Film Scenario Festival in Vrnjačka Banja faces criticism

The 50th Film Scenario Festival is held in Vrnjačka Banja from August 9 to 13 under the slogan "Half a Century of Golden Words." The jubilee edition features 13 films in the competitive program, including four premieres.

Vladimir Đurđević, president of the Association of Serbian Screenwriters, criticized the event, stating the festival has been "usurped from screenwriters and handed over to producers and political structures." He described the current state of the festival as "makeup on a corpse," noting that the Association of Serbian Screenwriters has had no cooperation with the event for two years.

Observers have noted the dominance of films produced by Željko Mitrović’s Apollon Media, which accounts for four of the 13 selected films. Critics pointed out that, similar to the previous year, none of the films selected for the festival have been recognized at international festivals. The jury includes writer Svetislav Basara, screenwriter Biljana Maksić, and Miloš Janković.