Urgent Call for the Release of Serbian Filmmaker Relja Stanojević
Urgent Call for the Release of Serbian Filmmaker Relja Stanojević
The European Film Academy joins the Serbian Film Directors Association (AFRS), the Screenwriter Guild of Serbia and the Association of Serbian Film Producers and call onto the Serbian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Relja Stanojević.
Relja, filmmaker and student at the Academy of Arts Novi Sad, was arrested on 8 November during a peaceful demonstration in Novi Sad, calling for government accountability following the tragic collapse of the canopy at a newly re-constructed railway station which killed 14 people. During the protest, plain-clothed officers arrested him and he was accused of “attacking an official in the performance of official duties.”
Relja has been detained for 13 days alongside violent offenders, and his mental condition is deteriorating. This arrest appears to be part of broader government efforts to suppress peaceful protests and intimidate the public, raising serious concerns about freedom of expression and the safety of artists in Serbia.
The European Film Academy is worried about the mental and physical well-being of Relja Stanojević and calls onto the Serbian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release him and we encourage all film and culture institutions around the world to do the same.
>> Sign the petition to demand the release of Relja Stanojević. <<
About the European Film Academy:
The European Film Academy seeks to support and connect its 5,000 members and celebrates and promotes their work. Its aims are to share knowledge and to educate audiences of all ages about European cinema. Positioning itself as a leading organisation and facilitating crucial debates within the industry, the Academy strives to unite everyone who loves European cinema, culminating annually in the Month of European Film and the European Film Awards, strengthening European film heritage, and by connecting to young audiences through the European Film Club.