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    • New Talents Open Call
      Eastern Neighbours Film Festival (ENFF) began in The Netherlands in 2008 with the idea to offer Dutch and international audiences a unique glimpse into the cinema of their neighbors from Eastern and Southern Europe. This annual event presents the most recent, exciting, and thought‐provoking films, from countries with small, but often powerful film industries, that… Read more: New Talents Open Call
    • ENFF 2023 On Demand!
      Unable To attend the festival in person? No problem! From November 27th to December 3rd, we’re thrilled to bring you a curated selection of this year’s films available for online viewing! Catch our captivating Opening Film Ivan’s Land, or the touching Closing Film Seventh Heaven. Or explore a collection of shorts from the New Talents Competition! Follow along… Read more: ENFF 2023 On Demand!
    • What’s up in Slovak Cinema? A conversation with Monika Lostakova
      We talked with Monika Lošťáková about contemporary Slovak cinema.
    • ENFF and the Eastern European Film Festival Network!
      The Eastern European Film Festival Network brings together five film festivals dedicated to promoting and showcasing Eastern European cinema, alongside one partner organisation.
    • Masterclasses
      Through these masterclasses we approach two memory in film from different angles: memories from a personal or collective recollection through archive material.
    • Work in Progress
      In Work in Progress, emerging filmmakers and artists will present their works in development to the audience and engage in discussions with Dutch experts.
    • Festival Timetable Available!
    • Check out the catalogue for our 2023 edition!
    • Music at ENFF
      Every year, ENFF brings special musical guests who bring beauty to the program and further represent the rich cultures of their countries to a Dutch audience.
    • Film Marathon
      Join us for the Film Marathon, a new concept in which we merge two components, Short Films, Big Stories, and New Talents Competition into a whole-day screening of short films!

Once Were Humans

Desperate to resolve their financial troubles, two friends and business partners get involved in the shady business of stealing a truck – only it’s the wrong one. A film about humanity and the still pressing issue of refugees and migrants in Europe.

Synopsis

Leo, an Italian, and Vucko, a Bosnian, both live in Slovenia and are business partners. They own a restaurant where Leo’s ex-wife works. Leo has a son to support and Vucko, a former refugee, lives with his sick mother. Their troubles begin when the bank refuses to give them the loan to renovate the restaurant. Unable to repay the debt, and faced with losing the restaurant, they go to a swindler Gianni who makes them an offer: steal his truck so that he can get insurance money, and later pay them their share. Under the darkness of the night, Leo makes a wrong move. Leo’s and Vucko’s humanity is put to the test as difficult decisions must be made. A great performance from a team of mixed Slovenian and Bosnian actors.

Screening: Saturday 23 April, 16:45 hours, Zaal 1, Dutch Premiere

Special guest: director Goran Vojnovic

Original Title: Nekoc so bili ljudje Country: Slovenia Year: 2020 Length: 89 min Director: Goran Vojnovic Editing: Ivor Ivezic Cinematography: Milos Srdic Cast: Francesco Borchi, Moamer Kasumovic, Marusa Majer, Emir Hadzihafizbegovic, Boris Cavazza, Jasna Zalica Production: Bostjan Ikovic – Arsmedia; MB Grip, NuFrame, Studio 100, Apapaja Subtitles: English

Director’s Bio

The director and (screen)writer Goran Vojnović (1980) graduated in film and TV directing from the AGRFT. As a writer, he has won the highest Slovenian literature award Kresnik three times and received the prestigious Prešeren’s Fund Award. As a director, Vojnović has made a number of short and two feature films. Chefurs Raus! (2013) won the Best Director Award at the Alexandria FF and the Best Screenplay Award at the SEE FF, while Piran Pirano (2010) received the Best Production Award at the SEE FF and the Dialogue Prize for intercultural communication at the Cottbus FF.