A film by Alen Šimić, Academy of Performing Arts student awarded at the festival in Leskovac

The thirteenth edition of the Leskovac International Film Directing Festival - LIFFE ended with a solemn award ceremony and screening of Gordan Kičić's directorial debut “Realna priča.” The festival was held from 25 to 29 September at several locations in Leskovac and online, organized by the Leskovac Cultural Center. Within the 13th Festival edition, 41 films were shown in 4 categories, three of which were competitive and one revue. Academy of Performing Arts, University of Sarajevo participated in the program with as many as three student films: B4 by Alen Šimić, MY DAD CLOWN by Sara Ristić and PLEHAN by Luka Vlaho. 

The jury consisting of Boban Skerlićc, Miloš Vlalukin and Dragan Jović unanimously declared the winners in the selection of Student Films, and the second award “Radomir Bajo Šaranović” for the best young director went to Alen Šimić for directing the film B4. The Grand Prix for the best young director went to Lovro Mrđana from Croatia for directing the film PEČAT, and the winner of the third prize is Nina Ognjanović from Serbia for directing the film PLAČU. 

By the way, the film B4 premiered at the Sarajevo Film Festival, where it won the award for the best student film in BH film selection. The film was made as a Master Thesis by student Alen Šimić at the Department of Directing. 

Academy of Performing Arts in Sarajevo students continue to successfully show their films that were made as part of the teaching process at the Academy. Thus, the student film SNORTY directed by Alen Šimić will be screened at BHFF New York from October 28 to 31, 2020, and the film SCARS by Almir Zoletić will be screened at the Balkan Panorama Film Festival from October 15 to 21.