After more than ten years, Želimir Žilnik returns to narrative filmmaking with Eighty Plus on June 29th, at De Balie in Amsterdam. Following the screening, Geert Mak will engage in conversation with Žilnik about his seven decade-spanning cinematographic oeuvre.

Želimir Žilnik (b. 1942), one of the most prominent Serbian film directors, best known as one of the leading figures of the Yugoslav Black Wave film movement, and Golden Bear laureate (Early Works, 1969), is presenting his new movie Eighty Plus at De Balie in Amsterdam on Sunday, June 29th, at 20:00.

The screening with English subtitles is organised in collaboration with the Eastern Neighbours Film Festival. It is followed by a conversation between the director and Dutch acclaimed journalist and non-fiction writer Geert Mak, who will reflect upon the crucial moments of Žilnik’s seven decades-long filmmaking.

With Eighty Plus (Original title: Restitucija, ili, san i java stare garde) Žilnik goes back to narrative filmmaking, carefully crafting a playful and poignant portrait of the process of restitution in post-socialist Serbia.

Returning to his homeland Serbia after decades spent abroad, retired jazz musician Stevan tries to reconnect with his family’s long-lost estate, which is about to be given to him through the restitution process.

Stevan’s presence will bring forth unresolved family secrets and tensions, unexpected encounters and rapprochements with the local people, along with inevitable humour and nostalgia in this unique exploration of post-socialist life and personal history.

Here again, Žilnik remains true to what he does best – a documentary-fiction style in which the suffering of generations of ordinary people caused by repressive political regimes is intertwined.

You can purchase your tickets through De Balie website.

FILM DETAILS:
Director: Želimir Žilnik
Screenplay: Želimir Žilnik, Tanja Šljivar
Cinematography: Jovan Milinov
Production: Playground production, Žilnik production, Staragara
Original Title: Restitucija, ili, San i java stare garde
Cast: Milan Kovačević, Milivoj Kiždobranski, Vera Hrćan Ostojić, Mirjana Gardinovački, Lidija Stevanović, Katharina Gualtieri, Radoje Čupić, Nina Stamenković
Country: Serbia, Slovenia
Year: 2025
Duration: 118′
Language: Serbian, English, German
Subtitles: English

EVENT DETAILS:
Date and time: Sunday, 29th of June 2025, 19:30 – 22:00
Location: De Balie, Amsterdam
Speakers: Želimir Žilnik, Geert Mak, Stefan Malešević
Programme Curator: Stefan Malešević
Language: English
This event is organised with the support of VFonds and in collaboration with De Balie.