By: Azad Karimi
Unfortunately, cultural demand nowadays has nothing to do with culture. We live in instant society where everything is mass produced including culture.
Interview
Serbian Artist Stefan M. Mladenovic
By Azad Karimi
Today (18th. December 2020) was a great day for the libertarians of Iran and the world because we heard the news of the European Parliament's strong resolution against the Iranian regime:
Iran, in particular the case of 2012 Sakharov Prize Laureate Nasrin Sotoudeh MEPs strongly condemn the arbitrary detention, sentencing and, recently, return to prison of woman human rights defender, lawyer and 2012 Sakharov Prize laureate Nasrin Sotoudeh in Iran. They urge Iranian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release her and allow her to receive the healthcare she requires.
In addition, the resolution condemns the recent executions in Iran of France-based journalist Ruhollah Zam, editor of the Amad News Telegram channel, and wrestler Navid Afkari, while urging Iran to immediately halt the imminent execution of Swedish-Iranian academic Ahmadreza Djalali. It calls on EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell and all EU countries to urgently intervene to try to halt plans to execute Mr Djalali, quash his death sentence and secure his immediate release.
The text asks all EU member states to jointly issue public statements and undertake diplomatic initiatives to monitor unfair trials and visit prisons where human rights defenders and other prisoners of conscience, including EU nationals, are being detained in Iran. It also demands targeted EU measures against Iranian officials who have committed serious human rights violations, including the recent executions of Ruhollah Zam and Navid Afkari, as well as against those involved in gross human rights abuses, such as judges who have handed the death sentence to journalists, human rights defenders, political dissidents and activists.
The text was approved by 614 votes in favour, 12 against and 63 abstentions.
I publish the link of the European Parliament news about this here; please take a look at it:
In recent days, the intensity of political and economic resolutions and sanctions against the Iranian regime has greatly increased: yesterday the UN resolution and today the European Parliament resolution against the Iranian regime.
Thanks to the US Government, President Donald Trump, President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, The prime minister of the United Kingdom Mr.Boris Johnson and Liberal MPs, Canadian Prime Minister Mr.Justin Trudeau, Jean-Yves Le Drian French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, German Foreign Minister Mr.Haiku Maas, EU Member States, Belgian Liberal MPs, Denmark, and Norway, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres , Rafael Grossi Secretary-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Benjamin Netanyahu Prime Minister of Israel, King Salman bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia who came to the aid of the Iranian libertarians and made history and a special thank to Radosław Sikorski reorose , Polish represent in Europe parliament…
Please pay attention to our interview and read what I asked Serbian Artist Stefan and that he has answered.
I wish him the best in his artistic activities and personal life.
Thank you!
Vestland-Norway
1 - Please present yourself: Name, education, Civil status and...
.As an artist I like to say – If your art can provoke emotions you know that you’ve done the right thing...which is my mission, but it is also to change people lives. I am Stefan M. Mladenovic, I graduated at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts – acting department - in Serbia. I am the founder of a production company ARTISTA DE LA FE and as a self-taught person I’ve learned to speak, read and write English and Spanish.
2 - What is your artistic specialty?
.My artistic specialty is acting but in some period of my life I just wanted to go one step further into the art of filming and I took a risk to write, direct and produce films in Spanish. I think if an artist knows what he or she wants to talk about or have an important message to tell there are no boundaries to take that risk and do it. I fell in love with other sections of the seventh art, but definitely my first love is acting.
3 - When and how did you become interested in this field of art?
.When I was a child I loved to watch Mexican telenovelas and movies from Spain, especially Almodovar’s filmography. The way Barbara Mori, a Mexican actress, was interpreting some characters and the risks she took to become a better actress opening her own production company, and Almodovar’s way of talking about real problems made me wish to become a filmmaker. Years later here I am, founder of ARTISTA DE LA FE who has made two short films in Spanish about real problems and human rights.
4 - Who was your motivator?
.It’s very interesting to say that my way of interacting with myself in the mirror gave birth to some kind of first aid in my life. I just wanted to be someone’s first aid, not me personally, but my art and my stories. The struggle nowadays is something that is neglected and because of that my art will be a messenger to open the viewer’seyes.
5 - What was your parent’s reaction?
.I’m the lucky one when we speak about my parents and their support to a son who wanted to become an artist. I am saying that because living in Serbia and surviving doing art is like a tribute to a suicide in some way. But in the end of the day when you receive a message: ’’Thank you for being brave and saving my life.’’ is more important than any money in the world. It’s so important to support your children in making art, if they have a creative instinct don’t ask them to deny it because it will make them so depressed. It’s part of your life destiny to be born with that gene. I am immensely grateful to my parents that they didn’t deny me and my right to express myself.
6 - When did you become such professional Author, Actor, Cinema producer and Cinema Director?
.When I decided to make a short film with no-budget. After graduation I was sitting in my room, without a job, looking for an answer to “Now what?” I didn’t want to be Pierrot the clown. I found myself stronger than ever, that was the moment when I wrote my first screenplay and started thinking about making my first short film in Spanish as homage to artists who inspire me to be there. With my first short film ’’Quiero decirte’’ I knew what I want to say, and the journey began. Step by step I was enchanted with directing… but I will always be an actor who loves to direct, produce and write.
7 - You are artist and Filmmaker. Please tell us: Who is the Filmmaker? Who is a Cinema Director? Who is a Cinema producer?
.It’s a little bit immodest to say that I’m a one-man-band but I found my way to happiness. In my second short film ’’Lui Lack, tu no tienes la culpa’’ about child sexual abuse I am playing a person with multiple personality disorder so maybe that’s because there is more Stefan’s… To be honest, I think that when you believe one hundred percent in art and the idea to help with your spiritually work, there are no sections in art; it’s a one whole package.
8 - You were a Jury Member at Merlinka International Queer Film Festival and Ljubljana LGBT Film Festival, What are the serious challenges facing a Jury member?
I-In an industrial-artistic Movies Festival:
II- In a film festival with the topics of sexual challenges and LGBT:
.That was an incredible challenge and experience. One second you are with your film on some festival in official selection, and then suddenly you are the jury who need to decide or vote for the winner. Recently in one interview I said that the art is very ungrateful in the way that always when we talk about jury experience is subjective… so if you are not the winner that doesn’t mean that your film is not good enough. I can tell you from my experience when I can’t decide between three films that I like my vote will always go to the film that has a soul, which is done from the bottom of the artist’s heart. You can always feel that.
9 - What is the Film and Cinema Direction logic? What is the Cinema culture? What is their role in advancing the growing cultural demands of people around the world?
.Unfortunately, cultural demand nowadays has nothing to do with culture. We live in instant society where everything is mass produced including culture.
10 - You are Founder he founded the production company ARTISTA DE LA FE. Please tell us about your experiences in this project.
.The first thing I’ve experienced in founding a production company was about producing and writing projects for national competitions and private companies to find a budget for realization. As an actor without this experience it was very hard, particular in the money sections because I am a very bad mathematician. I can tell you that this was my smartest move; you just can’t wait to pass the castings.
11 - You are an International Award-Winning Filmmaker’s winner. Can you tell to your readers about this experience?
.Never have I ever could have imagined that this could happen to me, and more over with my first short film with no-budget. This experience gave me strength to go further with my ideas and that was the time when I finally learned the lesson about how hard work always wins.
12 - Tell to your follower and your reader about Lui Lack, the theme of the Film about attempts to stop sexual violence, can you open the topic more?
.Lui Lack was made as a real superhero who uses real super powers which are his voice and emotions. It was really hard to work on this project because Lui Lack is a fictional character who was sexual abused when he was 8 years old and as a consequence of that trauma he developed multiple personality disorder... where the other characters that I play are autobiographical and represent the different periods of my life. The message of the film is more than clear; I want to stop this and any kind of violence. It is important more than ever to talk about these types of human rights. My mission will be successful if just one person changes their mind and become braver to talk about their own experiences. They need to know that this is not their fault—no matter the circumstances. Victims of sexual assault, child sexual abuse and incest are not to blame. Only the perpetrator is at fault.
13 - You are a Cinema Actor, What is your view on this?
.Becoming an actor is the greatest gift that was given to me. Acting is the art that can pull you out of your comfort zone and, for me; there is no other art that can do more for your personal life. You learn that every time you step into someone else's shoes. You became stronger and easily superior warrior in your own fights.
14 -What are the factors of immortality in the art-cinema industry in all fields such as directing, producing, scenario, acting, and supporting acting?
.I like to say that filmmaking makes you free, immortal & historically relevant. No matter what kind of field you are in, you become the history which will help someone someday maybe in 100 years from now and that is the part where you are changing the world. Factor of immortality in the art-cinema is definitely your bravery to do that kind of art.
15 - Are you thankful and happy because of your activities as a Cinema family member?
.Absolutely, because there is no other thing that makes me happier than making movies. I can’t imagine myself doing something that doesn’t have anything in common with this kind of art form.
16 - What is your opinion about the material and spiritual support of the government for a film without interfering in the work of the film?
.I am not sure because I still don’t work for the government, but as a spectator I think that the government in Serbia is not interested in ‘to be proud’ of their own cinematography. Serbia had the most brilliant actors and cinema workers back in the days but now the stories for films are more like already seen. In my opinion, it would be better if the government have more spiritual support and let the artist do their job and not interfering in their work.
17 - How do you see the view about art, culture and Cinema?
.To be honest, this year just showed me how many people are not interested in art, and 80% of the art is the culture of nation and maybe because of that I am thinking that art is in danger... or maybe the renaissance is coming.
18 - Can you become one part of the cultural movement for motivation in youth or new generations in your country and so on?
.It would be my pleasure to become one of those people. I showed myself that anything is possible if you work really hard and believe in your ideas. That can be a special mission, to show younger generations how they can do anything and make a change.
19 - How can you help our world become a better place to live?
.If I am telling the truth all the time, if I’m being kind, and using the film platform it’s the only way to approach people and the only way for them to hear it. More people more possibilities to change world to become better place.
20 - Have you more words to say or suggest for our readers?
.If your idea calls you and you don’t pick up, she will never call again. Be brave and stop defending yourself from the insecurities.
Sincerely,
Stefan M. Mladenovic
