For more than five decades, “Žisel” has brought together filmmakers and visual artists, authors from Serbia and abroad, as well as art enthusiasts, fostering the idea that film and photography can preserve stories about people, their lives, customs and the communities they come from.
“Žisel” also stands out for its distinctive thematic focus. It is a unique festival dedicated to traditional rural life, creating a space for the preservation and promotion of the cultural heritage of rural communities. Its continuity of more than half a century gives the festival significance not only in the fields of culture and art, but also in a broader social context.
This year, the award for the best film on the theme “Traditional Rural Life” was presented once again. On behalf of the Ethnographic Museum, the award was presented by Dr Marko Stojanović, Museum Advisor, and went to the film “Gypsies in Ilandža” by Jaroslav Králik from Kovačica.
“It is a particular pleasure to participate in the ‘Žisel’ Festival once again this year on behalf of the Ethnographic Museum and to have the opportunity to recognize an author who has preserved and presented a part of traditional rural life through his film. Films such as this are particularly valuable because they document people, customs and ways of life that represent an important part of our cultural heritage,” said Stojanović, Museum Advisor at the Ethnographic Museum.
According to Stojanović, the significance of “Žisel” goes beyond preserving memories of traditional life and can play an important role in discussions about the future of rural communities. Through the themes it has explored for decades, the festival can contribute to addressing important questions concerning the future of rural areas – from climate change and environmental issues to depopulation and birth rates, as well as the preservation of agricultural heritage.
Stojanović concluded that “Žisel” can also serve as a space for discussing rural areas beyond the frameworks of tradition and nostalgia – as living communities facing contemporary challenges, while at the same time possessing knowledge, resources and cultural potential that are important for the future of society.
