ABOUT US
International Festival of Engaged Film
The Free Zone Film Festival was founded in 2005 as the first festival in Serbia dedicated to socially engaged documentary and feature films from around the world that explore human rights, social issues, and topics of wide social relevance.
Since 2013, the festival has been held simultaneously in three cities: Belgrade, Novi Sad, and Niš and from 2023, Kragujevac joined as the fourth festival city.
Each year, the festival presents over 50 films from around the world, divided into several competitive and non-competitive selections. Free Zone was among the first to introduce special program lines dedicated to children and youth, as well as the affirmation of women’s rights.
Free Zone is a member of the Human Rights Film Network and a partner in the Balkan Documentary Distribution Network, together with festivals and organisations from the region: ReStart (Zagreb), Dokufest (Prizren), Makedox (Skopje), Demiurg (Ljubljana), and Underhill (Podgorica).
The festival has brought a completely new narrative to Serbia’s film and festival scene, introducing a new way of looking at film as a tool for education, for opening important social topics, and as a pioneering space for dialogue and debate after the breakup of Yugoslavia.
From its very beginning, it has encouraged audiences to question their values, prejudices, and sense of shared responsibility within their social and cultural context. Together with its audience, Free Zone continues to seek answers and draw attention to injustices toward the vulnerable and marginalised, as well as to nature and natural resources. Through its film program and the values it promotes, the festival sends a message that human beings are always worth our attention and that their rights are worth fighting for.
Over the years, Free Zone has hosted many of the most significant directors, theorists, critics, philosophers, and public figures from across the former Yugoslavia.
Main Program
The core of the festival consists of the International Selection and the Regional Selection “Balkan Horizons”, from which the best films (as chosen by the jury) receive awards for Best Engaged Film.
A jury composed of high school students selects the best film from the youth program line EU Teen Zone (which, until 2023, was divided into two categories: Selection 14+ and Selection 8+).
Since 2023, an award has also been presented in the newly established section First Two Steps, dedicated to first and second directorial works.
Every year, audiences actively participate by rating films and contributing to the Audience Award.
Other notable program sections include: Women’s Line, Green Zone and Zone Without Borders.
Accompanying Programs
The Night Talks debate program significantly increased the festival’s visibility and strengthened its connection with the audience. Since 2018, under the new name Free Zone Compass, it has gathered philosophers, political scientists, cultural workers, and other public figures to discuss topics raised by the festival’s films together with the audience.
Sonar explores the boundaries of documentary film and archival material as media in contemporary society, the internet, and social networks.
Digital Propeller is designed for film industry professionals worldwide, with a focus on digital distribution. Thanks to the Cross Media program (2014–2016), Free Zone was one of the first festivals internationally to open space for new storytelling technologies.
Tour & Free Zone Junior
Unique and recognised as a pioneering project in the wider Balkan region, the festival extends its activities throughout the year through the Free Zone Tour and educational programs under the umbrella of Free Zone Junior.
The Free Zone Tour, held every spring for 20 years, screens several of the highest-rated films from the previous festival edition in over 50 cities and towns across Serbia.
Through the B92 Fund, Free Zone Junior organises documentary film workshops for young people and, in collaboration with the Civic Education Teachers’ Association, has published several manuals for teachers and students on using film as a supplementary educational tool in primary and secondary schools.
Olivera Ranđić Award
Since 2023, Free Zone has presented the Olivera Ranđić Award for the most creative contribution to (non)formal education, named after the late coordinator of Free Zone Junior.
Thanks to Olivera Ranđić, more than 60 short youth films were produced in Serbia and the region over nearly 15 years. Her initiative was also crucial for the creation and success of the program Film as a Supplementary Educational Tool, which has reached over 60% of primary and secondary schools in Serbia, as well as the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade.