Organ harvesting film from first-time director Branko Tomovic
Organ harvesting in the criminal underground is the gruesome subject of the directorial debut of London-based Serb actor Branko Tomovic.
The star of 24: Live Another Day, The Bourne Ultimatum and Brad Pitt’s WWII tank story Fury, co-wrote the dark thriller with young writer Paul D. Clancy.
The film is a character study about Niklas, a tormented and guilt-ridden surgeon who targets the clients of young prostitute Mia to harvest organs for the ‘red market’.
“Niklas is a troubled character with a complicated past,’ said Branko. “He is a loner, a man of few words.
“He exists in the shadows like a hit man, performing his job with cold precision, but he has grown to hate himself for the man he has become.”
Exciting young actor Slaven Došlo unruffled by Serbia’s first gay screen kiss
Charismatic young Serbian actor Slaven Došlo is rapidly becoming a darling of the European festival circuit for his daring stand-out role in writer-director Stevan Filipović‘s acclaimed high school drama Pored Mene (Next to Me).
Slaven has attracted special praise, including from The Hollywood Reporter, for his role as a sharp-witted gay college boy who enjoys Serbian cinema’s first teenage gay kiss.
The film, which was named Best Film at the Pula International Film Festival and won the Young Audience Award at the Sarajevo Film Festival, had its premiere in Belgrade, this week.
Audiences have been vocal in their support for Pored Mene (Next to Me), including rapturous applause at the Belgrade premiere (23 Sept), which was attended by HRH Crown Prince, the Crown Princess, plus HRH Prince Petar.
International acclaim for Serbian teen drama Next to Me
When a Serbian film makes waves beyond the domestic market, critics and audiences sit up and pay attention.
As thought-provoking and socially relevant high school drama Pored Mene (Next to Me) clocks up international awards and acclaim, the signs are strong for this will translate into bums on seats.
Next to Me, the latest cinema release from one of Serbia’s leading young writer-directors Stevan Filipović was a champion right out of the blocks.
After being named Best Film on its world premiere at last month’s Pula International Film Festival, it showed that this honour was not a fluke by winning the Young Audience Award at the Sarajevo Film Festival.
Sensing that they were on to something special international film critics, including Hollywood Reporter, soon added their acclaim.
Kickstarter campaign raises funds for Serb director’s first film
A crowd-funded film project about the underground trade in human organs would be enough challenge for any young director.
But acclaimed actor Branko Tomovic saw it as an ideal project to showcase his talent as a first-time film maker.
The appetite for such about the ‘red market’ would seem to be shared by an audience as pledges are coming in to finance the short film and shooting is scheduled for January.
“Getting money to make a film is always nail-biting, especially with independent cinema, where raising even small budgets can be a burden on the process,’ said Branko.
“We chose to reach out through a campaign on the Kickstarter platform, to give the potential audience a chance to get involved in making Red a reality.”
