Best Screenplay

August

by Dan Grabnar
University of Arts in Belgrade, Faculty of Dramatic Arts, Serbia

Jury Motivation by Phil Peters

The screenplay for August portrays a time and place with subtle sensibility. We see the lead character enjoying the sensual and intoxicating feeling of coming so close to something that is unattainable. His stolen glances and awkward dialogue perfectly capture what he is feeling. He yearns for freedom that his cousin represents, to travel away for his provincial home and parents, and to live the life of her adventurous spirit. The screenplay takes us on a journey back to the simpler time of our youth, where an impromptu swim with your cousin can be the highlight of a summer day.

Synopsis

Since Petar didn’t enroll in college, he has to spend his summer helping his father with household chores. His cousin Nada, whom he hasn’t seen in ten years, comes to visit from Chicago. Petar feels trapped in the silence of the summer village, while life – and his estranged cousin – move on without him.

Director's biography

Dan Grabnar, born 2002 in Slovenia, continued his academic journey at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade. He first gained recognition with his documentary film Batrovci, which follows the lives of truck drivers at the border and premiered at the "Bistre reke" festival. His main interests lie in coming-of-age dramas and exploring the lives of invisible groups through documentary filmmaking.

Credits

Director: Dan Grabnar
Screenplay: Nemanja Ostojić, Dan Grabnar
Cinematography: Relja Arsić
Editing: Irina Tatić

Specifications

Original title: Avgust
Running time: 22'
Film type: Fiction
Country: Serbia