Draft:Warm Film

Warm Film (Топли филм, Topli film) is a 2024 Serbian documentary directed by Dragan Jovićević starring Đorđe Galić and Đorđe Mišina. The film explores the representation of LGBTI people through the history of Yugoslav cinema and the social circumstances that have influenced the portrayal of these characters.

The film had its world premiere at the 2024 Thessaloniki Documentary Film Festival and national premiere at 2024 Beldocs festival in Belgrade.

Film has been produced by Pogon, Greifer and Merlinka festival.

Plot
Two young actors, Đorđe Mišina and Đorđe Galić, delve into the history of Yugoslav cinema to explore the representation of LGBTI characters. The documentary examines how social and political changes have influenced the portrayal of queer identities on screen, and includes interviews with prominent filmmakers and actors who have contributed to or been affected by these representations.

Production
The idea for the film came from Predrag Azdejković, a longtime organizer of the Merlinka Queer Film Festival, due to the constant lack of Serbian queer films at the festival. His friend and colleague Dragan Jovićević wrote the screenplay. Producer Nataša Pavlović joined the project, and the film was financially supported by the Film Center of Serbia. The film was produced over a period of six years, using a combination of archival footage and contemporary interviews, providing a comprehensive look at the subject matter.

Serbian and Yugoslavian films with queer elements and subtext mentioned and covered in the documentary: Life is ours (1948), Sofka (1948), The Red Flowers (1950), The Doors Remains Open (1957), Shared Apartment (1960), The Rats Woke Up (1967), Crwos (1969), When I Am Dead And Gone (1967), Plastic Jesus (1971), The Bug Killer (1971), Lefties (1971), The Promising Boy (1981), Strangler VS Strangler (1984), Hi Inspector (1985), It isn't Easy to get along with men (1985), The Beauty of Vice (1986), Pretty Women Walking Through The City (1986), A Spy On Hills (1988), The Fall Of Rock & Roll (1989), Virgina (1991), Marble Ass (1995), Take A Deep Breath (2004), Made in Serbia (2005), Kenedi is Getting Married (2007), Obituary For Escobar (2008), Miloš Branković (2008), Life and Death of Porn Gang (2009), A Serbian Film (2010), Skinning (2010), The Parade (2011), Sergeant (2012), Next To Me (2015), Open Wound (2016), South Wind (2020), Celts (2021).

Reception
Upon its premiere at the Thessaloniki Documentary Film Festival, Warm Film received positive reviews for its insightful and sensitive handling of a complex topic. Critics praised the film for its thorough research and the compelling performances of its leads. The film is anticipated to be featured in several other international festivals throughout the year.

Awards and Nominations
2024 Thessaloniki Documentary Film Festival
 * Nominee: Mermaid Award
 * Nominee: Open Horizons - Best Documentary Audience Award

2024 Beldocs Festival
 * Nominee: Grand Prix - National competition
 * Nominee: Audience Award
 * Nominee: Best Editing

Cast

 * Đorđe Mišina
 * Đorđe Galić

Interviewees
The documentary includes interviews with several notable figures in Yugoslav and Serbian cinema, such as:
 * Želimir Žilnik
 * Milan Jelić
 * Jovan Marković
 * Srđan Dragojević
 * Mladen Đorđević
 * Miloš Timotijević
 * Goran Jevtić
 * Milica Tomović
 * Stevan Filipović
 * Aleksandar Radivojević
 * Nenad Bekvalac
 * Saša Radojević
 * Nebojša Jovanović
 * Predrag Azdejković
 * Budimir Stošić
 * Nikola Milošević
 * Đorđe Živadinović Grgur
 * Aleksandar Meda Jovanović
 * Aleksandar Stoimenovski
 * Anđelko Beroš