Signs of Life by director Marko Nikolić was named the best short documentary at the Cannes Shorts festival.
According to the authors, this is a film about the fate of long-abandoned hotels in Serbia, through which we are very emotionally guided by former employees. By combining visual and historical-narrative elements, we discover that in the once full corridors and halls of hotels, signs of life are still hidden. Their destiny is a metaphor for the state of our society. The film ends with the silenced signs of life and with an unspoken question – what’s next? Should they euthanize them, give them a coup de grâce, shorten their suffering or try to revive these “beings”, enable them to fulfill their purpose in life? By extending, renewing their lives, would we return at least a part of what we lack so much today? This film shows a better past in the hope that the future will be better for us than the present.
The film was supported by Film Center Serbia, with additional support fromthe Tourist Organization of the City of Loznica, A.D. Planinka and Eternal Glory ltd.
The film was directed and edited by Marko Nikolić, the DOP was Obrad Kokotović, music is by Janja Lončar and sound design by Miloš Drobnjaković. The 34 minute film was produced by Nebojša Miljković for LUDOVICO FILMS.
The premiere of the film in Serbia is expected at one of the next festivals in the country, and the team is hoping for a domestic premiere at the BelDocs festival.
