Freedom is where the Zone is

June 1, 2022

For fifteen years now, the Free Zone Film Festival has been opening up space for debate, promotion, review and understanding of human rights and related issues, social phenomena and problems in the world and the region - all through film art.

Since 2020, the Festival has been richer for the project "Our differences are our strength", implementing it together with the B92 Fund, as a producer, and within the "Free Zone Junior ". "This project is based on nurturing and promoting cultural diversity, tolerance, equality, multiculturalism, acceptance of the other and the different," says Jovana Stranjančević, PR coordinator at the B92 Fund. So far, the Camp of Engaged Documentary Film has been organised within the project. The impressions from the camp were incredible for all participants. "I have never seen so many open, curious and smart people in one place, who are so ready to help, to work with each other. I am glad to have been a part of that and I hope that this camp will last forever, so even more young people can participate in it", says Milica Rauški from Zrenjanin, participant in the Free Zone Junior camp. This programme has been a special event for the participants and it has determined future occupations for many more. Lena Trifunović also talks about that. "I am very excited every time I do something for the Free Zone. It has become something I present myself with and I hope that when I enrol in college - and I want to enrol in film production - I will have the opportunity to present the Free Zone well," said Lena. This year, within the project "Our differences are our strength", workshops "Brave talks" were held, which aim to build capacity to accept cultural diversity and establish intercultural dialogue among young people of different backgrounds, cultures and religions, through the process of non-formal learning, interaction and creation. They are intended for all activists, youth workers, members of youth organisations and youth offices, lovers of film art, and especially members of national minorities, as well as all those who are open to new knowledge and experiences and who would like to engage in peer education on intercultural dialogue and human rights. The project "Our differences are our strength” was supported by the EU Delegation to Serbia.