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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

On the Water

DirectorGoran Devic
ProducerHrvoje Osvadic – Petnaesta umjetnost
WriterGoran Devic
CameraDamian Nenadic
EditorJan Klemsche, Vanja Sirucek
SoundMartin Semencic
Original TitleNA VODI
Year2018
Length79 min
CountryCroatia
SubtitlesEnglish
SectionDocumentaries Open Debates
ScreeningSunday 10 November | 13:00 hours | Filmhuis Den Haag

In this touching documentary, Goran Devic captures poetic visuals of his hometown in Croatia that was once a thriving multinational community. Critics proclaim “On the Water” as one of his best achievements and the jury of the DOK Leipzig honoured him because it ‘’beautifully shows that despite the trauma and the scars of war, humanity and survival transcend’’. Dutch Premiere

Synopsis

A human story of the former industrial city of Sisak told through the rivers that pass through its centre. Today, the rivers are places of relaxation and leisure. However, when we meet people who appear on the water or riverside, the social conflicts of a country in transition arise in all directions. Sometimes the river reveals the remains of past that left traces in the water. Even though Yugoslavian civil war was more than two decades ago, this historic period seems like a parallel reality which throws its shadows over the protagonists. What will remain behind us?

Festivals & Awards (selection)

DOK Leipzig, 2018 – Honorary Mention (International Premiere) | Croatian Film Days 2019 – Best Cinematography | UnderhillFest, Montenegro 2019 – Special Jury Mention | DocAviv, Tel Aviv International Documentary FF 2019 | Freiburger film forum 2019 | Liburnia Film Festival 2019 – Best Directing, Best Sound Design | DokuFest, Prizren 2019 – Special Jury Mention

Director’s bio

Goran Dević was born in 1971 in Sisak, Croatia. He studied law, archaeology and film art at Academy of Dramatic Art, University of Zagreb, Croatia. His filmography includes several award-winning documentaries and shorts, among others: Imported Crows (2004), I Have Nothing Nice to Say to You (2005), Three (2008), Happy Land (2009), Don Juan: Excuse Me Miss (2010), Flood (2010), Two Furnaces for Udarnik Josip Trojko (2012). The Blacks (2009), co-directed by Zvonimir Jurić, was his first feature narrative. Goran is the founder of 15th Art Production (Petnaesta umjetnost) – a film production company. He teaches documentary film at the Academy of Dramatic Arts. He lives and works in Zagreb.