The 11th edition of the Dok’n’Ritam music documentary festival is set to take place in Belgrade from September 24 to 27, 2026. This festival, known for showcasing music documentaries, will feature a series of films that delve into significant cultural narratives, particularly those related to Serbian music and broader cultural movements. The event will be held across multiple venues, including the Yugoslav Film Archive, SOKOJ Club, and Dorćol Platz, under the slogan “011-You Have a Call!”
The festival will open with the world premiere of “Gringo Paulista,” a documentary about Mitra Subotića Suba, a pioneer in contemporary electronic and experimental music in Yugoslavia. Directed by Igor Lečić, the film explores Suba’s time in Brazil from 1990 until his untimely death in 1999. It features exclusive archival footage and interviews with Suba’s close friends and collaborators, highlighting his influence on the Brazilian music scene.
Another notable film, “Punk Under Communist Regime,” directed by Andrej Košak, will be screened on September 26. This documentary examines the punk movement in the former Yugoslavia between 1977 and 1985, showcasing bands like Berlinski zid, Ljubljanski psi, and Grupa 92. The film captures the punk scene as a significant countercultural force against the one-party system of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRJ).
On September 25, the festival will present “Gora Rocka,” a film that investigates the story behind a renowned humanitarian rock festival held on the Šentviška plateau above Tolmin, Slovenia. Additionally, the documentary “Banjo Boys” follows the rise of the Malawian band Madalitso, from street performances during a food shortage in 2002 to gaining international acclaim at global festivals.
The festival will also feature special screenings, including a film about Goranka Matić, a key figure in the new wave music scene, and documentaries about Livio Morosin, founder of the band Gustafi, and Radovan Papović, a well-known Montenegrin conductor. The closing film, “Flamenco Dynasty,” will explore the life of the celebrated flamenco dancer Farukito and his family’s dedication to the art form.
For the first time, Dok’n’Ritam will include a competitive selection of short documentaries. Among these are “Francophonia,” about a band from Bihać creating music in French without market adaptations, and “For a Million Years,” documenting the 1985 gathering of Yugoslav musicians to record a humanitarian song. Other entries include “Trumpet Girls,” featuring the first all-female brass band in the region, and “Eufemia,” which tells the story of a Warsaw club that served as a haven for young artists.
The festival will be complemented by an exhibition of caricatures and satirical graphics by Predrag Srbljanin Srba, titled “Music (in) Picture,” available for viewing in the foyer of the Yugoslav Film Archive. Tickets for the screenings will be sold at the Yugoslav Film Archive’s box office, with prices set at 500 dinars for opening and closing films and 400 dinars for other screenings. Programs at Dorćol Platz and SOKOJ Club will be free of charge.
In addition to film screenings, the festival will host panels, concerts, and music book promotions. Highlights include discussions dedicated to prominent figures in the Serbian music scene, such as Ljuba Ninković, and a special appearance by the singer-songwriter Denis Katanec. The festival aims to engage audiences with a diverse array of cultural expressions, underscoring its role in preserving and promoting Serbian music history within the contemporary cultural discourse.
