Niš to host competing film festivals featuring Jean-Claude Van Damme

The city of Niš is set to host two competing film festival concepts this summer, highlighting a divide in cultural organization and institutional support. One event, organized by actors and filmmakers, seeks to uphold the traditions of the long-standing Niš film festivities but has been denied access to the symbolic Summer Stage at the Fortress, forcing them to relocate to the Nišava quay and Cine Grand cinema.

In contrast, a government-backed manifestation will feature Belgian action star Jean-Claude Van Damme as a special guest at the International Film Festival in Niš, scheduled from August 25 to 30. Media mogul Željko Mitrović announced that Van Damme will attend and revealed ongoing discussions regarding the possibility of the actor filming his final movie in Serbia under Mitrović’s production.

Local observers have noted that the presence of Van Damme serves as a significant symbolic element in this cultural duel, raising questions about who holds the right to public space and institutional support in Serbia.