Želimir Žilnik

A frustrated and unemployed architect experiences flashbacks of his youth and 1968 protests while the life passes by. Unable to adapt and to accept the reality, he’s constantly getting into conflicts with the people around him.

On June 3, 1968, student protests began in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the first major conflict with the then communist establishment. In Belgrade, Sarajevo, Zagreb and Ljubljana, students demanded more socialism, the fight against corruption and a better state.

Two young men from Eastern Europe take a pilgrimage to Santiago, Spain. Upon arrival at one of the most northwestern points of Europe, the south-easterners find themselves foreign both to the identity of their surroundings, as well as to their own. Without realizing it, they embark on a pilgrim-esque exploration of their own identities and the religiously-spiritual and nationally-sexual differences between them.

Documentary about the life and work of Ivan Martinac (1938-2005), avant-garde & experimentalist filmmaker from Split, Croatia.

Through the conversation with Yugoslav film authors and excerpts from their films, this documentary film tells a story of a film phenomenon and censorship, and its focus is, in fact, a painful epoch of Yugoslav film called “a Black Wave”, which was the most important and artistically strongest period of Yugoslav film industry, created in the sixties and buried in the early seventies by means of ideological and political decisions. The film tells a great “thriller” story of the ideological madness which characterised the totalitarian psychology having left multiple consequences felt up to our very days. It stresses similarities between totalitarian regimes defending their taboos on the example of the persecution of the most important Yugoslav film authors. Those film authors have, however, made world careers and inspired many later authors. The film is the beginning of a debt pay-off to the most significant Yugoslav film authors.

Pirika travels to Berlin to visit her daughter Dobrila and her grandchildren, whom she's never seen. Dobrila, a lesbian, avoids her mother, however, because she doesn't want to tell her the full truth about her children. Everything is resolved at a German film retrospective, where Pirika plays the role of her life. A docudrama about the autumn of life of one of the leading protagonists of Zilnik's film Early Works.

Two young actors are exploring the topic of representation of LGBTI people through the history of Yugoslav cinema and social circumstances that have resulted in different treatment of these characters.

Druga linija aka The Other Line is a product of many years of research of neo-avant-garde cultural and art scene in Novi Sad, Serbia (late 60s and 70s), which has been marginalized until today. This artistic movement was directly connected not only with important art centers of the former Yugoslavia, but also with existing flows of world art during its brief and productive activities (7e Biennale de Paris, 19th Berlinale). The cultural and artistic emancipation of that time had implied individual freedom of expression and strong reaction to established boundaries. This avant-garde movement had become threat to communist establishment, the authors' work were sabotaged, the films were sealed off, five artists were taken to trial, two were sent in prison. How is it that the retrograde mechanism of shutting down and removing the most creative and representative progressive impulses of our surrounding is still so current to this day?

Director invites six homeless men to his flat for a few days (surprising his wife). He asks officials and people on the street if someone can help them, this being SFRJ, a state officially without those left on their own.

Zelimir Zilnik has always been discussing the communist's regime taboos , with his early documentaries , but especially with his film about the student's riots in 1968: Lipanjska gibanja (June Turmoil). His featured film Rani radovi (Early Works) got to trial, because it made important politicians, including Tito himself, very angry. However, it was free of all charges, thanks to the really honorable judge. The Golden Bear, the prime award of the Berlin Film Festival, was given to Zelimir and it was interpreted as the biggest provocation for socialist Yugoslavia. Therefore, the film was put away for years and was not available for the audience.

Road movie documentary through half a century of filmography by Želimir Žilnik. But also a journey through the history of Yugoslavia, a country that no longer exists. With the specific style of docudrama that he built over the years, Zilnik managed to stay engaged and brave, but above all free, by making low-budget films for decades. We follow the efforts of his team to finish the film "Freedom or Comics", which was seized by censorship 50 years ago, and which was recently accidentally found. The story of an uninterrupted struggle for disenfranchised social and minority groups who are constantly the main heroes of Žilnik's films.

Between 2013 and 2023, Slovenian Cinematheque preserved and digitized 179 short films created on a tiny stretch of land between the Alps and the Adriatic Sea in the period of socialism (1945-1991), but mostly outside the prevailing state production. Today, we belatedly recognize these films as experimental and as an important, innovative part of the Slovenian film heritage, visible again for the first time after decades. The production of Alpe-Adria Underground! has radically accelerated efforts to preserve, digitize and restore this segment of Slovenian cinema.

People of different nationalities from Central Europe attempting to reach the West by crossing the controls and “European” rules.

Inspired by Karl Marx's "Das Kapital", three men and a girl named Jugoslava decide to wake up the conscience within the working class and peasants. Faced with the primitivism and a lack of morale, their revolution fails and the girl is the one to be sacrificed as a witness of their unsuccessful attempt.

Inspired by Karl Marx's "Das Kapital", three men and a girl named Jugoslava decide to wake up the conscience within the working class and peasants. Faced with the primitivism and a lack of morale, their revolution fails and the girl is the one to be sacrificed as a witness of their unsuccessful attempt.

The film speaks of student demonstrations in Belgrade, 1969 and of the critical quality, enthusiasm and discipline of this form of protest. It was the most powerful public criticism of "red bourgeoisie" - members of communist apparatus, who suppressed creativity and affirmation of new generations throughout Eastern block.

The first film in what would ultimately become Zilnik’s famed Kenedi trilogy follows street hustler Kenedi Hasani and his friend as they roam the streets of Serbia seeking Kenedi’s parents. Kenedi Goes Back Home is Zilnik’s account of the Roma people who were forced to flee from the war in the Balkans to Germany in the 1990s and who, ten years later, are forced against their will to return to Serbia. Zilnik shows the immigrants' lives in relation to the prevailing ideology shaped today by the borders between rich and poor and by the often-racist selection process that determines who will be accepted into Western Europe. In presenting the dilemmas and identifying the crises these people face, he appeals for a solution.

The first film in what would ultimately become Zilnik’s famed Kenedi trilogy follows street hustler Kenedi Hasani and his friend as they roam the streets of Serbia seeking Kenedi’s parents. Kenedi Goes Back Home is Zilnik’s account of the Roma people who were forced to flee from the war in the Balkans to Germany in the 1990s and who, ten years later, are forced against their will to return to Serbia. Zilnik shows the immigrants' lives in relation to the prevailing ideology shaped today by the borders between rich and poor and by the often-racist selection process that determines who will be accepted into Western Europe. In presenting the dilemmas and identifying the crises these people face, he appeals for a solution.

"Fitzgerald" is Jovica's nickname among his friends. One day Jovica, a film projectionist from the childhood of Zilnik, an old jazz pianist and one of the actors from The Way Steel Was Tempered, hear of Ella Fitzgerald's unexpected death. Jovica is desperate; he plays the piano all night long and cries. His wife threatens him saying that she will throw him out of the house unless he gets rid of the piano.

"Fitzgerald" is Jovica's nickname among his friends. One day Jovica, a film projectionist from the childhood of Zilnik, an old jazz pianist and one of the actors from The Way Steel Was Tempered, hear of Ella Fitzgerald's unexpected death. Jovica is desperate; he plays the piano all night long and cries. His wife threatens him saying that she will throw him out of the house unless he gets rid of the piano.

A multinational company owned by Mrs Judit Angst is facing financial difficulties: she decides to hire a group of young anarchists to fake her "kidnapping". After a couple of weeks spent in confinement she will be able to justify the downfall of her company before the people and at the same time to gain the status of the opponent to the destruction and chaos.

A multinational company owned by Mrs Judit Angst is facing financial difficulties: she decides to hire a group of young anarchists to fake her "kidnapping". After a couple of weeks spent in confinement she will be able to justify the downfall of her company before the people and at the same time to gain the status of the opponent to the destruction and chaos.

A mixture of documentary and fiction examines the new god of Capitalism offered to the Serbs with the ending of state socialism. We look at a number of strikes in Belgrade during the late 2000s and these introduce us to several characters playing themselves. Employees dressed in American football helmets and pads square up with employers' heavies in their bullet-proof vests, resulting in explosive situations. A visit from the Russian tycoon's representative and vice president Joe Biden's arrival further complicates the proceedings.

A mixture of documentary and fiction examines the new god of Capitalism offered to the Serbs with the ending of state socialism. We look at a number of strikes in Belgrade during the late 2000s and these introduce us to several characters playing themselves. Employees dressed in American football helmets and pads square up with employers' heavies in their bullet-proof vests, resulting in explosive situations. A visit from the Russian tycoon's representative and vice president Joe Biden's arrival further complicates the proceedings.

Milošević’s regime has rigged the results of parliamentarian elections in autumn 1996. This was a cause for mass rallies in Belgrade and other cities in Serbia. The film documents the protests during the first four days of their protests, their political and criticising charge but also the carnival spirit. On the seventh day of the protests the film was edited and had a premiere screening in the Rex Cinema.

Milošević’s regime has rigged the results of parliamentarian elections in autumn 1996. This was a cause for mass rallies in Belgrade and other cities in Serbia. The film documents the protests during the first four days of their protests, their political and criticising charge but also the carnival spirit. On the seventh day of the protests the film was edited and had a premiere screening in the Rex Cinema.

The aged rocker Igor works as a journalist and DJ at the "Radio Student" in Ljubljana. He notices that the janitor Miha works for the police, tapping the walls and observing the journalists who are critical of the regime. After a clash with his editor, Igor decides to leave for Greece by his old bike DKW from 1938, via Bosnia and Serbia. Young Rahela joins him on the trip. Traveling through Yugoslavia, Igor becomes involved in unexpected turmoil: Milosevic's "antibureaucratic revolution" starts in Serbia and Vojvodina.

The aged rocker Igor works as a journalist and DJ at the "Radio Student" in Ljubljana. He notices that the janitor Miha works for the police, tapping the walls and observing the journalists who are critical of the regime. After a clash with his editor, Igor decides to leave for Greece by his old bike DKW from 1938, via Bosnia and Serbia. Young Rahela joins him on the trip. Traveling through Yugoslavia, Igor becomes involved in unexpected turmoil: Milosevic's "antibureaucratic revolution" starts in Serbia and Vojvodina.

At Roko Babičković’s farm, in the vicinity of the Hungarian border, Anica is hired. The newly established Schengen border has stopped trade and travels to Hungary, which was part of the local populace’s business. Anica decides to get married in Hungary and acquire the working documents that way. Roko helps her find the false groom who will marry her for his own ends.

At Roko Babičković’s farm, in the vicinity of the Hungarian border, Anica is hired. The newly established Schengen border has stopped trade and travels to Hungary, which was part of the local populace’s business. Anica decides to get married in Hungary and acquire the working documents that way. Roko helps her find the false groom who will marry her for his own ends.

In Žilnik’s hilarious and sneakily charming docu-fiction, post-socialist restitution returns his childhood home to Serbian jazz musician Stevan. After six decades in Germany, he returns to his homeland where a series of reunions sheds light on his life.

In Žilnik’s hilarious and sneakily charming docu-fiction, post-socialist restitution returns his childhood home to Serbian jazz musician Stevan. After six decades in Germany, he returns to his homeland where a series of reunions sheds light on his life.

A Norwegian TV-worker tries to prevent her son, which she has with her former husband, a Serb now living in Jugoslavia, to become a soldier in the starting civil war.

The TV series is about a couple of guys, one good and naive, the other a liar and a manipulator, trying to make a living the best way they can. Along the way they meet a guy who eats glass, metal and plates, a couple of strippers, and a lot of ordinary people. Žilnik's dry and realistic approach is filled with humour and documentary parts with some real peasants and working-class people. The original three-part miniseries lasting 220 minutes is lost, only the 102 minute long restored series turned into a film is available.

The TV series is about a couple of guys, one good and naive, the other a liar and a manipulator, trying to make a living the best way they can. Along the way they meet a guy who eats glass, metal and plates, a couple of strippers, and a lot of ordinary people. Žilnik's dry and realistic approach is filled with humour and documentary parts with some real peasants and working-class people. The original three-part miniseries lasting 220 minutes is lost, only the 102 minute long restored series turned into a film is available.

A construction site with foreign workforce – lunch break. A Greek man tries to write a request letter to the German authorities to allow his parents to stay in Germany because of the Greek-Turkish clashes on Cyprus. A German foreman helps him write the appeal. Upon saying that the reason for summoning his parents is that their lives are threatened by the Turks, other bricklayers join in and a row takes place. During the row the letter is torn, lunch break is over and the bricklayers go on laying bricks.