The National Film and Television Festival (NAFFIT) in Zlatibor, Serbia, is set to take place from September 3 to September 6, 2026, under unusual circumstances. Despite being an event designed to celebrate the Serbian film and television industry, this year’s festival will proceed without any films being screened in its main program. Instead, the festival will focus on a pre-festival program and an awards ceremony, raising questions about the event’s purpose and the validity of its awards.
The festival’s pre-festival program, which began on August 30, features a concert by the Virtuozi ensemble at Kraljev Trg, conducted by maestro Bojan Suđić. This event is being broadcast by RTS, the Serbian public broadcaster. However, the main festival program, which runs from September 3 to September 6, will not include any film screenings. Instead, it will feature a series of events, including the welcoming of guests, an opening ceremony, an awards ceremony on September 5, an exhibition about Pavle Vuisić and Olivera Katarina, and a roundtable discussion titled “A Century of Serbian Film.”
The absence of films in the festival’s main program is notable, as it diverges from the traditional format of film festivals, which typically involve competitive film screenings. This year’s NAFFIT will only showcase seven domestic films and twelve episodes from various TV series as part of its pre-festival activities, held at KC Zlatibor and Dom Kulture Čajetina. Additionally, three Russian films will be screened, including “Ruski konzul” by Miroslav Lekić, a film from 2024 that does not meet the festival’s criteria due to its age and the involvement of Lekić as a festival board member.
The festival’s organization has been criticized for its lack of transparency and structure. Notably, NAFFIT does not have an official website, and communication from the organizers has been minimal. The announcement of the festival was made through media outlets, citing a statement from unnamed organizers. This lack of clarity has led to questions about how the awards will be determined without a selection of films to evaluate.
Predrag Gaga Antonijević, a director and one of the festival’s founders, stated that NAFFIT aims to be a gathering place for the Serbian film and television industry to assess the past year’s work. However, the festival’s current format and the absence of films have led to skepticism about its credibility. Some industry figures perceive the festival as a personal project for Antonijević, given that it is organized by his close associates and held in his native region. The Association of Film Directors has previously highlighted potential conflicts of interest, noting that the festival appears to serve as a political commendation for Antonijević.
The festival has also faced a boycott from film associations, as was the case in previous years. Miloš Škundrić, president of the Association of Film Directors, has been vocal about the festival’s shortcomings, emphasizing the lack of genuine competition and transparency.
Despite these challenges, the Serbian government has invested significantly in the festival. In early August, Minister of Culture Nikola Selaković signed a contract allocating 17 million dinars for this year’s NAFFIT. Additional investments have been made in cultural infrastructure in the region, with the aim of making Nova Varoš a cultural hub. However, the festival is not taking place in Nova Varoš or Prijepolje, despite the financial support these areas have received.
The NAFFIT festival’s unconventional approach this year highlights ongoing tensions within the Serbian cultural landscape, where issues of artistic freedom and government influence continue to be contentious topics. As the festival proceeds without films, the industry and public alike will be watching closely to see how the awards are justified and what impact this event will have on the future of Serbian film and television festivals.
