Kustendorf Film Festival Kicks Off in Serbia

The festival will open with a photo exhibition featuring work by Italian cameraman and photographer Arturo Zavattini. Twenty photographs Zavattini took during the filming of Dolce Vita by Federico Fellini will be on display followed by a performance inspired by scenes from Fellini's Amarcord.

This year, 20 films from 12 countries are in the race for the Golden, Silver and Bronze Egg. The festival, which ends on January 12, will include 38 films.  

In its tradition of paying tribute to the world's greatest filmmakers, Kustendorf will present the second episode of the documentary series "Golden Sixties" dedicated to Otakar Vavra, the renowned Czech director and teacher. Vavra, the founder of the famous film academy in Prague and Kusturica’s former professor, will turn 100 in February this year.

Other special guests include celebrated Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami, Mexican actor Gael Garcia Bernal and Russian director Nikita Mikhalkov.

The festival is organised by Rasta International and sponsored by the Serbian Ministry of Culture. It is a non-commercial event and does not have a red carpet, although top names in cinema are regularly in attendance. Last year Hollywood star Johnny Depp made an appearance at the event.