Film Center Serbia denies all allegations about irregularities that have appeared in the media and the public in recent days, on the occasion of the election of the Serbian candidate for the Oscar award
Last year, as in previous years, the same argu2ments were used against the election for the Serbian candidate conducted by AFUN, by those who were not elected. This year, when we had a transparent and inclusive selection, fully compliant with the rules of the American Film Institute, the same arguments are used.
Film Center Serbia has responded in time to everyone who had doubts and objections, exhaustively and in accordance with the law. We accepted the proposals that are not in conflict with the rules of the American Academy, because that would disqualify Serbian candidates.
We replaced the members of the commission in time, not allowing a deliberate obstruction to occur. The Ministry of Culture has been monitoring this process all along, as has AFUN, which has conducted the election so far.
We are surprised that the Association of Film Directors had no problem proposing its candidate and asking FCS to accept it, although it is not mentioned in the Instructions on the selection of candidates, and that it disputed that the Association of Film Artists has that right, too. For Film Center Serbia, all candidates were equal, insofar as they were supported by our funds, just as all film associations are welcome..
Starting from the letter of the Ministry of Culture in which the organization of the selection of candidates is entrusted to Film Center Serbia (dated August 28th, 2020) until today, Film Center Serbia has provided all conditions for transparent work of the commission that will decide on the selection and has made professional associations, film productions, media, and the general public aware of the new procedures and criteria.
On October 1st, the Management Board of Film Center Serbia passed the Instruction on the selection of the Serbian candidate for Oscar, which clearly defines the criteria, conditions, manner and procedure of selecting candidates and regulates the formation, competence, selection of members and the decision-making process. The instruction is a public document, harmonized with the rules of the American Film Academy for the 93rd Academy awards, it can be found on the website of Film Center Serbia and all interested parties and media had an insight into it as it was drafted.
Thanks to Film Center Serbia, the Serbian Oscar candidate is chosen by an expert commission composed of representatives of relevant professional associations, which has not been the case until now. The members of the commission were appointed by the FCS Management Board on November 13th, and their names are available to the public.
We believe that unfounded accusations in the media and the placement of false information about the election procedures, presented at a time when the commission has not yet made a final decision on naming the Serbian Oscar candidate, do damage to Serbian film and its reputation on the international film scene.