Living conditions in Majdanpek, Eastern Serbia, are so bad that even the dragons are leaving.
As the bright colours from the glory days of the 1960s slowly fade in Majdanpek, Eastern Serbia, the only thing that hasn’t changed is the dominance of the local copper mine. Both a giver and taker of life, the mine is central to the local industry but a major threat to the local culture, as it spews out layers of toxic dust over the plants used for traditional medicine and magic spells. The predominantly Vlach population refuses to let its spirit be cowed by the hardships of Post-Socialist reality, however and continues to celebrate life, combining spiritual reverence and good humour. Flotacija explores the conflicts between nature/tradition and industry/modernity through the family of Dragan Marković, a miner by day but a dragon hunter by night.
Past Screenings
goEast 2023
Beldocs 2023
Al Jazeera Balkans 2023 (special mention)
Verzio International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival 2023
Twisted Lullabies, MATCA artspace Feb 2024
WOW Wales One World Film Festival
Mostra Internacional de Cinema Etnográfico Museo do Pobo Galego (mention )
Martovski (Grand prix)
Zagreb Dox
Rigas Pasaules
Jean Rouch International Film Festival (Best first film award)
Underhill International Film Festival
EASA 2024 Special screening (Mantas Kvedaravičius Film Award)
Upcoming screenings:
Rhodope International Documentary Film Festival
Festival Kino Bled
International Ethnographic Film Festival “Ilinden Days”
Film Festival della Lessinia
Kratfest International Festival of Ethnological Documetary Film
All updates on the film’s distribution are on facebook at @flotacijafilm and Instagram @flotacijafilm.
The film was pitched and presented at the following events:
Beldocs Academy
Developed as part of:
The Balkan Documentary Center Balkan Discoveries programme
Selected for the IDFA Project Space Rough Cut Lab, editing tutor Qutaiba Barhamji
Recipient of the East Silver Caravan Award from the Institute of Documentary Film
Supported by:
Film Center Serbia
Brouillon d’un rêve, SCAM
UNESCO Filming Intangible Cultural Heritage Award
