Sound before sound
Sound Before Sound (Interstitial Sound Field of Fiddling Practice), 13’ 01’’, by Branislav Stevanović and Radmila Vankoska is an experimental ethnographic film that explores the sonic landscape of fiddling traditions. Merging scientific research methods with experimental audiovisual storytelling, the film shifts from conventional ethnomusicological approaches—such as interviews and performance documentation—to soundscape techniques as its primary mode of inquiry.
By weaving together geophonic sounds, rustling maple leaves, and the nuanced performances of Guslar singers, the film examines interstitial sound—those fleeting, undefined sonic moments that exist between structured musical traditions and ambient noise—challenging cultural norms of sound perception and meaning.
THE GREAT SCHOOL CLASS: Lessons from the Forest
In collaboration with poet Aleksandar Šurbatović and composer Matija Anđelković, I created a 41-minute film that brings to life Lessons from the Forest, a poem and composition originally performed at the 2019 Great School Class manifestation.
Shot in Šumarice Memorial Park, the film honors the victims of the Kragujevac massacre, where 30,000 civilians perished, including 2,264 people executed on October 21, 1941. Blending poetry, music, and imagery, it serves as both a tribute and a reminder of the enduring impact of history, with its length mirroring a school class to symbolize the lives lost.
Orchestra: VIS Nebograd I Production: "Kragujevac October" Memorial Park; City of Kragujevac; Radio Television of Serbia
ANTICIPATION: Children's Wishes
In the context of childhood, anticipation is a fundamental aspect of experiencing the world. It's the excitement felt when waiting for a present, the eagerness for a new toy or game, and the fervent hope for a better tomorrow.
The children in the Shelter in Krfska, though facing various challenges, still hold onto hopes and dreams for their future. However, in an act of self-protection but also empowerment, I’ve asked of them to cover their faces with their hands, a form of censorship that takes control of their own image. So they have graciously allowed me to share their voices with the world.
In this 2-minute documentary, we capture the voices of these young individuals as they share their aspirations with us. From becoming a football player, teacher or baker, to simply having a home, their wishes are a testament to their courage and resilience.
CONTEMPORARY MACEDONIAN POETS
These video portraits are an extension of the photographic work featured in Contemporary People, capturing contemporary Macedonian poets through a single, unbroken gaze. Each poet is filmed as they would be in a still portrait—staring directly into the camera—yet the medium of video allows for the quiet nuances of time to unfold. The videos range from moments of complete stillness to subtle movements, revealing different responses to the act of being observed. Some poets remain motionless, others shift or fidget—each video offering a unique reflection of the individual. Despite their differences, all share the common thread of capturing a moment of personal presence, allowing the viewer to engage with the poet beyond words and into their physical being.
This series seeks to highlight the tension between stillness and motion, presence and absence, offering a window into the personalities of the poets that’s as much about what is unsaid as what is visible.
Art is dead! Long live art!
In the video instalation Art is Dead! Long Live Art!, Kolektiv Digital explores the intersection of classical painting and digital media through video reproductions of ten significant artworks. The filmed portraits, though frozen, reveal subtle movements—breathing, squinting, and shifts in posture—blurring the line between stillness and life.
Ema Teokarević I Maja Todorović I Milica Pavlović I Radmila Vankoska I Nina Kraljević I
Katarina Ilišković I Nemanja Maraš I Pavle Petrović I Bojana Radić I Valentina Milenković