The upcoming, 49th Belgrade International Film Festival – FEST, will take place from April 2nd to 11th, 2021, organized by the Center of Belgrade Festivals (CEBEF), under the auspices of the City of Belgrade and with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Information.

This year’s festival is held under the slogan “Back to the Future” with the intention of contributing to the revival of cinema screens and the return of film audiences to cinemas as the largest and widely known film event in the country and the region.

The director of CEBEF, Damir Handanović, stated that CEBEF, despite the difficult moments that the whole world faced, remained persistent in its intention to show its loyal audience the latest achievements of modern cinematography. He pointed out that it is of great importance for Belgrade to hold such a cultural event at a time when a complete lockdown is in force in most European countries.

“Selected with special attention, this year’s festival program will present more than 70 premiere films from all over the world, sorted in 7 program units. It is especially important for us that next year will be marked by the 50th FEST, and in anticipation of this year’s jubilee, FEST audience will have the opportunity to watch the cult films that marked previous editions of the festival within the FEST 50 program”, says Handanović.

A new, re-edited version of the film “The Godfather 3” by the legendary director Francis Ford Coppola, made on the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of its premiere, will be shown for the first time in Serbia at the closing ceremony of FEST, on April 11. The last chapter of the saga of the Corleone family has been renamed The Godfather, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone, with which Coppola pays tribute to writer and screenwriter Mario Puzo, and includes a title that was originally intended for the The Godfather 3. For the needs of the new version, Coppola madefilmed a new beginning and end of the film, and repackaged certain scenes, shots and music.

This year’s International Film Festival – FEST will be held in compliance with all measures of the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Crisis HQ for the Suppression of the Infectious Disease Covid-19. The organizers of the festival prioritize the health and safety of the audience, as well as the guests and the festival team.

Information on ticket sales for the 49th International Film Festival – FEST will be announced later.