sang as Amneris in Opera Australia’s production of Aida on the Beach in Coolangatta, Queensland. Later this year she will be onstage for the first time with the Vojvodina Philharmonic Orchestra in Novi Sad. In early 2018, Nikolic will perform in Italy - Trieste (Teatro Verdi) and Bari (Teatro Petruzelli) in the role of Azucena for the opera Il Trovatore. Since moving to Australia in 2007, she continues to be a proud supporter of the Serbian Film Festival.
The festival will be opened in Brisbane by Nikolic; Out of the Woods - 2017 (Kozje Usi) is the opening night film. A comedy/drama directed by Marko Kostic, this emotional story follows the struggle of Stojanka, a grandmother who had to leave the city life and return to her home village in the south of Banat in Vojvodina. Here, Stojanka raises her two grandchildren as her son and daughter-in-law have left to find work overseas.
Interview: Marko Kostic
Out of the Woods
Also screening at this year’s film festival will be: Requiem for Mrs J. – 2017 (Rekvijem za gospodju J.) a drama directed by Bojan Vuletic; Santa Maria Della Salute - 2016, a romantic drama about life and the tragic love of the renown serbian poet, Laza Kostic, directed by Zdravko Sotra; Train Driver’s Diary – 2016 (Dnevnik masinovodje) a comedy/drama directed by Milos Radovic; and, Herd (Stado) 2016 a comedy satire directed by Nikola Kojo.
The Serbian Film Festival, a registered not-for-profit incorporated body, is proudly supported by many including: Hoyts, The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia, The Consulate of the Republic of Serbia, Air Serbia/Etihad Airways, Beo Group Australia, TV Plus, SBS radio, Serbian Voice/Srpski Glas newspaper, Svet Plus, SETravel, Basketball Club Obilic as well as a dedicated group of volunteers.
Opening night celebrations and hospitality commence at 6.30pm with refreshments served. Out of the Woods (Kozje Usi) screens at 7.30pm.
For detailed information about Serbian Film Festival, movies and movies sessions and tickets purchase please visit: www.serbianfilmfestival.org.au or Serbian Film Festival Facebook, Twitter & Instagram.
