AGP Executive Report

Serbian Screen: Director Luka Mihailović is shooting City of Pain, a drama about a Roma boy growing up among neglected children in Belgrade. Regional TV: Nine projects have been selected for Series Rough Pitch – The Balkan Way, a Balkan-focused industry showcase expanding this year to Malta and Switzerland. Cultural Voices: Writer and artist Katalin Ladik, director Sabolč Tolnai and actors Žužana Kalmar and Gabor Pongo are among Hungarian public figures in Vojvodina urging support for the Student List. Film Industry: Serbian filmmakers have filed a criminal complaint against Culture Minister Nikola Selaković. Publishing: Bloom Publishing says its contemporary Serbian prose project will not be at the Book Fair.

Performing Arts: Serbia’s ballet artists’ association is backing dancers at the Serbian National Theatre in Novi Sad, who allege pressure and age-related mistreatment. It is urging the theatre and Culture Ministry to address the dispute and improve retirement rules for dancers. Digital Rights: Personal details of 3,625 people in Vojvodina were published online and then shared on social media; who obtained or posted the data remains unknown. Separately, researchers confirmed Pegasus spyware infected University of Belgrade Rector Vladan Đokić’s phone. Women’s Safety: A Serbian civic-tech platform called SafeSteps lets women anonymously report approximate locations where they feel unsafe, helping identify patterns without collecting identities. Film & Publishing: The children’s film Glavonja, which explores diversity, is set to open Kids Fest. Some independent and contemporary Serbian publishers say they will not take part in the upcoming Book Fair, while the Rebel Publishers Fair says it will not give up on culture.

Film & Youth: The film Glavonja, a story about diversity, opened Kids Fest, bringing a message of inclusion to young audiences. Books & Translation: A German publisher has been recognised for translating Serbian writers, while a contemporary Serbian prose project says it will miss the Book Fair; the Rebel Publishers Fair says it will not give up on culture. Arts & Accountability: Serbia’s film industry has filed a criminal complaint against Culture Minister Nikola Selaković, according to film director Miloš Škundrić. Culture Under Pressure: Belgrade’s Blacklist festival is asking who gets excluded and why, with a programme that includes a performance about a year marked by the dismissal of Jelena Ivetić. Digital Rights: Ahead of Sunday’s election, researchers say Pegasus spyware infected University of Belgrade rector Vladan Đokić’s phone; a prosecutor who investigated a Belgrade development project also received a spyware warning.

Culture Funding: Serbia’s film industry associations say they will file a criminal complaint against Culture Minister Nikola Selaković and officials over the denial of state funding for domestic cinema, which they say has left the sector without support for more than two years. Books and Comics: A German publisher has been recognized for translating Serbian writers, while Riccardo Secchi is taking over the writing of Alan Ford—the cult comic beloved across Serbia and the former Yugoslavia—from his father, its creator Max Bunker. Film: The children’s film Glavonja, a story about diversity, opened Kids Fest. Digital Rights: Researchers say University of Belgrade Rector Vladan Đokić’s phone was infected with Pegasus spyware as student protests continue; a prosecutor who investigated alleged official corruption was also reportedly targeted. Sport: Serbian team Ub won the FIBA 3x3 World Tour stop in Macau, beating Shanghai 21–15, with Marko Branković named MVP.

Academic Freedom: Citizen Lab and Serbia’s SHARE Foundation say Belgrade University Rector Vladan Đokić’s phone was infected with Pegasus spyware; prosecutor Rade Bajić received an Apple warning of a spyware attack. Đokić called for an independent investigation, amid concern over surveillance of university and judicial figures. Student Movement: After nearly two years of anti-corruption protests, students are taking their challenge to President Aleksandar Vučić’s party into the October 25 election. Film: Serbian director Miroslav Terzić won best director at Skopje’s KineNova festival for 3 Weeks After, a co-production with four other countries. Books: A German publishers’ award has recognised Leipzig Literature Verlag for championing literature from the post-Yugoslav region, including Serbian writers. Meanwhile, independent publishers say contemporary Serbian prose and academic books will be missing from the Belgrade Book Fair. Sport: Serbia’s Ub team claimed its third FIBA 3x3 World Tour title of the season in Macau, beating Shanghai 21–15 in the final.

Film Festivals: Miroslav Terzić won Best Director at Skopje’s KineNova festival for 3 Weeks After, while Slovenian-Croatian co-production Ida Who Sang So Badly Even the Dead Rose Up and Joined Her in Song took the top prize at the Festival of Slovenian Film. Serbian Literature: Leipzig’s independent Literaturverlag and Sisyphus platform won Germany’s 2026 Publishers Award for work promoting literature from the post-Yugoslav region, including translations of Serbian writers Miloš Crnjanski and Milan Mladenović. Children’s Cinema: Belgrade’s Kids Fest opens with Glavonja, a family adventure about friendship, diversity and autism; the film reaches Serbian cinemas on October 22. Independent Culture: The Blacklist festival is bringing artists and citizens together in more than 25 Serbian cities, as performers, publishers and academics create alternative spaces amid pressure on cultural institutions.

Children’s Film: Belgrade’s 22nd Kids Fest opened with Glavonja, a family adventure about friendship, autism and accepting difference; the film reaches Serbian cinemas on October 22. LGBTQ+ Rights: Belgrade Pride condemned an SNS campaign video for portraying transgender people as a threat to children, warning that misinformation fuels intolerance. Belgrade Music: The 58th Bemus festival opened with a gala featuring Russian opera stars and the RTS Symphony Orchestra; concerts run through October 30. Culture Under Pressure: The Blacklist festival brings artists and audiences together in more than 25 Serbian cities, turning disputes over cultural policy and pressure on theatre workers into a platform for resistance. Cultural Heritage: Greece’s parliament ratified an agreement with Serbia to combat trafficking in cultural goods.

Children’s Cinema: Belgrade’s 22nd Kids Fest opened with Glavonja, a family adventure about friendship, diversity and autism. The Croatian-Slovak film, made with Serbian participation, reaches Serbian cinemas on October 22. Independent Culture: The Blacklist festival is bringing artists, screenings and performances to more than 25 Serbian cities through October 21, as publishers and cultural workers push back against exclusions and pressure. Books: Academic Book says it will miss this year’s Belgrade Book Fair after its projects were denied public funding, joining other independent publishers staging alternative events. Classical Music: The 58th Bemus festival opened in Belgrade on October 17 with Russian opera stars and the RTS Symphony Orchestra; concerts run through October 30. Heritage: Greece has ratified an agreement with Serbia to share information, fight illicit trafficking of cultural goods and support their return.

Independent Arts: The “Black List” festival is bringing artists and audiences together in more than 25 Serbian cities, turning cultural blacklists and pressure on artists into performances, film screenings and public events. Belgrade Music: The 58th Bemus festival opened on October 17 with Russian opera stars and the RTS Symphony Orchestra and Choir; performances by international orchestras and leading soloists continue through October 30. Book Fair: Academic Book and other publishers say they will skip this year’s Belgrade Book Fair, citing funding and cultural-policy concerns, while organizing independent events and online sales. Cultural Heritage: Greece’s parliament has ratified an agreement with Serbia to share information, combat illicit trade in cultural goods and help return stolen heritage. Classical Music: Zubin Mehta is set to reunite with the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra, renewing a long-standing musical connection.

Belgrade Music: The 58th Bemus festival opens October 17 with a gala concert featuring Russian opera stars, the RTS Symphony Orchestra and Choir. The program runs through October 30, with performers and ensembles from across Europe, alongside Serbian music. Book Fair: Academic Book says it will miss this year’s Belgrade Book Fair after its projects were rejected for public funding. The publisher is holding an online fair and literary events instead. Blacklist Festival: The film program continues in Belgrade with free screenings of Serbian films through October 19, as the wider festival runs in more than 25 cities until October 21. Cultural Heritage: Greece’s parliament has ratified an agreement with Serbia to share expertise and information, combat trafficking in cultural goods and help return looted items. Young Innovators: A Belgrade competition brought together student and research teams from Serbia, China, Britain and Germany. Top awards went to a low-cost health-monitoring sensor developed with the University of Niš and a wastewater cooling system proposed by University of Novi Sad researchers.

Books & Publishing: Twenty independent Serbian publishers are holding the ne:Sajam festival in Belgrade and Novi Sad through Oct. 18, after declining to take part in the official Book Fair over its terms. Cultural Heritage: Students are seeking documents on the General Staff complex after reports that Aleksandar Vučić pushed officials to remove the bomb-damaged landmark’s protected status for a Trump-linked hotel project; he has not been charged and denies wrongdoing. Film & Music: Belgrade’s 2026 FEST named The Quiet Beekeeper, Red Hangar and Hold Onto Me among its winners, while Zubin Mehta is set to reunite with the Belgrade Philharmonic. Independent artists are also taking the stage at Novi Sad’s Festival of the Serbian Underground and blacklisted-artists events across 25 Serbian cities.

Cultural Heritage: The Guardian reports that Aleksandar Vučić pressured heritage officials to remove protection from Belgrade’s former Yugoslav army headquarters for a planned Trump-branded complex. Culture Minister Nikola Selaković and other officials face charges over alleged abuse of office; the project was later shelved. Books: Twenty independent publishers are holding the ne:Sajam festival in Belgrade and Novi Sad from October 16 to 18, after again boycotting the official Book Fair over its terms. Belgrade’s Bloom Publishing is also presenting a new series of contemporary Serbian prose. Theatre: Belgrade’s Blacklist festival opened with a documentary performance by Šabac Theatre actors, whose work was removed from the company’s repertoire. The festival spotlights artists and cultural workers sidelined from institutions. Film: FilmFestival Cottbus has announced 147 films from 43 countries for its November edition, including works by Serbian and regional filmmakers and a new competition for young directors. Music: EXIT’s Starlight Festival drew an international crowd to Egypt’s Giza Pyramids, closing the Serbian festival’s overseas tour. Classical Music: Zubin Mehta is set to return to Belgrade to conduct the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra.

Heritage Under Pressure: The Guardian reports that Aleksandar Vučić personally urged officials to strip Belgrade’s former General Staff building of protected status for a proposed Trump-branded hotel and tower. The project is now tied to a criminal case over alleged abuse of office. Independent Culture: Novi Sad’s Festival of the Serbian Underground returns to SKCNS Fabrika on October 16–17, with live music, a skate-culture exhibition and a DIY bazaar. Music & Film: Zubin Mehta is set to reunite with the Belgrade Philharmonic, while the Quiet Beekeeper, Red Hangar and Hold Onto Me won at this year’s FEST. Czech and Slovak Film Days also bring regional cinema to Belgrade. Serbian Culture Abroad: EXIT’s Starlight Festival drew an international crowd to Egypt’s Giza pyramids on October 9–10, closing the festival’s international tour. Academic Loss: Milan Podunavac, former dean of Belgrade’s Faculty of Political Sciences and a prominent scholar of political culture, has died aged 80.

Press Freedom: Hundreds rallied outside Nova.rs in Belgrade on Wednesday, backing journalists who rejected an ultimatum to work under new editorial leadership. Staff say they will continue reporting independently, including on election night. Media and Politics: Serbia’s electronic media regulator ended proceedings against RTS, RTV and four private broadcasters over campaign footage featuring children, finding no law violations. Separately, Arena Sport reportedly sought the removal of a “Students are winning” banner shown during a basketball broadcast. Film: The Quiet Beekeeper, Red Hangar and Hold Onto Me took top honors at the 2026 FEST in Belgrade. The festival’s 53rd edition also closed under the banner “Children of Kozare.” Music: Zubin Mehta is returning to Belgrade to reunite with the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra. Arts: A festival of blacklisted artists is bringing events to 25 cities across Serbia.

Belgrade Film: Sweden’s The Quiet Beekeeper, Chile’s Red Hangar and Hold Onto Me won top awards at FEST, which returned after a two-year break and screened more than 100 films. Live Music: EXIT’s international tour ended with a sold-out electronic music festival beside Egypt’s pyramids, keeping the Serbian festival brand on the world stage after its departure from Novi Sad. Books and Culture: Several Serbian publishers say new titles will be missing from the Book Fair, raising questions about what readers will find at the event. Orthodox Tradition: October 14 marks the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos, a much-loved feast in Slavic Orthodox communities. Classical Music: Zubin Mehta is set to return to Belgrade to reunite with the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra.

FEST: Belgrade’s returning film festival handed its top European prize to Sweden’s The Quiet Beekeeper and its international award to Chile’s Red Hangar. More than 100 films screened before the 53rd edition closed on October 11. Music: Zubin Mehta is returning to reunite with the Belgrade Philharmonic, bringing the celebrated conductor back to a long-standing cultural partnership. EXIT Abroad: The Serbian festival brand ended its international tour with a sold-out Starlight event beside Egypt’s pyramids, as it continues to build a life beyond Novi Sad. Education and Community: Nineteen young Serbs from Croatia are studying at Serbian universities through a decade-old scholarship programme; caretaker Prime Minister Đuro Macut met the students in Belgrade. Diaspora: Patriarch Porfirije made his first pastoral visit to Australia as head of the Serbian Orthodox Church, meeting a community of nearly 95,000 Serbian Orthodox Christians.