ALEKSANDAR BIJELIĆ SHOWCASES "THE BEAUTY OF HIS HOMELAND"

Aleksandar Bijelić, a screenwriter and playwright from Šipovo, captured the charm of his hometown in an intriguing documentary during his studies at the Academy of Arts in Banja Luka.

PHOTO: "Ljepota mog kraja - Šipovo"

The film, titled "The Beauty of My Homeland – Šipovo," was filmed over nine months between 2021 and 2022.

"The idea for the film came to me during my second year at the Academy of Arts," Bijelić explained. "As part of my studies in Dramaturgy, the focus was on creating a documentary film in the Film and TV Scriptwriting course. Although the course required only a script, not a finished film, I decided to go beyond that and create something meaningful for my hometown. That’s how this film was born," he said, announcing the film’s release on his YouTube channel.

The film blends elements of a documentary and a reportage.

"It is documentary because I adhered to the format required for the course, and reportage because of its nature and subject. I wanted to showcase my town, its natural beauty, and the young people living here while also addressing certain challenges," Bijelić elaborated.

Filming proved challenging due to limited resources, equipment, and scheduling conflicts, both with the film's participants and Bijelić’s own academic responsibilities.

"Initially, the plan was to film only during the summer when nature is at its most vibrant. However, due to various obstacles, the film ended up being shot across all four seasons, which ultimately added a unique visual appeal," he shared.

Now, more than two years after its premiere, Bijelić has decided to make the film available to a wider audience.

"Even though I was dissatisfied with many aspects of the film from the start, I understand that it is my debut project, created with heart and emotion, which is what matters most for a beginning. I am immensely grateful to everyone who contributed to the film in any way—from the technical crew and participants to the municipality, which allocated a portion of the funds for its realization," said Bijelić, who wrote, directed, and produced the film.

This heartfelt project serves as a testament to Bijelić’s dedication to preserving and promoting the beauty and spirit of Šipovo.