Rather than pursuing grand themes, make small films: Serbian director Goran Radovanovic

Among those in attendance was PIFF Festival President Jabbar Patel. Reflecting on the state of European cinema, Radovanović said that several funding initiatives have been introduced to revive filmmaking across the continent. “Many countries have started collaborating on film productions. However, due to a strong commercial focus, while numerous films were made, they often lacked proper distribution,” he noted.

He added that the European Union later stepped in to support the development of cinema halls. “Despite this, gaining entry into major festivals remains difficult without big names or major distributors, and political viewpoints are also taken into consideration. As a result, independent filmmakers are increasingly turning towards smaller festivals and digital platforms,” Radovanović said.

His observations resonated with independent filmmakers in India, many of whom face similar struggles in realising their creative ambitions. Tracing the history of Western cinema, Radovanović pointed out that in the post-World War II period, there was little distinction between American and European films. Italian cinema enjoyed global prominence, followed by the French New Wave, while Russian cinema also held considerable influence.

“Audiences responded well, and cinema was an integral part of everyday life. Film festivals played a crucial role in promoting films. In the 1970s, the German New Wave emerged with the involvement of television networks. However, with the rise of American pop culture and video technology, traditional cinema halls began to decline. The collective experience of watching films diminished as theatres moved into shopping malls, leading to the erosion of original artistic film culture,” he said — a remark that carried particular irony as the session was held at a PVR multiplex inside Pavilion Mall.

Despite the challenges, Radovanović expressed optimism about Indian filmmakers. “Indian audiences are highly educated and sensitive. The Indian film Court was extremely successful in Europe and was screened at several small film festivals,” he said.

He also underlined the barriers posed by the global festival circuit. “Major festivals like Cannes and Venice are difficult to access without a strong distributor, and distributors usually look for well known names. For independent filmmakers, this makes entry extremely challenging. I have received letters from members of selection committees appreciating my film, yet explaining that festival policies prevent its selection. These policies, often framed as political correctness, strongly influence choices today,” Radovanović added.