Vanja
Aleksandra Odić
JIP Film & Verleih
VANJA lives in Germany. When her father, who lives in Bosnia, falls seriously ill, she sets off on a journey to her old homeland. They both get a chance for reconciliation.
Vanja, a photographer who fled to Germany from Bosnia as a child, visits her ill father in the old homeland after many years. The midsummer atmosphere with her old friends at the river brings up old feelings in a new light. Does she have to pull her childhood sweetheart Ogi out of the mess? And who is actually her father? Vanja has to find herself in her divided life. The German and the Bosnian.
Director’s biography: Aleksandra Odić / IMDb
ALEKSANDRA ODIĆ is a Berlin based filmmaker. Born in Bosnia-Herzegovina, as a child she moved to Germany due to the war. Her work as an actress was followed by studies of Film Direction at the German Film and Television Academy Berlin (DFFB). Her mid-length film KINESKI ZID (GREAT WALL OF CHINA) premiered at the Sarajevo Film Festival 2017 and at the Berlinale 2018 and won several awards. Her new short film FRIDA premiered at the Cannes Film Festival 2021 in the section Cinéfondation and won the Queer Palm for short movie 2021 and the LIGHTS ON WOMEN Award.
Producer’s biography: Julia I. Peters
After many years of experience in different areas of film production and international co-production, JULIA I. PETERS and JUTTA FEIT founded jip film & verleih in 2017. In continuous collaboration with directors we produce small and large international documentaries and feature films. The intensive preparation of projects and impact producing are for us building blocks for a successful production. We are interested in political and socially critical and relevant feature films and documentaries.
Where are we at?
Total estimated budget: 1,000.000 €
Finances pending: 350.000 €
Financing in place: 650.000 €
Production timeline
Production timeline:
2021 - March 2022 - Financing
March 2022- Summer 2022 - Pre-production
Late Summer 2022 - Shooting
Autumn 2022 - Postproduction
Looking for at CineLink?
We are looking for a co-producer in the Region, but also from Austria and France.
Director’s statement
I myself belong to VANJA's generation and also emigrated from Bosnia to Germany as a child. Identity has to reassemble and assert itself. With this film I want to open a cross-border dialogue of my generation.
Producer’s statement
It is a very sensitively told story of alienation, the search for home and a vulnerable father-daughter relationship. All this is set against the backdrop of the Bosnian-Serb-Croatian war, which will soon be celebrating its 30th anniversary. The wounds left by this war in several generations of refugees and the survivors in this former multi-ethnic state are still felt today. Nevertheless, it is not a war film, it is mainly about how Vanja overcomes the emotional hurdle of dealing with the country she left as a child and getting in touch with the place and the people. With international acclaimed actor Miki Manojlović we have been able to find a fantastic father Branko, who can skillfully play the emotional approach to Vanja and at the same time carry a secret until his death. Aleksandra's latest Film FRIDA, had its World Premiere at Cannes Filmfestival 2021 and won two Awards. VANJA will give the audience a new female view of a part of European history and its very personal effects.
Production company profile
After many years of experience in different areas of film production and international co-production, Julia I. Peters and Jutta Feit founded JIP FILM & VERLEIH in 2017. In continuous collaboration with directors we produce small and large international documentaries and feature films. The intensive preparation of projects and impact producing are for us building blocks for a successful production. We are interested in political and socially critical and relevant feature films and documentaries.
Email: julia@jip-film.de