Jakob Krese
ABOUT THE END OF THE WORLD (THE GODS MUST BE MISTAKEN)
A Yugoslav family reflects on over half a century of upheaval, hope, destruction, and new beginnings. A dialogue about missing gods, an end that is not, and the price that must be paid for never giving up.
SYNOPSIS
My grandmother, Staramama, fought as a partisan against fascism in the Second World War and in support of the revolution in Yugoslavia. After the war, she became part of the political elite and started a family. Her daughter, Mama, rebelled against that revolution and saw her country go up in flames. When war broke out, she rushed to the besieged city of Sarajevo to support her friends. Her son—me—is making a film about them, about a country that no longer exists, and about the hope that sustains all of us. About the End of the World is the story of a family who could never afford to separate politics from their personal lives. The writings of my mother and grandmother, who are no longer alive, form a foundation for a cinematic collage gathered from the film archives of the former Yugoslavia. Their visual representations become allegories of their generations. By weaving together their intimate writings with the historical archives, the film becomes a poetic yet tangible journey of resistance.
DIRECTOR
Jakob Krese
PRODUCERS
Ivana Naceva, Annika Mayer
CO-PRODUCER
Chiara Castiglioni, Vanja Jambrović, Marina Gumzi
EDITOR
Annika Mayer
PRODUCTION COMPANIES
Pótem, Majmun Films
CO-PRODUCTION COMPANY
Zero Stress Production, Restart, Nosorogi
COUNTRIES
Slovenia, Germany, Italy, Croatia
LENGTH
100 min
Jakob Krese
JAKOB KRESE grew up between the former Yugoslavia and Germany. He studied cinematography and directing at the Film University Babelsberg Konrad Wolf, at the University of the Arts in Havana, and at the Academy of Performing Arts in Sarajevo. Since 2018, he has worked as a cinematographer, director, writer, and producer of creative documentaries. His films have screened at festivals such as the International Film Festival Rotterdam, Visions du Réel, and the Busan and Palm Springs International Film Festivals. His most recent short film, PREKID VATRE, had its premiere in the Berlinale Shorts section of the Berlin International Film Festival in 2025. He lives and works between Trieste, Ljubljana, and Berlin.
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
ABOUT THE END OF THE WORLD is a film about resistance and resilience, about how important it is to say “no” and swim against the tide, even when to do so seems impossible. As a son and grandson, I create a dialogue between generations, drawing on my own family’s history, so that their words and actions can speak to future generations, including my two daughters. Shortly after I started my own family, new wars began to rage in Europe and the Middle East. The scenes seem similar to those of the Yugoslav Wars. Nationalism and hatred are returning with renewed force. My family's personal and political past serves as a reminder that nothing can be taken for granted, and that anything can change at any time, for better or worse. In their honest and deeply personal writings lies a treasure trove of subjective truth, offering a unique perspective on all this political and historical turmoil. Unfortunately, I can no longer post questions to my grandmother nor my mother, as they are no longer alive. All the more reason for me to enter into a dialogue with them through their written legacy.
Ivana Naceva and Annika Mayer
IVANA NACEVA
Ivana Naceva was born in 1986. She holds an MA in cultural studies from the University of Ljubljana. Building on over a decade of experience in cultural management, she transitioned into the film industry to work as a freelance producer and production manager for productions in Slovenia. In addition to her production work, Naceva collaborates with filmmakers on archival research, supporting them in sourcing and licensing historical footage. In 2024, she founded the production company Pótem, whose primary focus is on documentary films. She has participated in markets and educational initiatives including IDFA Project Space, IDFAcademy, East Doc, and the INA FRAME Workshops, among others.
ANNIKA MAYER
Annika Mayer is a Berlin-based editor and documentary producer. She studied film editing at the Film University Babelsberg Konrad Wolf and holds a PhD in social anthropology. In 2019 she co-founded the production company Majmun Films with Jakob Krese. She has produced and edited numerous award-winning documentaries and short films, including Jakob Krese and Danilo do Carmo’s LO QUE QUEDA EN EL CAMINO and LA ESPERA. Recently, Mayer completed her directorial debut, the documentary HOME SWEET HOME, which won the Lola Award for Best Mid-Length Film in 2024.
PRODUCER’S STATEMENT
ABOUT THE END OF THE WORLD highlights the inseparability of the personal and the political, the power of solidarity and resistance, and the importance of maintaining humanity in dark times. Drawing on archival material and historical fact, the film suggests that history needs to be revisited and reinterpreted in the present through dialogue, memory, and reflection. The narrative is further enriched by its female perspectives, bringing to the forefront the experiences of two female protagonists. Through their stories, director Jakob Krese honours the often-overlooked contributions of women whose progressive thinking and unwavering commitment to their beliefs were marginalized. With core financing already secured, the project is now entering the final stages of production. It is structured as a co-production between Slovenia, Germany, Italy, and Croatia and has received support from the Slovenian Film Centre, the German BKM, the FVG Fund and Film Commission, the Croatian Audiovisual Centre, and Eurimages. The film is also supported by ZDF/Arte and the public broadcaster RTV Slovenia. Due to its artistic potential, which goes beyond the traditional forms of fiction and documentary, the project has gained notable recognition and interest from the industry. It was a participant of ESoDoc, BDC Discoveries Workshop, IDFA Project Space, and Eurodoc. It has also been pitched at forums including the DOK Leipzig Co-Pro Market, the East Doc Forum, and the Sheffield MeetMarket.
Production company profile
Pótem
Pótem, an independent production company based in Ljubljana,, is committed to creating impactful films that address pressing social issues, inspire global dialogue, and engage audiences in meaningful conversation. The company was founded in 2024 by Ivana Naceva. Her dedication to telling stories that matter drives Pótem's mission, and ensures that each project is approached with authenticity and depth. Pótem’s filmography includes Annika Mayer’s ROSE (2024) and Jakob Krese’s PREKID VATRE (CEASEFIRE;2025), the latter of which was selected for the Berlinale Shorts section of the Berlin International Film Festival. Currently, Pótem is producing Krese’s ABOUT THE END OF THE WORLD and developing two exciting new projects, further expanding its diverse portfolio.
Majmun Films
Majmun Films is a Berlin-based independent production company founded in 2019 by Annika Mayer and Jakob Krese. Driven by a belief in the emancipatory power of cinema, the company focuses on humanistic stories that explore socially relevant themes, particularly in Central and Southeast Europe and Latin America. Their award-winning work includes LO QUE QUEDA EN EL CAMINO (2021), LA ESPERA (2020), and PRIMER PAQUETE PARA HONDURAS (2022), all of which have screened at major international festivals. HOME SWEET HOME (2023) had its premiere in the German Competition at DokLeipzig and won the Lola Award for Best Mid-Length Feature in 2024. Their most recent short film, PREKID VATRE (CEASEFIRE), was selected for the Berlinale Shorts section of the Berlin International Film Festival in 2025.
Where are we at?
PRODUCTION BUDGET
€647,700
NEEDED FOR COMPLETION
€70,000
TERRITORIES AVAILABLE
Worldwide (except Slovenia, Germany, Italy, Croatia)
EXPECTED RELEASE
Summer 2026.
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