Original title: Kafana na Balkanu
Martina is a good immigrant. At least she's always done everything she can to be perceived as such in Germany. But then she meets the young Dunja during a short vacation at Lake Starnberg. Dunja is self-confident, non-conformist and, above all, she stands by her Yugoslavian and Balkan origins - unlike Martina. Suddenly, Martina is forced to confront a part of her identity that she has repressed all her life.
Excerpt from a review, translated from Italian to English:
„The short film suggests that, sometimes, the real battle is not fought with bureaucratic difficulties or the prejudice of the host country, but with the ghost of who we were, with the dormant memories of our culture of origin, and with the person we gave up to gain a place in the sun. It is a powerful reminder: identity is baggage that cannot be left at the border.“
Cast Ružica Hajdari, Senita Huskić, Franziska Roth, Arne Kübler, Luis Lüps, Katharina Gschnell, Ann-Sophie Spindler & René Oltmanns
Director & Editor Boris Gavrilović
Screenwriters Boris Gavrilović, Laura Lybaschenko & Ecem Çalışır
Director of Photography & Color Grading Leander Hartung
Creative Producer Kirsten Wehr
Production Design Raphael Stauch
Costume Design Jana Köstler
Hair & Make-Up Kamill Lippa & Mai Strathmann
Sound Recording Stella Deborah Traub
Sound Design Matthias Kristen
A University for Television and Film Munich (HFF Munich) production
Distribution & World Sales by Interfilm Berlin / Broadcast on ARTE
Filmfestivals, Prizes & Screenings
Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival 2024 - Award for Outstanding Performance
Interfilm Berlin 2023 - Second Jury Prize & Audience Award
Brussels Short Film Festival 2024 - ESFAA Programme
Kortfilm Festivalen / Norwegian Short Film Festival 2024 - Official Competition
Vienna Shorts 2024 - Out of Competition Programme
Curtas Vila Do Conde 2024 - ESFAA Programme
Filmschoolfest Munich 2024 - German Competition
Norwich Film Festival 2024 - Nominated for Best Short Film
Sarajevo Youth Film Festival 2024 - Award for Best Short Film
Film School Festival Tetouan 2024 - Prize of the Jury
Alcine - Festival de Cine de Alcalá de Henares 2024 - ESFAA Programme
Landshut Short Film Festival 2024 - Official Competition
Sehsüchte International Student Film Festival 2024 - Official Competition
Cinemed Montpellier 2024 - Official Competition
Riga International Short Film Festival 2Annas 2024 - Official Competition
Psarokokalo Festival 2024 - Official Competition
Hvar Film Festival 2024 - Official Competition
21. Neisse Film Festival - Official Competition
50th International Filmfestival Würzburg - Official Competition
Shortynale 2024 - Official Competition
47. Grenzland Filmtage - Official Competition
Open-Air Filmfest Weiterstadt 2024 - Official Competition
Return Film & Art Festival 2024 - Official Competition
Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival 2025 - ESFAA Programme
Tampere Short Film Festival 2025 - ESFAA Programme
Bolton International Film Festival 2025 - Nominated for Best Short Film
BuSho Short Film Festival 2025 - Award for Best Performance
Bolton International Film Festival 2025 - Official Competition
Passage d'Autore Festival 2025 - Official Competition
Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival 2026 - Retrospective Programme
Director & Editor Boris Gavrilović
Screenwriters Boris Gavrilović, Laura Lybaschenko & Ecem Çalışır
Director of Photography & Color Grading Leander Hartung
Creative Producer Kirsten Wehr
Production Design Raphael Stauch
Costume Design Jana Köstler
Hair & Make-Up Kamill Lippa & Mai Strathmann
Sound Recording Stella Deborah Traub
Sound Design Matthias Kristen
A University for Television and Film Munich (HFF Munich) production
Distribution & World Sales by Interfilm Berlin / Broadcast on ARTE
Filmfestivals, Prizes & Screenings
Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival 2024 - Award for Outstanding Performance
Interfilm Berlin 2023 - Second Jury Prize & Audience Award
Brussels Short Film Festival 2024 - ESFAA Programme
Kortfilm Festivalen / Norwegian Short Film Festival 2024 - Official Competition
Vienna Shorts 2024 - Out of Competition Programme
Curtas Vila Do Conde 2024 - ESFAA Programme
Filmschoolfest Munich 2024 - German Competition
Norwich Film Festival 2024 - Nominated for Best Short Film
Sarajevo Youth Film Festival 2024 - Award for Best Short Film
Film School Festival Tetouan 2024 - Prize of the Jury
Alcine - Festival de Cine de Alcalá de Henares 2024 - ESFAA Programme
Landshut Short Film Festival 2024 - Official Competition
Sehsüchte International Student Film Festival 2024 - Official Competition
Cinemed Montpellier 2024 - Official Competition
Riga International Short Film Festival 2Annas 2024 - Official Competition
Psarokokalo Festival 2024 - Official Competition
Hvar Film Festival 2024 - Official Competition
21. Neisse Film Festival - Official Competition
50th International Filmfestival Würzburg - Official Competition
Shortynale 2024 - Official Competition
47. Grenzland Filmtage - Official Competition
Open-Air Filmfest Weiterstadt 2024 - Official Competition
Return Film & Art Festival 2024 - Official Competition
Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival 2025 - ESFAA Programme
Tampere Short Film Festival 2025 - ESFAA Programme
Bolton International Film Festival 2025 - Nominated for Best Short Film
BuSho Short Film Festival 2025 - Award for Best Performance
Bolton International Film Festival 2025 - Official Competition
Passage d'Autore Festival 2025 - Official Competition
Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival 2026 - Retrospective Programme