Serbian actor Slaven Došlo is primed for his first international film roles
The world is calling for award-winning Serbian actor Slaven Došlo, who plans to shoot his first English-language role this summer.
Scripts have been rolling in since the charismatic star of acclaimed films Pored Mene, Panama and Vlažnost was crowned a rising star of European cinema with his first international acting award.
Even before his next film Biser Bojana (dir. Milan Karadžić) opens in cinemas on 16 February, Slaven will be meeting with producers to progress two international film projects.
“If everything goes well it looks like I should be shooting my first role in English this summer,’ said Slaven. “There’s a whole world out there and I want to deliver roles that appeal to English-speaking audiences.”
International film roles follow year of awards
Scooping an international acting award in Ireland late in 2016 gave the young actor from Sombor the encouragement to break out beyond Balkan borders, as he explained.
“It was a great honour to be given an award with some of the most influential people of the international film and TV industry sitting in the audience,’ said Slaven, 25 (pictured with multiple Oscar-nominated director Jim Sheridan).
“But my excitement wasn’t only about the award. The most precious thing I got there was an inside look at the machinery of the international cinema industry.
“I travelled the world last year: Berlin, Houston in Texas, Sarajevo and Kilkenny in Ireland. I met many creative, smart and brave artists from all over the globe.
“As well as making some valuable contacts, those experiences influenced my point of view and opened a lot of questions and opportunities for me.”
In less than two years, Slaven has clocked up acclaim roles for his first three feature films, achieved numerous theatrical accolades, and attracted critical praise for his role in TV hit Vojna Akademija / Military Academy (RTS).
“Everyone has been so supportive of my work, at home and abroad,’ said Slaven. “My films have all received international awards and good reviews, which is almost unheard of for Serbian cinema.”
Slaven Došlo: Actor of the Year
Success came knocking when Slaven was named Best Male Actor by the Niš Film Festival for his lead in Panama (dir. Pavle Vucković), which was lauded at the Cannes Film Festival.
But it was Pored Mene / Next to Me (dir. Stevan Filipovic) that brought most attention after it won Best Film at the Pula International Film Festival, the Young Audience Award in Sarajevo, and Slaven was named Actor of the Year by Men’s Health Serbia.
The sparks of international interest came when Slaven was declared a young talent of European cinema at the Berlinale 2016 Film Festival.
His next project Vlažnost / Humidity (dir. Nikola Ljuca) won Best Film at the Belgrade International Film Festival and went on to pick up awards at festivals worldwide.
In December, he was named best actor in Belgrade Theatre’s production of Peter Pan. To cap that, his short film Fluffy/Flafi (dir. Lee Filipovski) was declared one of the year’s top ten short films in Canada.
“2016 was the year where everything I was working on became visible,’ he said. “It was a year full of challenges and hard work but I had a smile on my face at the end of it.
“It was busy but I’m always more motivated by a busy schedule. The level of attention can be nerve-wracking, but it encourages me to push ahead, to develop myself as an artist and do even better work in 2017. I am always very grateful to have the privilege to do something I love.”
New year, new play: A New Age
Even before Biser Bojane opens in cinemas next month, Slaven will appear o stage alongside Serbia’s acting doyenne Mirjana Karanović in the play Novo Doba / A New Age (dir. Dino Mustafić) from Vuk Bošković.
“The play deals with the political mess in today’s Serbia and the transition from socialism to capitalism that was initially misunderstood as a positive wave of democracy and equality,’ said Slaven.
“Now it looks like it was just further exploitation of a state that once was great and rich.
“Novo Doba is a very well-written play about the extinction of idols and ideals and the sacrifice of humanity in the name of our new God: money.”
As a mentor, Slaven could not hope for better than Mirjana Karanović.
“Mira taught me that no one can live your life for you,’ said Slaven.
“You can complain but the only person who can be held responsible is you. So, get on with it. Make your own chances and take the opportunities that come to you with both hands. That was a valuable lesson from an extraordinary person. I owe her a lot.”
Novo Doba will premiere at Belgrade’s BITEF theatre on Saturday, 21 January, before a short regional tour. He is currently starring as Aladdin at the Boško Buha theatre.
To steer his career, Slaven works closely with his London-based manager, Marcus Agar. “Slaven is an outstanding actor with magnetic screen presence and clear international appeal,’ the film producer and consultant said.
“Slaven has embraced success and matured into a highly motivated and passionate actor with focus, commitment and ambition. He has seen what he can achieve and he is hungry for the opportunities ahead.”
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