Real Stories, Rebel Voices—Cinema for the People
We are thrilled to announce that submissions are now open for the 7th edition of the VIZANTROP Ethnographic Film Festival in Belgrade, Serbia!
We invite filmmakers and researchers with innovative and analytical approaches to cultures and societies to submit their works.
This year is turbulent and challenging for engaged researchers in the field of anthropology and related social humanities. Student protests in Serbia are a vital expression of youth-led resistance against authoritarianism, highlighting broader democratic backsliding trends in Eastern Europe. Their struggle underscores the fragility of civil liberties and academic freedom, concerns that resonate across the continent amid rising nationalism and centralized power. For Europe, these protests serve as a reminder of the need to support grassroots democratic movements in regions where democratic institutions are under pressure. From a documentary film and visual anthropology perspective, the protests offer a rich site for exploring the intersection of politics, identity, and collective action through audiovisual storytelling. Capturing these ethnographic fragments on film not only preserves history but also invites critical reflection on youth agency and resistance in post-socialist societies.
Engaged ethnographic filmmakers capture the pulse of social change, documenting grassroots movements, protests, and resistance efforts. By chronicling moments of collective action and resilience, these films inspire hope and solidarity in the face of adversity.
Film, like most media, has once again become an indisputable weapon of propaganda. Therefore, our invitation is addressed to visual anthropologists, sociologists, social researchers, and all cultural workers for whom the camera is an instrument. We encourage them to send us their reflective and observational films, which we consider very valuable in the 21st century.
Submissions are free of charge.
Submission Categories:
- Community and Equality (Competition Program)
- Films on various human cultures and communities
- Works exploring alternative economies, political transformations, and movements
- Films featuring researchers aiding marginalized and endangered communities
- Autoethnographic films and experimental ethnographic forms challenging human perception for deeper understanding
- Ecological and Social Movements (Informative Program)
- Films by environmental activists or filmmakers/social researchers documenting environmental and social movements
- Visual essays using social intervention to reveal hidden issues and amplify the voices of marginalized groups
- Women’s Film (Informative Program)
- Ethnographic and documentary films by or about women
- Women’s activism, roles in communities, maternity in conflict zones, migration, labor issues, feminist cinema, and gender equality initiatives
- Student Film (Informative Program)
- Films produced by university students and participants of visual anthropology workshops
- Films about student protests and their struggle all around the globe
Submission Requirements:
- Films should be no older than 4 years.
- Must align with the themes of the specified categories
Deadline for Submissions: 15th of August 2025
