International Sports Film Festival Zlatibor 2016
The 5th International Sports Film Festival will be held in Zlatibor from June 30 to July 3.
The International Sports Film Festival is listed among significant international festivals and is the only festival of its kind in the Balkans. The founders of the Festival are the Municipality of Čajetina, the Zlatibor Tourist Organization, the film production company “Maja Film,” and the International Sports Film Festival Zlatibor Association, which serves as the executive organizer.
“It is a great honor for us that the festival is held on the day marking the Municipality of Čajetina Day. This brings great satisfaction to us, the authors, and our guests, and gives us the confidence to elevate the festival to an even higher level together with the Municipality of Čajetina,” said Mihailo Todorović, Festival Director. He added that this year’s guests include renowned athletes—winners of international awards and Olympic medals: Anica Kostelić, Dražen Dalipagić, Bojan Križaj, Svetlana Kitić, and Dane Korica.
This year, Lifetime Achievement Awards in the field of film will be presented to actress Milena Dravić and posthumously to Dragan Nikolić, who, among many roles, appeared in four films centered on sports. These films will be screened in the non-competitive program: The Cyclists, Cross Country, National Class, and The Last Lap in Monza. In the competition program, the jury will evaluate 35 films.
“The festival duration is too short to present everything to the audience. We have selected three hours of program per day, aiming to showcase interesting countries, diverse sports, and high-quality films. The jury watches all entries and makes the final decisions, while we have tried to select the best programs for the audience,” said Jovan Marković, Artistic Director of the Festival.
This year, a featured sports city will also be presented—Šabac, known for its strong sports tradition and outstanding handball team “Metaloplastika.” A new addition this year is the presentation of the Special Hospital “Čigota,” recognized for its significant and well-regarded work in sports medicine. Cooperation with Filmske Novosti will continue, including an engaging exhibition and screenings from their production, such as the series World of Tennis.
Aware of the importance of such a festival, which promotes sport and a healthy lifestyle on one hand, and Zlatibor as a year-round destination on the other, the Municipality of Čajetina and the Zlatibor Tourist Organization, as its founders, continue to strongly support it in every respect.
“Year after year, the festival features an increasingly high-quality program and more distinguished guests—from award winners to authors and actors—growing into a truly significant festival. During the festival, several sporting events will take place in Zlatibor, becoming an integral part of the program. All these activities form a unified whole, organized in celebration of June 30, the Day of the Municipality of Čajetina,” said Arsen Đurić, Deputy Mayor of Čajetina.
The festival opening ceremony will take place on the evening of June 30 at the “Srbija” Congress Center. Earlier that day, the “Games Without Borders” event will be held at the “Olimp” hotel swimming pools. From July 1 to 3, a beach volleyball tournament will be आयोजित, featuring celebrated Serbian volleyball player Vanja Grbić. On July 2, the “Strongman” competition will be held at Kralj’s Square, expected to draw significant attention. Film screenings will be held each evening throughout the festival at the “Srbija” Congress Center.
Festival partners include the Olympic Committee of Serbia and the Sports Federation of Serbia, with significant support from the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Serbia.