13.11.2018.
Official Ceremony to Mark 70 years of MFC “Zastava Film”
This evening, the Military Film Centre “Zastava Film” marked 70 years of its existence in an official ceremony held in the Central Military Club in Belgrade.
Representatives of the Ministry of Defence and Serbian Armed Forces, cultural and public institutions, as well as the friends of “Zastava” attended a rich programme in honour of the significant jubilee of “Zastava Film” and 14th November - Day of that military film institution that is a one of a kind witness and chronicler of our history.
On the occasion of the jubilee, President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić decorated the MFC “Zastava Film” with the Order of Candlemas of the Third Digree for extraordinary merit in the field of culture, significant for defence system and Serbian Armed Forces, contribution to the renown of the Republic of Serbia in country and abroad.
On the same occasion, Minister of Defence Aleksandar Vulin awarded that military film institution Military memorial medal for extraordinary contribution to the system of defence.
Director of the Military Film Centre “Zastava Film” Lieutenant Colonel Goran Ikonić, highlighting the significance of the jubilee, noted that accompanied with the rich creative work, numerous recognitions and vast experience, the celebrating institution was truly lucky and that “it was born with good reason”.- To us, the present generation of the staff, are honoured to celebrate the great jubilee of our house, which with its armed forces has been living for seven decades now. We are grateful and proud of all previous generations of Zastava’s workers, great film workers who left a deep mark, unfortunately not sufficiently accentuated, in the history of postwar Yugoslav cinematography - emphasised Lieutenant Ikonić.
He also reminded that there were not many such establishments in our region and beyond, and that those establishments were a privilege of only developed armies, ours being among them.
- We are grateful to our warlords and military leadership from Field Marshals Mišić and Bojović, to the present leadership of defence system, who knew the true significance of such establishment in the armed forces and true power of film - that mighty weapon. Owing to them and their vision, the military cinematography was created in Serbia almost as early as the appearance of the first film camera in the world, and “Zastava Film” has been living all these years to the benefit of our armed forces, our society and Serbian cinematography as a whole - assessed Lieutenant Colonel Ikonić.
According to him, “Zastava Film”, the institution within the Public Relations Department of the Ministry of Defence, has been following the soldiers’ life for seven decades, it records social events, cherishes soldiers’ traditions and actively participates in cultural and public life in this area.
- That is why we can rightfully say that we are the most fateful chroniclers and historians of a time from the viewpoint of the military, impregnated by a multitude of events and we are the witnesses of the existence and disappearance of several armies and states. Today, “Zastava Film” is a small, modern production technically and technologically and competently equipped to execute numerous complex tasks in the framework of defence system and give full contribution to cultural life of Serbian society. Carried by the experience of our predecessors and guided by our own knowledge, we are ready to follow “Zastava” into its older age and even greater victories - underscored Lieutenant Colonel Ikonić adding that “Zastava” would in the future continue to be the fateful companion of defence system and record the solders’ life with its camera, listen to the requirements of the new time and always keep the step with it.
A documentary film “Sight and Camera” described to the guests of this evening’s celebration what it was that had marked the previous seven decades of the existence of that military film establishment. Through moving pictures, the film told a story about this special institution, pointing out its historical importance and achievements. The film also testifies about more than 1000 teaching, 200 documentary and other forms of film creative work by which over the seven decades, more than 500 employees of the “Zastava Film” presented themselves to the viewing audience.At this evening’s gala, the “Zastava Film” conferred the Scrolls of Honour to the Radio Television of Serbia, Jugoslovenska Kinoteka and Filmske Novosti for several decade long cooperation and contribution to development of military cinematography.
In the follow up of the celebration, to mark the jubilee, an exhibition was set up for all the guests in the hall of the Central Military Club titled “War Photo-Reporter Rista Marjanović dedicated to the Great War, whose authors are Milojko Gordić and Snežana Negovanović.
Also, a music composition “Be still my heart” was presented for the first time, from the production of the latest film of the MFC the “Zastava Film” titled “Gladly does the Serb become a soldier” by director Dragan Elčić.
This evening’s celebration was also marked by performances of the Artistic Ensemble of the Ministry of Defence “Stanislav Binički”, Mixed Choir of the Ministry of Defence and artistic and played programme.The history of the “Zastava Film” started in the summer of 1948, when the Division for the production of films of the Yugoslav Army was established in Belgrade. The first works were Film reviews from the Yugoslav Army – chronicles and comments from the military and social life. Today’s name, the Military Film Centre “Zastava Film”, was given to it in 1962.
The first teaching and educational film “Training in throwing hand grenades”, was directed by Čoči Mikijeli (1948), and this type of film becomes “Zastava’s” fundamental but not the only activity. Open to the public, “Zastava” attracted a great number of film creators, some of whom would become significant names of the Yugoslav Film.
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