Documentary Filmmakers from Around the World Arrive in Užice for Interaction
Documentary Filmmakers from Around the World Arrive in Užice for Interaction
Užice will host around 100 documentary filmmakers who will participate in six different programs
Užice, July 24, 2024 – The international production, educational, and programming platform Interaction, which has been nurturing short documentary films for nearly two decades, will once again bring together film academy students, renowned documentary filmmakers, lecturers from around the world, and high school students who are just entering the world of film.
From August 20 to 27, Užice will host around 100 documentary filmmakers who will participate in six different Interaction programs. This year, Interaction includes the 19th edition of the Student Film Camp, the 3rd edition of the Short Documentary Film Festival, the 12th edition of the Doc Workshop, the Teen Doc Workshop, and a new program, XR Interaction – Co-Creating the Future.
Student Film Camp
This year’s Interaction, like previous years, begins with the arrival of fifteen participants of the Student Film Camp, who will film three short documentaries in Užice, Požega, and Čačak from August 10 to 26, on the topic Vanishing Footprints. The participants will work under the mentorship of Efim Graboy, an Israeli director, and the films will have a pre-premiere screening on August 26 at the official closing of the Interaction Festival in Užice, and traditionally the day after at the Hall of the Cultural Center of Belgrade.
Doc Workshop
The Doc Workshop, part of Interaction since 2011, is intended for film professionals, students, and those looking to improve their skills in the field of creative documentary film. This year, 28 participants will attend lectures by renowned experts Rada Šešić and Chris Filippone. Five participants whose projects are selected for Doc in Progress will work with tutors to develop their projects.
Interaction Festival
The third edition of the Interaction Festival, dedicated to short creative documentaries, will be held from August 20 to 26 in Užice, at the Summer Garden of the City Cultural Center. The competition program will feature 15 short documentaries, and audiences in Požega and Čačak will also be able to follow the festival program. Awards will be presented at the official closing on August 26 in Užice.
Teen Doc Workshop
Since last year, the Teen Doc Workshop allows teenagers from Serbia, the region, Italy, and Albania to learn about documentary filmmaking and develop their creativity. This year, the workshop gathers 24 participants from 8 countries, under the mentorship of prominent film professionals.
Meet2Talk Program (M2T)
Meet2Talk is a supplementary program of Interaction, designed to allow participants of all programs to meet, exchange experiences, and discuss important topics in the field of production and contemporary documentary film. This year’s M2T includes public programs – one panel and five talk sessions with renowned experts from around the world, as well as an internal program – Speed Meetings for participants of all Interaction programs, aimed at providing opportunities for exchange of ideas and establishing potential long-term collaborations through organized expert consultations.
XR Interaction
XR Interaction – Co-Creating the Future is a new program that includes an XR exhibition and conference, supported by the Visegrad Fund. The program features an exhibition of interactive XR works and 360 XR documentaries, as well as a series of online workshops for young creators in the field of documentary films and animation.
In addition to the programs that will be held live during Interaction, Interaction XR includes a series of online workshops for which applications are open until August 1, inviting young creators (ages 13-21) in the field of documentary films and animation to expand the impact of their filmmaking through the latest XR/VR/AI technologies and immersive storytelling.
Interaction 2024 is organized by the Independent Film Center Filmart, as part of the Užice – Capital of Culture of Serbia 2024 program, in collaboration with the Užice City Cultural Center, and with the support of the Ministry of Culture of Serbia, the Film Center of Serbia, the Ministry of Tourism and Youth, the City of Užice, the City of Čačak, the Municipality of Požega, the US Embassy in Belgrade, support from the Swiss government within the Culture for Democracy project implemented by the Heartefact Fund, the Visegrad Fund, CEI – Central European Initiative, the British Council (through the CC4WBs program), the Heinrich Böll Foundation in Belgrade, Media Desk – Creative Europe Serbia, the Austrian Cultural Forum, Cinnamon Films and Textil Užice companies, the Business Club of Western Serbia, and other partners.