The 11th Sports Film Festival Officially Closed
The 11th International Sports Film Festival concluded with a ceremonial closing event held on August 28 at the Cultural Center in Zlatibor.
The beginning of the closing ceremony was dedicated to the recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Awards. As was the case on Thursday, when the audience was overwhelmed with powerful emotions inspired by sports legends Ilija Jorga, Zoran “Tuta” Živković, Đorđe Perišić, Aleksandar Kerković, and the hero of sport and life, Draženko Mitrović, the “hall of fame” of Zlatibor was completed this evening with this year’s distinguished honorees.
The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Hadži Petar Božović. The actor, remembered for his unforgettable role as Danilo Živić in the country’s most acclaimed sports TV series “More Than a Game,” has performed hundreds of roles in theater, film, and television—many of them timeless and truly anthological. The award was presented by Arsen Đurić, President of the Organizing Committee, while the artist won over the audience by reciting verses from the poem “Zlatibore, Who Gave You Your Name.”
The ceremony continued with a special recognition awarded to KK Zlatibor, which achieved the greatest success in its history by winning the regional ABA 2 League last season. Awards were also presented to the best films from this year’s festival program.
Four special recognitions were awarded to the films “Lele, What Have We Done, Rejoice Macedonia” by Ljubomir Ošakakovski, “Medals for Life” by Dejan Nikolić, and “The Golden Year of Užice Basketball” by Dragan Pejić. A special recognition was also awarded to Muhamed Bikić for the films “Škija” and “Željo’s Hundredth.”
The award for the best film on moral values went to Dušan Moravec from Slovenia for “Partisan Skiing – Cerkno ’45,” produced by Radio Television Slovenia. The film tells the story of the partisan winter Olympics held in occupied Europe during World War II.
The award for best cinematography, design, and innovation went to “The Most Beautiful Day of Life,” directed by Ivica Vidanović and Aleksandar Miletić. The film depicts the historic sporting success of Red Star football club, winning its only European champion title.
The best film about a sports personality is “The Sixth Circle,” by Miodrag Popov and directed by Tamara Popov Radonjić. The film is dedicated to Branislav Simić, champion and winner of Yugoslavia’s first Olympic gold medal in wrestling at the 1964 Tokyo Games, serving as a powerful example that perseverance and patience pay off—not only in sports, but in all aspects of life.
The “Dinko Tucaković” Award for Best Director was presented to Nataša Šević for “Don’t Be Upset That I Fell Silent for a Moment,” a film centered on the celebrated basketball coach Željko Obradović. The appearance of renowned actor and passionate Partizan supporter Bogdan Diklić adds a memorable dimension that leaves a lasting impression on viewers.
The Best Feature Film award went to “Tigers,” last year’s Swedish Oscar submission, directed by Ronnie Sandahl.
The Best Feature-Length Documentary award was given to “The Jump,” directed by Ivica Vidanović, about basketball player Nataša Kovačević, who, after a serious traffic accident, refused to let adversity define her. The film celebrates courage and the will to live, portraying a determined young woman who fought unwaveringly for her place under the sun.
The Best Mid-Length Documentary award went to “The Way of the Empty Hand,” directed by Miloš Todorović, which explores the beginnings and development of karate in Montenegro.
The Best Short Documentary award went to the Pakistani film “Anita, the Hand Collector,” directed by Mustafa Husain.
The Grand Prix of the International Sports Film Festival “Zlatibor 2022” was awarded to “Gligorić’s Mar del Plata: The King’s Indian Variation,” directed by Ognjen Rakčević.
“I got the idea to make a film about Svetozar Gligorić back in 2016. Film production is very similar to team sports—if you have good players and a strong team, you achieve top results. I had Todorović, Marković, Lučić, Božović, and thanks to them I was able to create this film,” said Rakčević.
This innovative film is part of the author’s multimedia doctoral art project, as he serves as an assistant professor at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade.
The festival concluded with a screening of the film “Golden Boy.” Over the course of three days, a total of 43 documentary and feature sports films were presented. The jury members were Dušan Cicvara, Arijana Helać Saračević, and Oliver Paunović, and the awarded films qualified for the world’s largest sports film festival, held in Milan each November.