European Film Academy Demands Release of Serbian Filmmaker Relja Stanojević
The European Film Academy (EFA), alongside the Serbian Film Directors Association (AFRS), the Screenwriter Guild of Serbia, and the Association of Serbian Film Producers, has issued a powerful appeal to Serbian authorities, calling for the immediate and unconditional release of filmmaker Relja Stanojević.
Relja, a student at the Academy of Arts in Novi Sad and an emerging talent in Serbian cinema, was arrested on November 8 during a peaceful protest in Novi Sad. Demonstrators had gathered to demand accountability for the deadly collapse of a newly reconstructed railway station canopy, which claimed 14 lives. Relja was detained by plain-clothed officers and accused of “attacking an official in the performance of official duties.”
He has now spent 13 days in detention, reportedly alongside violent offenders. Concerns are mounting over his mental and physical well-being, with advocates warning that his imprisonment could represent a broader crackdown on peaceful protest and freedom of expression in Serbia.
The EFA expressed grave concerns in their statement, highlighting the potential suppression of artistic voices and the safety of cultural figures in the country. “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,” the statement read.
The Serbian Film Directors Association and affiliated cultural bodies have also denounced the arrest as disproportionate and politically motivated. Many within the artistic and cultural communities view Relja’s detention as emblematic of increasing intimidation tactics against dissenters in Serbia.
How to Help:
Supporters are urged to sign the online petition demanding the immediate release of Relja Stanojević, amplifying the collective voice of the global cultural community in advocating for justice and freedom.