FERA Chair of the Board Bill Anderson in Belgrade to support the first edition of the Balkan Film Directing Festival

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Chair of the FERA Board Bill Anderson took part in the first edition of the Balkan Film Directing Festival in Belgrade, Serbia from 10 to 14 June.

This festival aims to present and promote Balkan creators from Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Greece, and Turkey to the world.

Along with Slovenian Board member Klemen Dvornik and Croatian Directors’ Guild Chair Danilo Šerbedžija, Bill Anderson attended the Serbian Directors’ Guild General Assembly as an observer.  The assembly elected a new Board, and the new Chair Miloš Škundrić expressed the Guild’s commitment to strengthening its collaboration with FERA.

During a lively debate, Bill Anderson highlighted that FERA’s advocacy at the European level reinforces national efforts by providing broader solidarity and support. He also hailed Serbian, Croatian and Slovene professional organisations for their constructive relationship with their respective collective management organisations (CMO), include new FERA associate member UFUS AFA (Serbia).

After the award presentation ceremony, Bill Anderson was invited by Festival Director Darko Bajić to officially close the Festival and shared a reflection on the vital role of screen directors and the need for addressing intimate human connection through story. He said:

“All of us yearn to be understood by stories that show us possible paths into our futures – paths that have been passionately trodden by a fellow human being. Such stories come from the Balkans, and the greater the integrity, honesty and courage of their screen directors, the deeper their appeal. The more authentic, personal truth in the local, the home-grown, the more the universal, international appeal.”