Davolja Varos is Devil's Town!
Devil's Town will be presented at upcoming AFM (American Film Market) November -03-10, 2010
Welcome to Devil's Town (2009), the new international award winning masterpiece film by writer/director Vladimir Paskaljevic. A new addition to sales company Film Planet Entertainment, we promise to make sure the world will visit Davolja Varos, Devil's Town, with us.
Vladimir kindly took time out of his busy schedule to answer some questions for me. Well, we are friends so I would have hunted him down unti he did! lol! :-)
ME: "So, Vlad, can you explain to the world the meaning behind Devil's Town? It's a real place in Serbia from what I understand. And what was the inspiration behind making this film?"
VLAD: "One of main characters wanted to fund a movie about DEVIL'S TOWN, a popular geographical locality in Serbia and a myth. At the same time it is a metaphor about characters in my film. I was inspired by the life itself. I am big admirer of Italian Neorealism. The film is done on authentical settings with actors that knew what I was talking about.
I wanted to make film on Belgrade and Serbia as it is today. Maybe the topic is too general but I think that it perfectly fitted the form of mosaic-structured film. Small stories from reality."
ME: "Your film has traveled to festivals around the world. Can you talk about how this independent Serbian film has been received by international viewers?"
VLAD: "Well, it depends, but I think that it was generally well accepted America-wise, considering the fact that it is European film. It won second prize in Palm Springs and it was invited to many festivals. In Trieste, Italy it won First Prize, in some other countries some other prizes."
ME: "Serbia indeed has a significant film industry but it is not well known to the rest of the world. Can you share with us something about Serbian film in general, especially in a new Serbia?"
VLAD: "Well, Serbian cinema was very interesting before the civil war. We had many directors that had success in Cannes, Venice, etc. and that had World Wide distribution. They were generally films about reality and comedies about social changes during so called Communism. Now it is different, the audience and the distribution itself shrunk and you cannot make money and fund the film unless you get state subsidiary. I didn't get funds so my producer put his own money knowing that he might not see it again. But he did it and he is very happy with general acceptance."
ME: "Well, you are lucky. If your film had failed, he might have taken you to Devil's Town and left you there! :-) lol! But really, you should be very proud of yourself as it is a fantastic film and we hope to see it available worldwide very soon. So, what is your next project? can you share with the public yet?"
VLAD: "I am working on two very different projects. One is social comedy about family addicted to TV and idea of being famous. Other is something that should really be neorealist style story about children of the street and they should act themselves."
ME: "Im excited about the family obsessed with TV story. That one sounds like a good dark comedy, another dark reality portraying modern Serbia from your POV no doubt? :-) Vlad, just one more question as I know you are super busy. How was the Palic European Film Festival? You were on the jury!!!"
VLAD: "Well, Palic is the place where I had national premiere with DEVIL'S TOWN last year and they invited me to be in the juty this year."
ME: "Awesome, Vlad! You rock! Thank you! Cant wait to see your next projects in film festivals and international cinemas. And leave it to Film Planet Entertainment to bring Devil's Town to the planet! haha! Or the planet to Devil's Town! You are a super talent. Encore! Encore!"
see film trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32rFL9-lLv0
Interview by, Vanessa McMahon on July 20, 2010
writer/director Vladimir Paskaljevic
