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    • NTC Award Ceremony
      New Talent Competition gives young filmmakers from Central, Eastern and Southern Europe the opportunity to present their outstanding debut or second film to the public. Join us on Sunday 1 December at 19h
    • Music at ENFF
      The Eastern Neighbours Film Festival welcomes special musical guests each year to enrich our program. For this 16th edition, we’re thrilled to present two talented young musicians: guitarist Antonio Peršak (CR) and violinist İdil Yunkuş (TR). Together, they will perform a traditional Balkan dance and folk song, highlighting the beauty of this music through the… Read more: Music at ENFF
    • Masterclass with Janez Burger
      This masterclass presents a unique opportunity to explore Burger's distinct storytelling style, genre use, and exploration of contemporary social issues. Join us on Saturday 30 November at 17h - Room 5
    • Panel Discussion: Exploration of individual and collective memory in cinema
      Panel Discussion: Exploration of individual and collective memory in cinema on Friday 29 November at 18h

Fran and Verka; or a Usual Day in an Abandoned Village

dir. SOVRAN NRECAJ

DUTCH PREMIERE

This poignant film, which premiered at Sarajevo Film Festival, looks at the lives of two elderly individuals in a remote village in Kosovo and brilliantly depicts a forgotten lifestyle, a microhistory of its kind.

Fran and Verka are the sole inhabitants of Vernakolle – where they first met many years ago, got married and have been living ever since. After the 1999 war in Kosovo, it all changed. Everyone but Fran and Verka left the village. Their story is a testament to the unbreakable bonds that tie us to what we call home and where we belong.

SHOWTIMES | Special Feature with Maldita. A Love Song to Sarajevo, Granny’s Sexual Life & Truth

Thursday, 23 November – 16:45


Sunday, 26 November – 14:30

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FRAN AND VERKA; OR A USUAL DAY IN AN ABANDONED VILLAGE | 2023 | 14 min | Kosovo

PRODUCTIONAurela Kadriu – Can and Cam
SCREENPLAYSovran Nrecaj
CINEMATOGRAPHYBesim Ugzmajli
EDITINGSovran Nrecaj
SOUNDPellumb Ballata
MUSICJ.S. Bach (played on piano by Njomza Kastrati)
LANGUAGENo dialogue

FESTIVALS & AWARDS (SELECTION) 

Sarajevo Film Festival, 2023 – World Premiere

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT

I aimed to capture the poignancy of two elderly individuals living in a remote, forgotten village in Kosovo. The absence of dialogue in the film emphasises the solitude of their existence and allows viewers to witness their daily routine without any distractions. Through the “fly on the wall” style, the camera becomes an observer of their lives, revealing how they navigate the world in a way that is vastly different from the modern way of living. Inspired by the work of Vlatko Gilic, I wanted to create a film that would make the audience reflect on the value of human connection and the importance of preserving cultural traditions.

DIRECTOR’S BIO 

Sovran Nrecaj is a young filmmaker, born in 1998 in Ferizaj, Kosovo. He began his artistic career as a photographer and later developed a passion for writing and directing films. Sovran studied at Sarajevo Film Academy. His short film “Sea by the River and River by the Sea” has won several awards at international festivals. His filmmaking style is characterised by his ability to convey meaningful stories through visual storytelling, tackling important social issues in his work. Sovran Nrecaj has recently completed a short documentary “Fran and Verka; or a usual day in an abandoned village”, and currently he is working on his first feature film, “Around the River Beyond the Sea.”