Dušan Makavejev

Dušan Makavejev is one of the founders of FEST, as well as the legendary Cinema Club "Belgrade". When lacking tape for shooting, says he, we were discovering the bizarre poetry of Belgrade by climbing the roofs, sauntering about hidden parts of Kalemegdan, ending the day on the railway station. These explorations refined by theories of his first neighbour in the King Milutin Street, Leonid Šejka, author of "Mediala", on importance of a framed view (transforming rubbish into gold) made the foundations of the future "vague noir" (Black Wave).

He shot the film "A Man is Not a Bird" in the Bor mines; "Love Case or Tragedy of a PTT Employee" was shot "within the circle of Tram No. 2", while "Innocence without Protection" was an accomplishment of film and cultural and political archaeology.

For "Innocence without Protection" he won the Golden Hugo in Chicago, Silver Bear in Berlin, Silver Arena in Pula and Golden Head of Palenque in Acapulco in 1968, as well as the October Award of the City of Belgrade. Makavejev called this film: opening the door into our non-existent history.

When – like by a stroke of a magician – the 20th October disappeared as well – DM wished to make a film of the non-existent present of his native city.

The film "WP: Mysteries of Organism" made possible for Makavejev forced labour abroad. He shot there "Sweet Movie", "Montenegro", "Coca-Cola Kid", "Manifesto" ("For One Night of Love").

"Gorilla is Taking a Bath at Noon" was shot between Berlin and Belgrade.

In the meantime, Makavejev took part in foundation of the European Film Academy, taught at universities Columbia, McGill, in Montreal, Duke, Austin, San Francisco State, UCLA, Berkeley, Harvard. Guggenheim Fellow 1997.