Feature documentary written and directed by Nicolas Wagnières.
On the banks of the river Danube, the Hotel Jugoslavija has marked Belgrade suburbs' landscape for more than 50 years. It was built in 1969 under the impulsion of Marshal Tito, to become the biggest and most prestigious hotel in the Balkans.
Being as much a hotel as a political object, its fate has always been linked to the history of Jugoslavia, then Serbia. After the death of the marshal, the building had witnessed the breakup of the federation. When the hotel was hit during the bombing of Belgrade by NATO forces in 1999, Milosevic directly ordered its reopening, even though an aisle was partially destroyed.
With Milosevic gone, Serbia engaged in a transition towards a "market democracy". Closed in 2005 and slowly decaying ever since, the hotel was bought and sold several times, by different European holding companies. it is now waiting for the restoration works that will turn it into a luxury hotel again, while Belgrade is striving to emerge as european city.
The beginning of the works will be the starting point for the film to explore the hotel's and the country's history, with the help of archives and characters related to the major events the hotel has gone through. The construction site will then reflect the building of a new identity, as Serbia is knocking on E.U.ʼs door.
Development with support from Ville de Genève - Département des Affaires Culturelles ; l'OFC (Succès Cinéma) ; Canton & République de Genève - Bourse d'aide à l'écriture ; SCAM - Bourse "Brouillon d'un rêve".
Wants
Co-Production partners in Europe
Sales Agent
