Event overview
UK premiere of Next to You (Pored Tebe, Stevan Filipović, Serbia, 2023) - a murder mystery set during the pandemic. Including Q & A with film director and cast + reception.
The feature is filmed during the 2020/21 lockdowns in Serbia, coinciding with a state of emergency where politicians faced accusations of capitalising on public anxiety surrounding Covid-19. It follows the story of Ksenija (Mina Nikolić) , a young and highly driven tabloid journalist, whose career takes an unexpected turn toward investigative journalism after the death of her former classmate. However, her professional journey faces challenges and setbacks when her grandmother Vera (Miriam Margolyes), tests positive with COVID.
The film raises important questions about journalistic integrity and individual and social responsibility amidst a morally declining media environment, fuelled by a populist and authoritarian regime. It is a critique of not only the culture saturated by reality television and tabloid journalism, but also the current regime's political discourse reliant on fear-mongering.
Next To You is written and directed by Stevan Filipović and produced by Branislav Jević for Hypnopolis, one of the leading independent film producers in Serbia.
The author and academic Lazar Džamić (MCCS) will conduct a Q & A session with the director, producer and film cast, which will be introduced by Dr Vana Goblot (MCCS), followed by a reception.
The event is a part of the Centre for the Study of the Balkans and the Media Forum, and is supported by the Serbian City Club.
To book a free ticket, please go to the Eventbrite link.
Dates & times
| Date | Time | Add to calendar |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Feb 2024 | 6:30pm - 9:00pm |
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