Nikola Vranjkovic: Evening Bells

"Life of a Mutt" tells true, intimate and authentic stories from the perspective of stray dogs. Combining documentary material with hand drawn animation and voice over, we are crossing between genres and forms of documentary, fiction and animation, giving our silent heroes a voice. The inspiration comes from ancient Indian, Russian, British stories. Combining seven scenes into one life story - from birth to birth again, we witness their dignifying fight for survival, while also touching upon existential questions, such as the marginalized groups, nature and the environment, and highlighting esteemed values such as love, friendship and trust.

Stefan reunites with his family to celebrate his grandmother's birthday for the first time after his mother's recent passing. This homecoming, driven by his urge to complete a film about his mother and an attempt to make amends by rescuing a stray dog, will ignite an introspective journey for Stefan. Inspired by the director's real-life experiences and starring his actual family members in a mission to complete a lake house and a film, this is an intimate cinematic exploration of the timeless mother-son relationship.

Bor, in eastern Serbia, was once home to the largest copper mine in Europe. Now it’s just the biggest hole. This astutely observed coming-of-age film captures the pitfalls of the adult world, where idealism no longer seems to have a place, as two teens come to realize they have no choice but to grow up.

The tavern "Jablan" existed in the 1980s and was located in a small village, Jugovo Polje, in Croatia, SFRY. "Jablan" was a symbol of "brotherhood and equality" for its owners, guests, musicians, and waiters. It was a place where people of different generations and education gathered - from workers and peasants to doctors, even music and sports stars of the '80s, it was a place where nationality and religious affiliation played no role. Nevertheless, the first shooting between Serbs and Croats took place in "Jablan", which heralded the war in Croatia and ended "Jablan's carefree days". The film protagonists reconstruct the events, from the day the tavern was created, to its destruction, witnessing how a place of love and joy became an object of hatred and destruction within a few months.