04-11-2019

PRODUCTION: Locarno Winner Pjer Žalica Shoots Black Comedy

By
    Focus, Grandma director Pjer Zalica Focus, Grandma director Pjer Zalica

    SARAJEVO: Pjer Žalica, whose debut Fire! (Refresh, 2003) won the Silver Leopard at the Locarno Film Festival, started production on his third feature film Focus, Grandma / Koncentriši se, baba (working title) on 28 October 2019 in Sarajevo.

    In the black comedy, a family is falling apart next to the death-bed of their materfamilias, completely unaware of danger looming over it, while Sarajevo is living through its last days of peace.

    The film is produced under the umbrella of Sarajevo Film Festival’s project Sarajevo City of Film, that has so far produced over 30 short films, 2 feature omnibus films and 1 feature film.

    Amra Bakšić Čamo, Head of Sarajevo Film Festival’s Co-production Market CineLink, said, “Our core objectives are to enable young talent to make films in the spirit of international cooperation and ensure that quality cinema is made in Sarajevo on a regular basis. With this in mind, we partnered with TRT to make three micro-budget feature films within the SCF for Global Screen strand. Good Day's Work (Obala Art Centar, 2018) by Martin Turk was our first production and Focus, Grandma by Pjer Žalica is now the second. The third film due to shoot next year is yet to be announced. Obala Art Centar is handling the international festivals and TRT is selling the films to international broadcasters.”

    Shooting is planned to last until 15 November. Several well-known actors, including Mira Banjac, Emir Hadžihafizbegović, Jadranka Đokić and Izudin Bajrović, have been cast in the film.

    The premiere of Focus, Grandma is planned for 2020.

    Production Information:

    Producers:

    Obala Art Centar (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
    This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
    Turkish Radio Television (Turkey)

    Credits:
    Director and Scriptwriter: Pjer Žalica
    DoP: Almir Đikoli
    Production Designer: Sanda Popovac
    Costume designer: Sanja Džeba
    Make-up artist: Lamija Hadžihasanović Homorac
    Sound Recordist: Predrag Doder
    Cast: Mira Banjac, Jasna Žalica, Emir Hadžihafizbegović, Alma Prica, Jadranka Đokić, Vedrana Seksan, Admir Glamočak, Dzenita Imamović Omerović, Branislav Popović, Izudin Bajrović, Dino Sarija.