The Association of Film Artists of Serbia (UFUS) has awarded its annual awards for 2025 in the fields of journalism, directing and life work. This year’s laureates are screenwriter and director Anita Panić, director Ivana Mladenović and scenographer Vladislav Lašić.
The award for overall creativity “Radoš Novaković” was presented to scenographer Vladislav Lašić at a ceremony in the Yugoslav Cinematheque. This award was given to him for his outstanding contribution to shaping the visual identity of Serbian film. As stated in the explanation, Lašić’s rich oeuvre represents a kind of history of modern Serbian filmmaking – from the production of Three from 1965 to the film The Erl-King from 2024, along with a series of productions that bear his recognizable visual stamp. Among them are the films Pretty Village Pretty Flame, Balkan Express, The Hornet, Premeditated Murder and The Tour as well as more than 70 Serbian and 40 foreign films on which he worked as an art director.
The nonfiction award “Duša Duca Stojanović” was awarded to Anita Panić for her monographic opus and exceptional contribution to the culture of remembering important films and drama artists. From the latest monograph dedicated to Boris Kortinski, to books about the greats of the theater, actors Peter Kralj, Milena Dravić and Neda Arnerić, Panić, as pointed out, permanently preserves from oblivion the most significant creators and moments of domestic cinematography.
The award for directing “Dušan Makavejev”, which is awarded for the author’s contribution to a feature film, went to Ivana Mladenović for the film Cloistered Sister. In the explanation, it was stated that with this achievement she confirmed her exceptional artistic courage, consciously stepping outside the framework of conventional film expression and establishing a new, stripped-down and authentic aesthetic. As it has been pointed out, her work not only redefines the visual language of contemporary film, but also the way in which the authenticity of film expression is considered.
Editor Vanja Kovačević accepted the award on behalf of Ivana Mladenović, who has been living and working in Romania for two decades.
Photo/FB Anita Panić