The International Festival of Debut Feature Fiction Films, Džada Film Fest (DžFF),which celebrated its юбilar edition this year and for the first time included a competitive short film selection, was officially closed on Sunday, September 7, with a screening of the film “The Stork” at the Montenegrin Cinematheque.
It was a film as a full stop. Clear, powerful, and inevitable. A message and an answer. A reminder that culture is the strongest language when we want to speak about what truly matters.
During the festival week, audiences had the opportunity to watch 34 films. Of these, 22 competed in the short film category and 6 in the debut feature-length fiction category, curated by directors Sara Stijović and Nemanja Bečanović.
The professional jury of the feature-length fiction competition - Dušan Kovačević, actor and producer; Marija Vickovićactress; and Vlado Bulajić producer—unanimously decided that the film“Little Trouble Girls” by Urška Djukić is the Best Debut Feature Fiction Film of the 10th edition of DžFF.
“Through a visually striking and intense narrative, the film depicts the inner struggle of a young girl, often shaped and restrained by social norms and religious frameworks. For this reason, the jury unanimously considers it both a brave and subtle project, with remarkable contours and all the defining qualities of ‘European cinema.’ It delicately—and at moments powerfully—uses visual poetry to speak about the emotional and identity processes young women go through. In a sea of films and stories that still relegate female characters to the background, denying them true reasons for existence, Urška’s Good Girls finds a path to everyone’s heart,”the jury’s explanation reads, delivered on behalf of the jury by actress Marija Vicković.
The Best Director Award in the same category was presented to Vladimiru Tagiću for the film “Yugo Florida.” According to the jury, his distinctive authorial hand is evident in his meticulous and dedicated work with actors, who under his guidance delivered rich and layered performances.
„“Tagić demonstrates an impeccable sense of narrative rhythm, while his frame poetics stand out in particular—each composition carries inner tension and symbolic value, yet remains fully in service of storytelling. His ability to connect an individual perspective with universal themes makes the film striking and artistically complete. Through his work, Vladimir Tagić confirms his status as one of the most important representatives of the new generation of Serbian filmmakers and sets high standards for contemporary cinematic expression,”emphasized jury president Dušan Kovačević.
The jury also awarded a Special Mention to the powerful and subtle drama „Cold Sigh“ —a film intertwining themes of revenge, honor, and the legacy of domestic violence. As stated in the explanation, read by producer Vlado Bulajić, „“Thoughtful direction, supported by striking cinematography of cold, muted landscapes, creates a dense atmosphere that amplifies the characters’ inner unrest. Outstanding acting performances carry the film’s emotional weight and deserve special recognition for their sincerity and intensity. With this Special Mention, we highlight the film’s artistic courage and its ability to resonate long after the screening.”“.
Džada Film Fest new competitive short film selection, new competitive short film selection,which undoubtedly added an important dimension to the festival and opened doors to young short fiction filmmakers.
The professional jury in this category—film critic, Zoran Janković, producer, Marija Vlahović, and director Carina-Gabriela Dasoveanu unanimously decided to award the Best Debut Short Fiction Film of the 10th DžFF to „Astro“ by Tim Ewaltsa , citing the work’s maturity and cohesive whole.“This film has it all—a fresh and well-developed idea, a likable main character, an intriguing context of selling illusions and false hope over the phone, and an ever-relevant theme of awakening consciousness and a sense of responsibility toward others, even when we do not know them and may never meet them,”the jury statement reads, presented by Zoran Janković.
The New Voice Award was given to “Land of the Dead Deer” by directors Anahita Qarche and Soroush Javadzadeh. “This film evocatively reminds us of the power of tenderness as a cinematic motif. The story radiates a balanced, dreamlike spirit, refined visual culture, and a nuanced atmosphere of slowly unfolding tragedy,” noted Marija Vlahović in the jury’s explanation.
Within a truly rich selection of 22 short films,the jury also wished to highlight acting performances from two additional works.“We believe that mature, understated yet striking performances by Gentrit Shala in the filmSOS“Anita Morina, as well as the posthumous performance of Dostana Nikolić in the film5/3/0“by director Danilo Stanimirović,deserve special commendation,” the jury stated.
The monetary component of the awards was once again provided by Universal Capital Banka.
The tenth year of shared celebration in honor of film and art has come to a close. And it’s just the beginning.