EDN PRESS RELEASE:
Coming from the state television TV Belgrade in 1990, Svetlana & Zoran Popovic were the driving force behind the first private film school in former Yugoslavia. An initiative they followed up by also initiating the first documentary workshop in Belgrade in 1994. Through their passionate and dedicated work on these initiatives and there personal mentorship for the local documentary scene, they have been leading figures in establishing and coaching filmmakers to enter the international scene. As a culmination of their work so far, they have initiated the highly acclaimed documentary festival Magnificent 7, bringing international documentary filmmakers to screen their work for a big audience in Belgrade and inspire local professionals.
Upon presenting the EDN Award Leena Pasanen, Director of EDN says:
It is a great honour to present the EDN Award 2007 to Svetlana & Zoran Popovic. They are in all aspects great contributors to the European documentary culture. Their tireless effort to contribute to the development of the documentary genre is outstanding. Their effort to help local filmmakers reach the international scene and the international scene to reach their local area serves as an excellent example for all of us.
Further information on Magnificent 7 - www.magnificent7festival.org
Svetlana Popovic - born in Yugoslavia in 1956
Graduated in Film and TV directing at Faculty of Drama Arts in Belgrade. Director for TV Belgrade from 1982-1990. Together with Zoran Popovic, she established the first Yugoslav private film school in 1990 and the first Documentary Workshop in 1994. Currently she’s working at the Centre for Visual Communications “KVADRAT” in Belgrade as director and producer; also as head of a film school and a Documentary Workshop and a professor and supervisor for film directing, camera and producing. Co-founder and director of European feature documentary festival "Magnificent Seven" since 2004
Zoran Popovic - born in Yugoslavia in 1956
Graduated in Film and TV directing at Faculty of Drama Arts in Belgrade. Worked as a director for TV Belgrade from 1981-1990. From 1981-1987 he worked as an assistant professor for film directing at the Faculty of Drama Arts in Belgrade. Together with Svetlana Popovic he established the first Yugoslav private film school in 1990 and the first Documentary Workshop in 1994. Currently he’s working at the Centre for Visual Communications “KVADRAT” in Belgrade as director, producer and editor; also as head of a film school and a Documentary Workshop and a professor and supervisor for film directing, editing and producing. Co-founder and director of European feature documentary festival "Magnificent Seven" since 2004
The EDN Award is presented annually during Docs in Thessaloniki to an institution, group or private person for outstanding contribution to the development of the European documentary culture. Previous the award has been presented to Finnish Broadcaster YLE and The Jan Vrijman Fund supporting filmmakers and festivals in developing countries.
Docs in Thessaloniki online - www.edn.dk/art.lasso?-token.skip=&na=200404&ndd=637
European Documentary Network, EDN, is a member-based organisation for professionals working with documentary film and television. The organization has over 800 members from more than 60 countries. More about EDN - www.edn.dk/art.lasso?nn=1