Deadline for abstract submissions: March 10th, 2018.
Following on the second International Conference on Balkan Cinema that took place in Belgrade in 2017, The Great War(s): Our Story aims to explore the cinematic narratives of the Great War and of the other conflicts in the area. The 3rd International Conference on Balkan cinema will focus on exploring the cinematic heritage of the Balkans and the one made about the Balkans by foreign film makers; as well as the ways these highlight the connections between different war narratives that coalesce into “our story”. The ambivalence of the term “our” refers to our/Balkan stories; our as belonging to one of the Balkan states. It also includes our other defined identities as of victims or perpetrators; civilians or soldiers; women and children in devastated cities and in the wasteland of the countryside’s or men on the front; the generations of participants or to the post generations. The war narratives speaking from any involved parties eventually challenge the history or work with it; or bring together diverse often confronting and competing national histories… However, a lot of other stories are relevant for the Balkans although not connected directly with war.