Under the traditional slogan “Film Stories Circle Through the Village”, the 8th edition of the Ravno Selo Film Festival, an international festival for first and second films, officially closed on Sunday, June 29th in Ravno Selo. Over the course of four days, more than 24 films from 13 countries were screened in three competition programs, drawing an audience of over 7,000 viewers.
Golden Corn for Best Director and a cash prize of €1,500 was awarded to Emir Kapetanović for the film “When Santa Was a Communist” (Bosnia and Herzegovina). In a special video message, Emir expressed that, among all the awards the film has received, this one is especially dear to him as it is the first he has received as a director—and particularly meaningful because it comes from the Ravno Selo Film Festival.
Golden Corn for Best Film and a cash prize of €1,000 went to the film “Isolation” (Serbia) directed by Marko Backović. The jury stated: “The blend of thematic insight and the ability to communicate a serious topic to a wide audience makes ‘Isolation’ not only the best film of the Ravno Selo Film Festival, but also the sharpest commentary on our time in which reality and spectacle continuously overlap.” The award was presented by Mr. Saša Golubović, Head of Fiction Content Procurement at Telekom Serbia.
Audience Award for Best Film and a cash prize of €500 was awarded to “A Night with the Rolling Stones” (Cuba) directed by Patricia Ramos. The jury explained: “Set against the backdrop of Havana’s first Rolling Stones concert, the film captures a woman’s transformation while waiting for a life-changing event. Her relationships—with her mother, her son, and herself—reveal that life in Cuban society is surprisingly similar to our own. The rain-soaked streets, coastal walks, and small daily passions mask themes of coming-of-age, death, and loneliness, making this film an unexpected ambassador of a cinema opening its doors to the world with authentic steps.”
Golden Corn for Best Documentary Film and €500 was awarded to “The Sun Doesn’t Shine On All Sides” (North Macedonia), directed by Gligor Kondovski. “Through a nearly naturalistic authenticity, Kondovski portrays a horseback Elvis wandering through the fields of Gostivar, yearning for a grey but warm homeland, and a Macedonian lament sung in an Australian suburb. From the very first moment, this film brings us closer to the feeling of rootlessness and the search for intimacy in what we call ‘foreign land’. A blend of Macedonian, Balkan, Australian and American elements wrapped in a rock-and-roll nostalgia results in a warm, engaging film that invites us to reflect on belonging and the desire for a life that may be harder but more meaningful.”
Once again, GORKI LIST awarded the Best Young Actor/Actress prize (€1,000), which went to Teodora Tomašev for her role as Mirjana in the film “Običaji” by Peđa Marković. “Teodora skillfully navigated the emotional spectrum of the character, handling the complex interplay of respect, intimacy, and emotional conflict between desires and fears. She undoubtedly deserves recognition for her dedicated and precise performance.”
The First Meter Award for Best Student Film and €500 went to director Kristijan Kostadinovski for the film “Symphony” (North Macedonia). The jury emphasized: “Kristijan demonstrates outstanding directorial talent, far surpassing the boundaries of a student film, through his understanding of film language and mise-en-scène. Even though the camera remains static throughout, the dynamic is built through powerful performances and atmospheric tension. Together with cinematographer Ana Pavlovska, he masterfully portrays Skopje not just as a setting, but as a dramatic character. Kostadinovski is undoubtedly a new directorial hope for North Macedonia and the region.”
During the festival, three student films were shot under the mentorship of Miloš Čolić. The main prize went to “The Funniest Joke in the World”, created by the Smederevo team, praised for its “remarkable sense of humor, imagination, and unique cinematic vision expressed through a genre-blending comedy with elements of horror, drawing inspiration from the local environment of Ravno Selo.”
The jury was led by celebrated actress Nada Blam, with members Aleksandar Protić, Miroslav Lekić for the main program, Stefan Orlandić for student films, and Andrej Klemenčić for documentaries.
Lazar Ristovski, founder and director of the festival, said at the closing ceremony: “First, I want to thank all of you who have been with us for eight years—attending film screenings, participating in workshops, hosting actors and filmmakers from all over the world—and making us feel at home in Ravno Selo. I am proud and happy that we’ve had yet another successful festival, and I believe my mission is now complete. It’s time to pass the torch to younger and more capable people who will continue to develop the Ravno Selo Film Festival and inspire the next generation.”
The closing ceremony featured musical performances by Dušica Novaković, who delivered stunning renditions of “Golden Day” and “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”. The event concluded with a screening of the Cuban film “A Night with the Rolling Stones”, as well as presentations of the student workshop films.
The festival was held with the support of the Provincial Secretariat for Culture, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Serbia, the City of Vrbas, Zillion Film production company, Film Center Serbia, Gorki List, and Voda Voda.
The main sponsor of the festival was Telekom Serbia.
