Urgent Appeal from the Serbian Film Community
"I am very happy as member of the academy and editor of filmfestivals.com to help The European Film Academy spread the word on this filmmakers initiative."
Bruno Chatelin
The European Film Academy has been contacted by a group of Serbian film professional associations who are reaching out with an open letter at a moment when their film community is coming together to speak openly about growing censorship, as well as the ongoing suspension of public funding and institutional support for independent cinema.
“We would be deeply grateful” they write, “if you could take a moment to read it and, if possible, use your platforms and voices to help raise awareness.”
“Your support and solidarity are particularly important in ensuring that these developments do not remain unseen within the broader European and international film landscape.”
“Thank you very much for your attention, and please do not hesitate to reach out should you need any additional information.”
Contact details: office@ufps.rs | https://ufps.rs
Below we share with you the complete letter.
Kind regards,
EUROPEAN FILM ACADEMY
Urgent Appeal from the Serbian Film Community
Dear Members of the International Film Community,
We are reaching out on behalf of the representative associations of Association of Film Producers of Serbia (UFPS), Serbian Film Directors’ Guild (AFRS), DokSerbia - Documentary Filmmakers of Serbia, Screenwriters Guild of Serbia (USA), Serbian Society of Cinematographers (SAS), Association of Film Artists of Serbia (UFUS), Union of Film Animators of Serbia (UFAS), Association of Film Actors of Serbia and Association of Film and Television Sound Designers of Serbia (UDZS) to inform you of the alarming situation of cinema in Serbia.
The Serbian film industry is currently facing a coordinated campaign of state-sponsored censorship. While Film Center Serbia continues to project a "business as usual" image internationally, the reality is a total freeze on funding calls designed to starve independent production.
Instead of supporting the industry, the Ministry of Culture exercises open hostility, publicly branding filmmakers as "anti-Serbian" and labeling cultural investment as "wasted" funds.
Film Center Serbia has announced no public calls for more than 14 months, despite having funds allocated in their budget. By not doing so, it is openly breaking Serbian law. Political interference, informal blacklists of filmmakers, and public attacks on artists have become systemic. Domestic projects have been excluded from accessing the public tax incentives, while previously approved cash rebate obligations to local and foreign investors remain unpaid.
Filmmakers vocally critical of the authorities are systematically denied access to public funding, regardless of their professional track record and international recognition. The leadership of film and cultural institutions has been handed to political appointees with no professional qualifications, whose primary function is to act as gatekeepers and censors.
These practices represent a serious violation of artistic freedom, transparency, and the rule of law. We call on the international film community and the European public funding institutions to be fully aware of the current conditions in Serbia and to raise their concern until lawful, transparent, and independent institutional film practices are restored.
We, Serbian filmmakers, urgently call on your solidarity and active support in defending artistic freedom and protecting the integrity of cinema in Serbia.
Sincerely,
Association of Film Producers of Serbia (UFPS)
Serbian Film Directors’ Guild (AFRS)
DokSerbia - Documentary Filmmakers of Serbia Screenwriters guild of Serbia (USS)
Serbian Society of Cinematographers (SAS)
Association of Film Artists of Serbia (UFUS)
Union of Film Animators of Serbia (UFAS)
Association of Film Actors of Serbia (UFGS)
Association of Film and Television Sound Designers of Serbia (UDZS)
