Could Bojana Stamenov improve Serbia’s Eurovision chances by singing in English?
When Bojana Stamenov steps on stage at the Eurovision Song Contest, she will realise a childhood dream.
What she would not have seen coming is that she would make Eurovision history as the first artist to represent Serbia by singing in English.
The Belgrade-based singer won a public TV vote for her performance of a rousing ballad, Ceo Svet je Moj.
But a decision has been made that official Eurovision expert John Kennedy O’Connor believes could boost Serbia’s chances in the contest.
At the same time, it is a decision that could upset some people: Bojana is likely to sing in English.
Serbian national broadcaster RTS has previously toyed with a similar idea, releasing English promotional versions in advance of the contest.
Dutch director’s tale of NATO bombing of Belgrade informed by first-hand stories
As a Dutch director telling an emotionally loaded story set during NATO’s bombing campaign of Belgrade, Marinus Groothof knew that deep research and first-hand accounts from people who lived through the bombings could make or break the film.
For his debut feature, Marinus has delivered The Sky Above Us, a subtle dramatisation of a key incident of NATO’s strategically targeted campaign that still rankles many Serbs: the bombing of national TV station RTS, which was seen as a key disseminator of Milošević propaganda.
“People think back on that time so differently but these stories are constructed from my viewpoint of how people were dealing with life under difficult circumstances,’ said Marinus.
“I think I have stayed very true to people and how they felt at that time.”
Dutch director depicts when NATO bombs killed Serbian media
People under threat of death stay sane by living in the moment, according to Dutch director Marinus Groothof, whose debut feature shows a city struggling to retain a semblance of normality in abnormal times.
Set in Belgrade during the NATO bombing campaign in 1999, The Sky Above Us portrays the daily lives of Ana (Nada Šargin), Sloba (Boris Isakovic) and Bojan (Nikola Rakocevic), who work in or near the offices of Serbian national broadcaster, RTS.
As bombs fall all around and the building that plays such a role in their lives also puts them at risk of death, each character constructs a defence to overcome the fear and retain their sanity.
Leading Serbian actor Nikola Rakočević plays Bojan, aged 23, who immerses himself in the undergound party scene. Conflicting with this nihilistic lifestyle, Bojan is messed up about a girl and any chance of a future together.
Energy, charisma and range place Serbian Nikola Rakočević among Europe’s finest actors
Hailed by industry experts as a leading talent of European cinema, Serbian actor Nikola Rakocevic can count himself among the ranks of World-leading European actors.
As well as enjoying success as one of the Balkan’s foremost young actors with lead roles in acclaimed Serbian films including Circles/Krugovi (2013), Skinning/Šišanje (2010) and The Man Who Defended Gavrilo Princip/Branio sam Mladu Bosnu (2014), Nikola has attracted international interest.
In recent months, cinema audiences have seen this actor from central Serbia extend his repertoire with his first English-language role in Travelator (2014) from director Dušan Milić.
Nikola’s latest film The Sky Above Us from first-time Dutch director Marinus Groothof premiered at Rotterdam’s International Film Festival, last month.
