Museum of Yugoslavia cancels screening of documentary ‘Blum’

The screening of the documentary film ‘Blum - Gospodari svoje budućnosti’ was abruptly cancelled in Belgrade at the Museum of Yugoslavia. The film, directed by Jasmila Žbanić, was scheduled to conclude the ‘Summer in the Museum’ event but was removed without an official explanation.

Žbanić stated that the decision was made by the newly appointed acting director of the museum, Gordana Vujović. The cancellation has drawn sharp protests from the museum’s Union and Professional Council.

In a social media post, Žbanić questioned whether the cancellation was due to her identity or the film’s subject matter. She suggested the decision might stem from an attempt to silence or erase the socialist past depicted in the work. The documentary focuses on Emerik Blum, the founder of Energoinvest, and explores his life, work, and the company’s unique business model. The film was produced in 2024 and has previously been shown at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York.