It’s Official: “Montevideo, Taste of a Dream” Named Serbian Oscar Candidate

An “Intermedia Network” production and Dragan Bjelogrlić’s directorial debut, feature film “Montevideo, Taste of a Dream” has been officially chosen as the Serbian Oscar candidate according to an almost unanimous decision of the Serbian Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AFUN). The decision regarding the Serbian candidate for the 84th American Film Academy Awards – Oscar, in the category for Best Language Film was announced at an official ceremony at the Belgrade Cinematheque. Actress and President of the jury of the Expert Committee, Radmila Živković read out the official candidate in front of media representatives, production company executives, film critics and several actors thus making the decision of the Serbian Academy official and final.

The decision of the Committee was applauded and celebrated among those present. Amidst the frenzy, “Montevideo, God Bless You” project manager Zvonimir Šimunec gave a brief statement on behalf of production company “Intermedia Network”: “We are grateful to the Serbian Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AFUN) on the trust it has bestowed upon our film, ”Montevideo, Taste of a Dream”, promoting it to a Serbian candidate for the Oscars. We believe the choice is right because in a wake of whether the film will succeed in breaking through to the top five candidates for the Oscar statue itself, it is certain da it will be seen by many influential people, not only those from the film industry. This means that they will have a chance to see an atypical Serbia, one very different from the picture painted until now by Serbian film authors. No matter that, in my opinion, the choice is logical; it represents an acknowledgement and recognition of sorts to the huge number of actors, authors and crew, to the production company itself and all its associates but above all, to the 520 000 people who went to see the ”Montevideo, Taste of a Dream” in cinemas and who in their right, eagerly await the sequel.”

Miloš Biković, the young star, who saw his rise to fame thanks to his interpretation of the film’s main protagonist Aleksandar Tirnanić Tirke also gave his thoughts concerning the candidature: “I believe that this is a great success, especially if we go into the final selection. This news is very important as an affirmation of Serbian film in general. I’m ecstatic for the whole cast and crew and all those who put their hearts in supporting us. I feel as if a national team just got qualified for the World Championship to be held in the US and I was just lucky enough to get drafted.”

Competing for the candidature, seven domestic features were nominated: “White Lions”, “White, White World”, “The Smell of Rain on The Balkans”, “The Enemy”, “Tilva Roš”, “Skinning” and “Montevideo, God Bless You”, the film that in the end won with a majority of votes from the jury. The voting was entrusted to the Academy Expert Committee made up of president Radmila Živković, directors Darko Bajić, Vera Vlajić, Milan Jelić and Ljubomir Radičević, filmologists dr. Petar Volk and Božidar Zečević, editor Jelena Đokić, actresses Dušica Žegarac and Ružica Sokić, make up artist Stanislava Zarić, director of photography Milorad Jakšić Fanđo, composer Kornelije Kovač, actor Irfan Mensur and film critic Milan D. Spiček.