Interview

INTERVIEW: NIKOLAJ NIKITIN, PROGRAMMER OF THE OFFICIAL SELECTION

The best European films are at Palić

In these difficult times we live in, on the big screen you will see hope, laughter, humanity, there will also be actions, a review of some historical moments, but also a reflection on the moment we live in The programmer of the European Film Festival Palić Official Selection Nikolaj Nikitin, last year returned to the position. For the last two and a half decades, he has been working as a film programmer, curator and critic at film festivals across the Europe. He is the main lecturer at SOFA (School of Film Advancement), and the Palić Film Festival is a special thing in his life, both professionally and personally. For the jubilee edition, he prepared the best of European films of the past year.

What was your main guide in creating the Official Selection this year?

For the 30th edition of one of the most recognizable film festivals in this part of the world, I am pleased to be able to offer the best of European cinema in the past year. We have been to all important festivals of the Old Continent, in Cannes, Berlin, watched films and I am happy to present the most interesting ones to you. There is a line that connects those films. I always try to find it. In these difficult times we live in, on the big screen you will see hope, laughter, humanity, there will also be actions, a review of some historical moments, but also a reflection on the moment we live in

How do you rate European production in the past year?

This has been a very good year for European film. The restrictions caused by the corona virus have eased, and directors and screenwriters have carefully prepared their works. Corona is still the subject of some films you will be able to watch. There are also fascinating acting achievements. There will be a lot to discover.

Will there be any special surprises in your selection this year?

There are many surprises, as always, starting with the film that will open the Festival. Not only will it open the Palić Festival, but he also opened the Cannes Film Festival. It's JEANNE DU BARRY by Maïwenn, with Johnny Depp in the male lead role. We are glad to have with us this year the extraordinary Margarethe von Trotta with her new film about Ingeborg Bachmann. Our guest will also be Andreas Dresen, many of whose films we saw at our Festival. He is certainly one of the most interesting directorial voices in European cinema at the moment. We are really proud that the two of them will be here in Palić.

This is the 30th edition of the Festival. How do you see its future?

As a very bright one. We have overcome various situations. The Festival was held even during the corona, thanks to Miša Mogorović, Ilija Tatić and everyone in the organization of the Festival, which was not the case with other festivals. I would not like to reveal much, but next year there will be some refreshments and novelties. This will be an even more beautiful and better festival, still firmly connected with the audience, which I invite to keep coming, because our guests, renowned authors from Europe, are looking forward to meeting the audience and their reactions. Despite everything, like numerous film platforms, cinema theatres continue to live. And may next 30 years of the Palić Film Festival be fortunate for us. Cheers!

Jelena Knežević