Serbian Culture Minister Vladan Vukosavljevic and film director Emir Kusturica opened the 13th Kustendorf International Film and Music Festival at the Mecavnik village on Mt Mokra Gora in western Serbia.

The festival was organized by the Rasta International production house under the auspices of the Ministry of culture, Mecavnik and TNSO. It will close on January 18 following the screenings of 21 movies in the competition section.  

This year’s jury includes Italian director, writer and producer Paolo Virci, French author Tonino Benaquist and script writer, chess grandmaster Vladislav Tkachiev with French cinematographer Michel Amatie presenting the Vilko Filac award for best photography.   Guests at this year’s Kustendorf include directors Karim Anjuz, Nadav Lapid, Johnny Ma, Amjad Abu Alala, Mehdi Barsaoui and Tiago Gvedes, Italian actor Ezio Gregio, French director David Elhofen and Serbian actor Milos Bikovic with a retrospective devoted to Serbian director Purisa Djordjevic.

The festival will also feature concerts following screenings and workshops.