Our small countries are also each a small market in themselves which makes the development and survival of individual film industries practically unsustainable. Together, we can boost the quality of TV series and films, and thus our relevance in relation to the film industries in big countries.
Miloš Biković, a theatre and film actor, producer, founder and owner of the Archangel Digital Studios production company, served as a jury president at the jubilee 50th FEST, which took place in Belgrade from 25th February to 6th March. In his interview for Diplomacy&Commerce, he told us about his new film, Johnny Depp, theatre and many other things.
You are the jury president at the 50th FEST. You are very well acquainted with at least two aspects of the filmmaking process film, which means that you also understand, and not just evaluate, why something you see on the screen was done in the way it was done. How do you reconcile your roles as a filmmaker and jury president?
As I expected, the judging process was inspiring and focused on exchanging impressions and experiences of what we saw in the Main Programme, which is always a valuable experience that we learn a lot from. The honorary role of the jury president is something I am grateful for because FEST is a precious part of our cultural tradition, and holds special significance for the film and cultural history of this part of the world. Still, when we saw the films that we were supposed to rate, it was our fervid heart and the feeling you get every time when art touches you deeply that determined our decisions.
In March, the movie “I want a husband”, which you worked on in Russia and whose co-producer and actor you are, enters Serbian cinemas. It is expected to be a big cinema hit. What in this example, indicates that a movie will be a hit?
Film is a wonderful discipline with many surprise factors and you can never know for sure what will happen during the filmmaking process, nor when the film embarks on its cinematic life. As for the film “I want a Husband!”, it has all the prerequisites to be a big hit – from the ever-current topic of love, male-female relationships to marriage and relationships in general, which we covered in a cheerful and fun way in the film. I am confident that the film will make the audiences smile. Also, the film has been in the making for a long time and was done very thoroughly, while its production team is known for making very successful films in Russia.
I truly believe in this film, which, after its premiere at FEST, will be screened at cinemas throughout Serbia starting on 24th March. I hope the audience will love it.
The film’s co-producer, Klim Shipenko, was also the director of ‘The Servant’, the most popular Russian film of all times, where you play one of the leading roles. Do you know anything about the latest film he’s directing called ‘Challenge’ that is supposed to make film history?
Klim is an exceptional person and filmmaker, which, of course, is evidenced by his artistic successes, but also accomplishments that far exceed artistic categories. Making a film in space seems like science fiction, and the fact that no one has done something like that before speaks volumes about its level of difficulty and complexity. Klim recently filled me in with certain details about the adventure of making this film at a dinner. I was all ears, like a little child. I believe that Klim will have plenty of opportunities to tell you first-hand all about the film when he visits Serbia for the first time. What I can divulge is that the way they made that film is actually a film in itself and that I am happy to have been given the opportunity to work with such a man for many years.
Preparations for the shooting of the TV series ‘Južni Vetar 2’ (‘South Wind 2’) have just started in your production company, Archangel Digital Studios. Also, the shooting of Slobodan Šijan’s film ‘Budi Bog s Nama’ is nearly done. The film Južni Vetar 2 was the biggest box office hit in Croatia which just proves that film connects the region better than diplomacy. Could you comment on that?
I strongly believe in the power of art and creativity to erase all boundaries, while connecting people, nations and cultures regardless of their differences. Regarding this part of the world, the very fact that we speak the same or similar language and share the same cultural space, further solidifies this coherent moment, along with all the other elements that connect us. The success of Južni Vetar in Croatia, which is the biggest box office hit of all times, validates this in practice.
I have spoken many times about the desire to connect this region through film and TV series, as well as the belief that this region and the Balkans, with their combined creative potentials, can have fantastic success in Europe and the world in feature and animated film and TV series. This is both a potential and a necessity, our small countries are also each a small market in themselves which makes the development and survival of individual film industries practically unsustainable. Together, we can boost the quality of TV series and films, and thus our relevance in comparison to the film industries in big countries.
All these production challenges of yours paled in comparison when it came to ADS’ partnership with Andrea Iervolino and the opening of Iervolino Studios in our country. The studio has been opened two years ago. Are you happy with it?
I am satisfied, proud and happy, because in a very short period, during the pandemic, we managed to achieve everything we had set for ourselves, and for the most part, we publicly promised that it would happen. In addition to employing over 150 young people of various professions who are working in the studio and cooperating with it, produced from start to finish an animated film for the global market and streaming platforms, we also laid the foundation for further expansion of the studio and this new segment in our country. I think this is an unstoppable process that will, year on year, produce an increasing number of film projects that are worthy of global productions.
The animated series ‘Puffins Impossible’ will have its world premiere on Amazon Prime and Apple TV soon. Since this format is brand new in our film industry, could you tell us more about the potential and dimensions of such a project? How important is it for the promotion of a Serbian film studio that Johnny Depp lent his voice to one of the characters?
With a lot of pride and devoid of false modesty, I can say that just opening a studio is a big and important endeavour, not only for us, at Archangel Digital Studios, which is the partner in this story, but for the entire creative and artistic sector of our country. Just like the world of video games, animated feature content is a real global hit, and generating opportunities to completely create and produce an animated series for the global market here, in Serbia, is a game-changer in several segments and does not only concern cartoonists and people who are already involved in animation. It also raises the question of the necessity to educate an appropriate workforce in our country, creates an opportunity of employing a large number of people, as well as facilitates the development of a completely new creative industry that can market its products globally. I would just like to add that in addition to the aforementioned Amazon Prime and Apple TV, ‘Puffins Impossible’ will also be aired on Chili TV, TaTaTu and many other platforms worldwide.
Johnny Depp’s role in the Puffin story and the promotion of our studio is big and important. In addition to the fact that Johnny is a big star, with a striking footprint in world cinema and that media closely follow every single step he makes, his personal and very obvious love for Serbia and our creatives and artists, whom he often talks about, boosted the promotion of series and studios to a new level and generated huge publicity. Despite his personal problems in the past two years, with all the inconveniences that have followed him everywhere, he is back in the public eye because of his new film roles, which is especially gratifying. I can’t wait to see him in the role of King Louis XV of France, which he is preparing for as we speak.
You have been elected president of the Film Industry Group at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia in a difficult time for the film industry. You are expected to ensure better working conditions for your colleagues, but attract foreign teams to come to Serbia. How much does fulfilling such big tasks depend on you and the Film Industry Group?
The Film Industry Group is an active participant in all processes related to this segment, but it cannot do everything on its own. The Group was established to coordinate the cooperation of film professionals with companies and the state while creating the best possible conditions for the development of the domestic film industry. My impression is that with good cooperation with the Ministry of Culture, we are slowly sorting things out, laying the foundation for creating new systems and correcting existing ones. These are all time-consuming processes that do not happen overnight. At the same time, the rules in the film industry are changing from day to day, and that can be a great opportunity for Serbia.
It is a good thing that we now have incentives for the film industry, which drew many foreign productions to come here and provided jobs on film sets for our people, which of course, has its economic benefits. We should not forget that working on foreign productions also gave domestic film workers the opportunity to obtain additional education and raise the standards of work in the domestic film industry. A great number of films are being made in our country at the moment and shooting budgets are higher. If this trend lasts for the next 3 to 4 years, I sincerely hope that we will produce more film content that will find its place on global streaming platforms and that more film workers will win significant awards at the biggest festivals around the world. With such developments, investing in the film industry will be stimulating and carry its own business logic for many companies both from the country and abroad.
I am not giving up on theatre
Do you still have time for theatre in addition to your work in film?
Theatre is my past, present and future and something that is very important to me, as a special, and much-needed space of freedom and play, a space that feeds the fire of spirit and strength of heart, to paraphrase Brecht, whose play we are currently acting in. Theatre is my oasis and I do not want to give it up, although in terms of time, and considering my current scope of work and engagement, it is very difficult to fit it all together. But when there is a will, there is a way, and it will certainly be so in the future. I’m still playing in “Kad su Cvetale Tikve”, for the 8th consecutive year. I also have a role in “Baal”, Brecht’s play directed by Slovenian director Diego De Brea, which I did last year. We are planning another premiere for next season.