IN THE DARK / U MRAKU

IN THE DARK

Main program (competition) > Documentaries

Twenty-two-year-old Davor wants something different. To leave the small mining town of Lubnica in Serbia, where he has lived his whole life – to just pack up and go somewhere else, to a place where he can be a stranger. Work in the coal mine like his father? No way, that’s no ambition in life. Unfortunately, his career options are limited in this poor region, and the only one left open to him is to descend into that dark world after all. He resignedly drifts through the workweek, taking comfort in his dreams of a more interesting life. The camera stays close to the mineworkers, focusing in on their emotions and contemplations. Between beautifully shot images of the workers above and below the ground, Davor and his father talk openly to the camera about their doubts, pride and fear carrying out the hazardous work.

Goran Stanković grew up in Serbia where he received his BA in film directing, and gained experience working on major national and foreign productions. He recently graduated with a Masters Degree from the Directing program at the American Film Institute and his thesis film „Way In Rye“ was nominated for the Student Academy Award for Best Narrative Short. His two undergraduate films, „Who Guards The Guardians“ and „Old Mountain“, were selected for over 50 international festivals and won 17 awards.