On Tuesday 25 October, Serbian Embassy in London, together with C. Hurst & Co. Publishers, hosted a presentation of the book “Serbia: The History Behind the Name” by the acclaimed historian Stevan K. Pavlowitch.

Mr. Pavlowitch, Emeritus Professor of History, formerly Professor of the History of the Balkans at the University of Southampton, spoke not only about his book, but also, answering questions from the audience, about the role of historian in modern society and cooperation between historians in the Balkans.

At the cocktail which followed the presentation, Mr. Pavlowitch and other speakers, Mr. Michael Dwyer from the C. Hurst & Co. Publishers and Dr Dejan Djokić from Goldsmiths, engaged in further discussion with present diplomats and academics.

The classical Greek myth of the nymph Echo and her fatal love for the beautiful narcissus is transformed into an enchanting new chamber opera.

The lovely and lonely Echo falls for Narcissus who has eyes only for his own reflection. Their tragic love story is overseen by a chorus of wicked and witty nymphs.

With music that draws on the baroque sound of Purcell and Monteverdi, this opera of love and longing is as classical as it is contemporary and a must for all music lovers.

Composer Anja Djordjevic was composer-in-residence at the International Composer’s Centre in Sweden and the winner of the prestigious Stevan Mokranjac prize for Narcissus and Echo.

Sung in English.

More...

This will be your one and only chance to check out many of these hidden gems, and enjoy some interesting Q&A’s with very exiting Film-makers. Andreja Kmetovic ( 19th Raindance Film Festival Selector )

1. TILVA ROSH (Tilva rosh) dir. Nikola Lezaic, Serbia, 2010, 91min (SUN.2.10. 18;15) Toda and Stefan are skaters and best friends. They spend days shooting their daring stunts and battling for the attention of Dunja. Jackass mixed with Stand by Me from city of Bor.
2. SKININNG (SISANJE) dir. Stevan Filipovic, Serbia, 2010, 98 min (Wed.28.9. 16:00) Novica is a young math genius student. He meets Relja, a skin-head. The film reflects on how little it takes for a young man to ruin his life with a wrong choice. American history X mixed with Romper Stomper brutality from a Serbian point of view. Don’t miss it.
3. PUNK IS NOT DEAD dir. Vl. Blazevski, Macedonia, 2011,104 mins. (Sat.1.10. 18:15) Mirza is an old school “junkie” from Skoplje. He get’s an offer from an Albanian dealer to re-form his old cult group and perform a gig to spread “inter-ethnic ties and friendships” He needs to prove that PUNK IS NOT DEAD. Recent winner of Karlovy Vary Film Festival.
4. THE WEIGHT OF THE CHAINS dir. Boris Malagurski, 2011, 117’ (Fri 7.10 14;00) This is a Canadian documentary film that takes a critical look at the role that the US, NATO and the EU played in the tragic breakup of a once peaceful and prosperous European state - Yugoslavia. The film, bursting with rare stock footage never before seen by Western audiences is a must see! Now Balkans have a Michael Moore but with serious facts!
5. FOREST CREATURES dir. Ivan-Goran Vitez, Croatia, 120’ (Thu 6.10 15:30) An organized teambuilding weekend of paintball goes wrong. Employees of this marketing agency soon will realize that their lives will change forever. Deliverance Croatian way.
6. IF THE SEED DOESN’T DIE ( Ako zrno ne umre) dir. Sinisa Dragin, Romania-Serbia-Austria co-production. 2011, 119 mins. (Saturday 1.10. at 15:30) Two fathers meet on a Danube. A Romanian searching for his daughter who was forced into prostitution, and a Serbian seeking the body of his son killed in a car accident. An epic journey beautifully photographed with the early “Kusturica-like” feel.
7. SEVDAH FOR KARIM ( Sevdah za Karima) dir. Jasmin Durakovic, 2011, 95’, Bosnia and Herzegovina. ( Tuesday 4th of October at 18:15) Contemporary drama about the young generation in post-war, transitional Sarajevo. Story about three young persons torn between their friendships and the appreciation for Sevdah. It’s about love, pain and suffering. Impressive follow up after 2006 NAFAKA.
8. JUST BETWEEN US (Neka ostane medju nama) dir. Rajko Grlic, Croatia, 2011, 88’ (SAT. 8.10. 18:15 ) We meet two brothers ( brilliant Miki Manojlovic and Bojan Navojec) , their wives, mistresses and children who do not reliably know who their father was. Everything is here blended in double lives, parallel links, and quest for love and happiness, Another masterpiece from Grlic after his Karaula and a deserved winner at Karlovy Vary and Pula Film festivals. Shortlisted at RAINDANCE as one of the best 5 movies!!!
9. THE ENEMY ( Neprijatelj ) dir. Dejan Zecevic, Serbia-Bosnia and Herzegovina-Croatia-Hungaria Co-production, 2011, 109’ (WED. 5th of October at 18;30) The return of our regular director – Zecevic. His 4th movie on our Festival and possibly with his previous “4th Man” his most mature work. The year is 1995 and there is a “Pandora box” to be opened. Everyone wants the same thing; to be masters of their own life.
10. THE BOX dir. Andrijana Stojkovic, Serbia, 2011, 89 mins. (Wed.5.10 16:00) Great view on a relocation process of diplomats during one country’s disintegration. What to box and post and what to leave behind. Some great stories of diplomats running away un-organized. Not to be confused with Richard Kelly’s awful Hollywood namesake.
11. WHITE BUTTON (Bijelo Dugme) I. Stoimenov, Serbia, 2010, 86’ (Thu 6.10 16;30) What The Beatles mean for global popular culture is what “Bijelo Dugme” means for ex Yugoslavia and Balkans. Epic story of sex, drugs, rock’n’roll and of course politics of the last 15 years of Yugoslavia. Not to be missed. Nominated as one of the best 5 documentaries!!
12. AMNESTY ( Amnistia ) dir. Bujar Alimani, Albania, 2011, 84’. (Thu 29.9 18:15) A very honest and candid look of a couple who re-visit their loved ones in a prison. Modern day Albania from a different angle with a very powerful ending.
13. MAYA ( Maya ) dir. Pluton Vasi, Albania, 2011, 98 mins. (FRI 7th of Oct at 16:30) Great storytelling about envy and gossip. A man returns to his village, tries to make friends and just bury his father, but soon is labelled as a terrorist. Does he stay, and tries to change the mind of local villagers or just simply gives up?
14. CHILDREN OD THE GREEN DRAGON ( zold sarkany gyermekei) 2010, 94mins, Hungaria) dir. BENCE MIKLAUZIC (Sunday 2nd of October 16:00) A kung-fu film without any actual fight. The story is about a friendship between a Hungarian guy and a Chinese guy who lives in Hungary and guards a storage warehouse. There is conflict. There is also a duel in the film. And there is this priceless "Souvenir" moment with all of them involved. A 110% Raindance type of movie – weird beyond limits.
15. THE CAMERA MURDERER ( Der Kameramorder) dir. Robert-Adrian Pejo, Hungary-Austria-Switzerland co-production, 2010, 91 mins (SUN. 9th Oct 14:00) Two couples meet in a hidden spot - holiday house on a Hungarian lake. Friendly banter increasingly turns into general tenseness. A neighbouring farmer visits them briefly and informs them about a possible murder. Snuff video surfaces. Is the killer in the house?
16. MONTEVIDEO – A TASTE OF A DREAM dir. Dragan Bjelogrlic, Serbia, 2011, 140’ (Friday 30th of September at 20:15) – Serbian submission for the OSCARS 2012! Inspired by faith, hope and vision this is a true story about an extraordinary feat accomplished by young Serbian football players who will in the years to come turn into genuine stars and legends. Check out why more than 500 000 viewers seen this movie in Serbia alone!

EU and Regional Cooperation in South East Europe

In Association with the South East Europe Studies at Oxford SEESOX

This unique Embassy Event on EU and Regional Cooperation in South East Europe is organised in association with the South East European Studies at Oxford.

Learn the latest developments directly from our distinguished panel of Ambassadors and participate in a high-level forum to discuss South East Europe, its national democracies, market economies and political aspirations. The programme will allow the guests to share their insights on regional cooperation with government, leading academic scholars, experienced industry directors and committed international diplomats from the European Union, United Kingdom and beyond.

Chair

Dr. Othon Anastasakis, Director, SEESOX

Turkey in the Balkans: From Shared History to Common Future

HE Ambassador of Turkey, Unal Cevikoz

Regional Cooperation: the Best Tool for Overcoming the Past and Creating a Better Future

HE Ambassador of Serbia, Dr. Dejan Popovic

Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Prospects for EU integration

HE Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Jadranka Negodic

Regional Co-operation in South East Europe: "The Road to “Know” Where?"

HE Ambassador of Bulgaria, Lyubomir Kyuchukov

The Role of an MEP in Foreign Policy After the Lisbon Treaty and as the EP rapporteur for Montenegro

Dr. Charles Tannock (MEP)

The event is free and open to all but pre registration is required.

Info & R.S.V.P. Milena@embassyevents.co.uk

Events include premiere screenings and debates with some of the most famous Yugoslav directors as well as new and rising film makers from Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia. Come and discover why Yugoslavia had one of Europe’s largest and most successful film industries and how it was related to the state and its tragic collapse. Can film making be peace making and how are films now made across borders?

Rajko Grlić
Goran Paskaljević
Jasmila Žbanić
Mila Turajlić

The event is organized to thank Gareth for helping Serbian people in the past by taking part in various charitable events as musician and artist.

Please click on the picture to download full size PDF leaflet.

We have the pleasure to introduce to the British audience original fine art from several talented and well established artists, highly acclaimed in Serbia for the quality of their work.

Our members receive complementary tickets to some of the most prestigious art events in the UK. We will be exhibiting at two art fairs in the coming months and would like to invite you to

• Russian Eastern & Oriental Fine Art Fair 10th-12th June in heart of London's Mayfair
• Midsummer Art Fair at the magnificent Landmark Arts centre in Teddington in London 19th and 20th June

Please register on our website to receive your personal invitations and complementary tickets for these events and many others across the UK all year around.

www.FineArtGalleryPaintings.com

Contact Aleksandra on +44 (0)1223 969995 or

Aleksandra@FineArtGalleryPaintings.com

The exhibition, which has received good reviews in UK press will be closed at 18.30 on Friday 19 February, when a painting by Janos Mesaros will be presented to the winner of a competion currently underway at the exhibition.

The first Serbian library in the UK was open on 4 February at the Hammersmith and Fulham Public Library. HE Ambassador Dr Dejan Popovic and Greg Hands MP addressed those gathered, while Sonja Besford and Charlie Nikolic read their poetry.

Please click on the picture to download full size PDF leaflet.

The Serbian Society and the Serbian Council of Great Britain invite you to

THEATRE PLAY ‘FREE BALKAN WOMEN’
with Ljiljana Blagojevic and Ljiljana Lasic

Bookings and info:
Tel. 01273 694 117 или 07748 313 566 (Miki Stoiljkovic)
Tel. 0208 740 4109 or 0775 424 0394 (Olga Gakovic)
Tel 07930 959 669 (Natasha Kocsis)
Email: office@serbiansociety.org.uk

Tickets £18 & £15

Tel: 0208741 1940 jazzcafe@posk.org

www.jazzcafeposk.co.uk and www.proartandco.co.uk

Friday 16.10 8.30pm £6 - Dunajska Kapelye - www.myspace.com/dunajskakapelye

A unique Polish, Serbian and English project featuring Polish virtuoso Piotr Jordan on violin, Victor Obsust on double bass, Jez Cook on guitar and Zac Gvirtzman on accordion.. They play Balkan and Traditional Gypsy Music as well as swing jazz, tango and Klezmer music.

Friday 23.10 8.30pm £6 - PIANO Recital by Aleksandar Gakovic – Serbia, with a guest vocalist Elisabetta Tucci accompanied by Tomasz Zyrmont Trio

Aleksandar Gakovic, born in London in 1990, to Serbian parents, started playing piano at the age of 9. From the beginning he developed his interest in jazz music performing various solo jazz piano pieces. He has performed at various concerts and charity events including UNICEF Childrens of Darfur Appeal and more recently in the Serbian Embassy. Since last year Aleksandar has been enthusiastically composing his own jazz music. He will present his compositions at the Eastern European Jazz Festival.

Elisabetta Tucci – Italian singer and actress was born in Florence. At first she studied literature and classical music singing with Canto classico - M. L. Malagrida (Roma), Canto moderno - E. Dell’Orso (Roma), Canto Jazz – D. Velli (Roma) and than in London with Canto Jazz - M. Heyden. Her career has developed fast thanks to her great talent and her personal charisma. She performed throughout Europe, acting at the theaters, in TV and film productions, and singing jazz in the famous Le Petit Journal – Montparnase. Elisabetta and her performances were well publicised in the Italian and French newspapers and magazines.

‘People talk’ (Људи говоре) that is published in Canada (Toronto) four times per year. Guest: Radomir Baturan, the editor

For more information please contact Natasha Kocsis 07930 959 669 or office@serbiansociety.org.uk

The Slovenian Girl - Thursday 1 Oct 18:15 - Saturday 10 Oct 12:30
A young prostitute tries to keep her job secret from her family.

No One's Son - Saturday 3 Oct 18:30 - Monday 5 Oct 15:15
Ivan, an ex-rock singer and war veteran who lost both legs, discovers dark family secrets which change the life he now wants to end.

EKV - As it Once Was [EKV - Kao da je bilo nekad] - Thursday 8 Oct 18:45
If you ask anyone on the territory of ex-Yugoslavia about their favourite bands with biggest influence Ekatarina Velika, will definitely be up there.This documentary shows the rising and the fall of one amazing band. The film was first shown in four episodes of a series, and after that the author created a complex film about the ups and downs of the greatest band from SFRJugoslavija.

The Life and Death of a Porno Gang - Saturday 10 Oct 21:30
A director makes acquaintance with his porn star cast for his new film.

"The best world festival in 2006" - Guardian UK

"The best Euroepan festival in 2007" - Yourope - European festival organization (public vote)

"The best place to visit" - July, 2008, Guardian UK

Exit festival is one of the leading European music festivals. The festival was founded in 2000, as a student movement to fight for democracy in Serbia. Thus far the festival has been visited by over 1.500.000 people, tens of thousands of reporters from around the world, including New York Times, Guardian, and Times, covered the festival, while BBC, MTV etc. had live and delayed broadcast from Exit. Exit brought to Serbia some of the world’s greatest music attractions such as Madonna, R.H.C.P. Depeche Mode etc. It has received numerous awards: World’s Best Festival in 2006 (Guardian UK), the Best European Festival ( Yourope – Association of Festivals in Europe – voted by the public) and World’s Best Tourist Destination for July 2008 (Guardian, UK). Exit has annual visit of over 30.000 tourists from the whole world, from Australia to Canada, including around 10.000 citizens of Great Britain.

Please click on the picture to download full size PDF leaflet.

After five years Marko returns to his home village in a secluded rural region in northern Serbia to see Anja. But he is obsessed and tormented by memories, the reason for his long absence. He tries to establish a new trust with Anja, but the atmosphere in the village is unbearably tense and very few people are pleased to see him; hi find hostility and treatening behaviour at every turn. But for Marko one thing is clear: he is not going to go alone. Shot on a shoestring, the masterly construction of Arsenic's debut film tells the story of murder, sexual abuse and social problems in Serbia at the start of the 21st century, as well as being a suffering love story.

Followed by Q&A with Director Jovan Arsenic

LITERARY EVENING WITH SVETLANA CECA BOJKOVIC

Wednesday, 15 October 2008, 7pm
Serbian Society
33-35 Dawes Road, London SW6 7DT

Presentation of the monograph on the actress Svetlana Ceca Bojkovic, who reads selected passages from the book.   

Information: Miki Stojiljkovic , tel. 01273 694 117, or 07748 313 566. 
Tickets: £5; £3 (for members of the Serbian Society and the Serbian Council of Great Britain) 

Svetlana Ceca Bojkovic & Katarina Zutic
in
COLLECTED STORIES
by Donald Marguiles
 

Thursday, 16 October 2008, 8.00pm
POSK Polish Club
238-246 King Street London, W6 0RF

Tickets: £20 & £15

Obituary for Escobar (Citulja za Eskobara), 91 min
17:00 Friday 3rd October
Cineworld Shaftesbury Avenue, Screen 7

Director: Milorad Milinkovic
Cast: Vojin Cetkovic, Tamara Garbajs, Zijah Sokolovic

Serbian crime drama focusing on Belgrade's violent criminal underworld.

The 4th Man (Cetvrti covek), 104 min
19:00 Monday 6th October
Cineworld Shaftesbury Avenue, Screen 7

Director: Dejan Zecevic
Cast: Nikola Kojo, Marija Karan, Dragan Petrovic Pele

Something different from the land of Serbia; a very well directed, and scripted movie with Nikola Kojo in the leading role, who deadpans effortlessly trough the picture, and executes everyone with real pleasure.

The Tour (Turneja), 110 min
14:15 Sunday 12th October
Cineworld Shaftesbury Avenue, Screen 4

Director: Goran Markovic
Cast: Dragan Nikolic, Mira Furlan, Josif Tatic

Drama focusing on a group of actors on tour out of Belgrade in 1993, where they are caught up in the conflict in Serbian Krajina. 

Dragana Jugovic del Monaco, prima donna of the Belgrade Opera, participated, as a special guest, in the the charity concert held in the Embassy of Serbia on June 19, 2008. She sang Shubert's Ave Maria, several Italian songs, Habanera from «Carmen» and Gershwin's Summertime. The artistic director of the project, Mrs Maya Momcilovic-Jordan, herself pianist, also engaged Serbian muscians living in the UK, Bojana Dimkovic (piano) and Marija Spengler (violin), as well as the British musicians Michelle Laimeche, Tomoki Park and Jennnifer Johnson, with whom she perfomed the programme titled «Summer Time – from Classical to Jazz). The actress Vesna Stanojevic contributed by reciting two poems. The audience were thrilled by the artists' interpretatations, specially by those of Dragana Jugovic del Monaco, expressing their views that the event was one of the best held in the Embassy lately.

This fund raising event in aid of the Summer Camp for displaced and refugee children from Kosovo and Metohija was sponsored by the British charity Blytswood Care, Serbian Council of Great Britain and JatAiways.

A Christmas exhibition of icons and mosaics from the Balkans at the:


Private view: Monday 10 December, 19.30 -20.30 (doors open at 18.30)

Exhibition open: Tuesday 11 December - Friday 14 December 2007, 10.00-17.00

SERBIAN SOCIETY & SERBIAN COUNCIL OF GREAT BRITAIN

Invites you to

CLASSICAL MUSIC GALA CONCERT

- The World Famous Arias&Songs -

Suzana Suvakovic Savic, soprano

National Opera Belgrade

with

Slavko Nikolic, tenor

Miodrag Colakovic, piano

Petar Golubovic, mandolin, bouzouki, balalaika, guitar

Vesna Stanojevic, actress-introduction

Programme

G. Puccini – La Boheme, Musetta’s Aria

U. Giordano – Fedora, Lorias’s Aria “Amor ti vieta”

E. de Curtis – Non ti scordar di me

L. Denza – Chitara Romanna

T. Cottrau – Santa Lucia

E. de Curtis – Torna a Surriento

R. Leoncavallo – Pagliaci,, Nedda’s Aria

G. Puccini – Tosca, Cavaradosi Aria, 3rd Act

Obradors – Una Cancione Classica

V. Aniballe – O paese d’ ‘o sole

            Interval

Obradors – El vito

A. Lara – Granada

V.D. Chiara – La Spagnola

C. Bixio – Mamma

M. Theodorakis – Strose to stromasoi

& Zorba the Greek

V. Solovleva - Sedogo – Moscow Evenings

(Podmoskowskie vecera)

Russian folk song – Dark Eyes

(Ochi chornie) & Kalinka

L. Denza – Funiculi, Funicula   

Tickets: £35 VIP tickets to include Reception

              £ 15 others

Booking and info:

Tel. 01273 694 117 and 020 7328 5993

Cheque payable to: “The Serbian Society” to be sent

together with SAE to the following address:

29 Broadoak House, Mortimer Crescent

London NW6 5PA

KENEDI IS GETTING MARRIED

(Kenedi se zeni)


International Premiere

Screening:

Tuesday, 2 October, 5pm

Cineworld Shaftesbury Avenue

13 Coventry Street, Piccadilly

London W1D 7DH
Runtime: 80 mins

Director/Writer/Producer: Zelimir Zilnik

Cast: Kenedi Hasani, Beni Haliti, Max Steiner

Acclaimed Serbian feature focusing on the drastic lengths a man will go to attain legal status in the EU.

Kenedi is in huge debt to some scary gangsters after building a house for his family. He finds himself searching for any kind of work to support himself, for as little as €10 per day, a scarce amount to help him relieve his debt. Ultimately, Kenedi decides to look for money in the sex business, offering sex both to women and men. When he finds out about new liberal European laws on gay marriage, Kenedi sees prospects in looking for “marriage material” to renew his search for legal status in the EU.

While this is a fictional feature, Kenedi is Getting Married sequels two documentaries with the same subject matter.

Screening:

Friday 5 October, 2pm

Cineworld Shaftesbury Avenue

13 Coventry Street, Piccadilly

London W1D 7DH

Runtime: 90 mins
Director/Producer:Ljiljana Kojic-Bogdanovic

Cast: Konstantin Kostuykov, Gordana Simic, The International Dance Company Singidunum

The story of one of the 20th century’s most important and mysterious scientists brought to life through dance.

Taking place at the height of Nikola Tesla’s success and fame in 1900s New York, the ballet adaptation focuses on his intimate friendship with eminent romantic poet Robert Johnson and his wife Katharine. Based on their written correspondence, it appears that Tesla and Katherine shared a deep affection for each other. It has been interpreted that their ensuing romance culminated in Katherine’s illness and eventual death.

BELLE EPOQUE

(Poslednji valcer u Sarajevu/The Last Waltz in Sarajevo)
UK Premiere

Screening:Saturday, 6 October, 12pm

Cineworld Shaftesbury Avenue

13 Coventry Street, Piccadilly

London W1D 7DH

Runtime: 125 mins
Director/Writer:Nikola Stojanovic

Producer:Mihailo Todorovic

Cast:Davor Janjic, Radmila Zivkovic, Vita Mavric

A unique story which historically tries to describe many events in the pre-First World War Sarajevo.

This film is a unique take on pre-First World War Sarajevo, seen through the eyes of the first Bosnian motion picture cameraman Anton Walitz. His excavations on this period have become significant in the county’s cultural history. We witness the preparation and the execution of Franz Ferdinand’s assassination. Belle Epoque brings dramatic humour and wit to what would otherwise be known as a distressing time at beginning of the century in the Balkans.

More on the Festival and films can be found on web site: www.raindance.co.uk