Addressing a packed “Vlaja” cinema—which was filled on all four festival nights—festival founder and actor Jovan Jelisavčić thanked both his fellow citizens and his colleagues for the special bond they share with Bašta Fest.
“You are the most valuable part of this festival. Both you, the filmmakers who come here to screen your work, and our wonderful colleagues who are always ready to step in—whether to be the jury or lend a hand—as well as our dear residents of Bajina Bašta who come to watch the films. You are the festival; we are merely here to handle the logistics, but without you, there would be no essence to it,” said Jelisavčić.
The final night and closing ceremony were marked by the presentation of awards, with twenty-six films competing. This year’s main jury comprised actor Dragan Mićanović, producer Marija Maša Lero, and director Guido Casale, the founder and programmer of Italy’s Adriatic Film Festival.
They awarded the “Golden Imagination” prize for Best Film to the Belgian-French production “Barlebas”, directed by Malu Janssen. “It is a powerful tale of female resilience, brought to life through striking black-and-white cinematography, resonant music, and a remarkable performance by the lead actress,” the jury stated in its explanation.
The “Golden Interpretation” award for Best Actress went to Croatian actress Snježana Sinovčić Šiškov for her role in the film “Hysterical Fit of Laughter”, directed by Dušan Zorić and Matija Gluščević; in it, she portrayed one of the most complex female characters in this year’s selection. “Thanks to a masterful performance and exceptionally thoughtful directorial guidance, she managed to avoid caricature and imbued the character with depth and humanity, making her simultaneously intriguing, convincing, and deeply authentic,” the jury stated.
The “Golden Interpretation” award for Best Actor was unanimously awarded to Czech actor Tomáš Čapek for his role in the film “Dog and Wolf”. “Within a short film, he presented us with a range of characters—delivered powerfully, emotionally, and with youthful inspiration, boyish charm, playfulness, and allure,” the jury noted.
In addition to the main awards, the jury presented three special mentions; the first went to the French film “No Skate!” by Guil Sela, whose directorial approach lends the film a distinct auteur voice while conveying a story of friendship with clarity and rich emotional depth. A second special mention was awarded to director Adem Tutić for the film “Tarik”; through an exceptionally mature and thoughtful directorial style, he told a powerful, emotionally resonant story about identity and belonging. Another special mention went to the outstanding cast of the film “Nightcap”—comprising Iva Ilinčić, Miona Marković, Aleksandar Vučković, and Nedim Nezirović—for bravely venturing into the ruthless world of complex relationships, resolutely defending their characters while placing immense trust in one another.
The “Golden Visualization” regional award for best cinematography—presented in partnership with the rental company Cineplanet—was also awarded. The decision was made by cinematographer Mladen Teofilović, who announced that the honor goes to Aleksa Radunović, the cinematographer of the film “Hysterical Fit of Laughter”. “Among eight vastly different regional films, one powerful and stripped-back visual approach stood out. In its simplicity, it enriches the cinematic experience through an extraordinary and authentic technique, playing with fundamental tools—accessible to everyone yet often abandoned today due to trends,” stated Teofilović, adding that Radunović’s cinematography serves as a reminder and proof that a functional, well-conceived visual approach depends entirely on the creator’s creativity.
This year’s youth jury consisted of high school students Mario Jašić, Jovan Mandić, Teodora Petronijević, Sofija Živković, and Mateja Josipović, who worked with director Tara Gajović during the festival. Their award also went to the film “No Skate!”, with the jury stating in their joint explanation: “The film follows two young people who, at first glance, appear to have no connection to one another. Through their individual vulnerabilities and fears, they discover the beauty of everyday life. With its humorous tone, the film highlights the importance of living life to the fullest.”
As part of the festival’s side program, the seventh edition of Bašta Pitch took place, featuring creative teams working on five upcoming film projects under the mentorship of director Raško Miljković and producer Milan Stojanović. The jury—comprising director Vladimir Tagić, Prof. Dr. Vladimir Đurđević, and festival founder Maja Šuša—awarded the prize for best presentation to director Đorđije Petrović and producer Katarina Putić, who are developing the film “Through the Teeth of Ana and Her Mom”.
The festival concluded with a screening of Vladimir Tagić’s film “Yugo Florida”, followed by a discussion with the director, actress Hana Selimović, and cinematographer Aleksandar Karaulić. This upheld the tradition of closing the festival with a debut feature film that, in the view of the Bašta Fest team, defined the past year.