Minister of Culture Nikola Selaković posted on August 5 that the film was finished in Zlatibor Predrag Gage Antonijević "Meeting". Three months before that, he announced the start of filming with the words:
"Filming of another screen adaptation of the epic of the glorious Serbian history and the struggle for the resurrection of Serbia, the struggle for its freedom, has begun. Thank you to Predrag Gaga Antonijević and the entire crew of this great film, which I believe will have a serious impact on the upbringing of new generations of young Serbs and Serbian women."
Ambitious project
On that occasion, the Film Center of Serbia (FCS) emphasized on its website that it is an ambitious project that brings to the big screen an epic story about the birth of the modern Serbian state and the heroic days of the First and Second Serbian Uprisings. On that occasion, it was noted that the beginning of filming was preceded by several months of preparations as well as the construction of grandiose scenographies.
Photo: Promo/Anastasija StrunjašOne of the mass scenes from the movie "The Meeting"
Now that filming has ended, the media announced that the production involved the construction of large sets, authentic costumes, a large number of extras and demanding combat sequences. Before the start of filming, the actors underwent riding lessons and training for conflict scenes, while the Cutting of the Knezova, the Battle of Misaru and other important events of the uprising era were reconstructed in front of the cameras.
The role of leader Đorđe Petrović Karađorđe was entrusted to Nenad Jezdić, while the character of Miloš Obrenović will be played by Vuk Jovanović. The main female role is played by Ivana Nikolić, who will revive the character of Jelena Jovanović, Karađorđe's wife. The film also stars Denis Murić and Nikola Kolja Pejaković.
National project
The film "Sretenje" by Gaga Antonijević is talked about in the media as a national project, but there are no signs that it was financed by the Government or the Film Center of Serbia.
On May 12, it was announced on the FCS website that the producers of the Film Today project are Dandelion Production, based in Los Angeles and Belgrade.
Photo: Promo/Teodor MiloševićVuk Jovanović as Miloš Obrenović
However, Euronews stated a different production structure a few days ago: the film was produced by m:tel and Dandelion Production (owned by Gaga Antonijević), while the executive production is Film Danas (owned by Maksa Ćatović).
Until then, the local media did not mention the company m:tel as a producer.
As early as February 1, 2025, the general director of m:tel, Jelena Trivan, told Srna News that her company allocates "significant financial resources for domestic production and cinematography".
Specifically, she stated that "almost seven million KM have been invested in socially responsible projects so far", and pointed out that this company "will continue to support development projects, knowledge, young people and experts because this is the greatest resource that Republika Srpska and Serbia have".
RS prepares "Meeting"
At the end, she announced "that a new feature film about Sretenje and Serbian statehood is being prepared, which promotes Serbian culture, traditions and customs."
Jelena Trivan did not specify how much budget of the mentioned seven million KM was allocated by m:tel for the film "Sretenje".
Let us remind you that m:tel is a company majority owned by Telekom Srbija. If there is no information that "Sretenje" was financed by the state and FCS, then it could be Telekom Srbija via m:tel.
How much Antonijevic's "Meeting" costs, no one says.
What came before "The Meeting"
Before "Meeting", Gaga Antonijević realized "The Gift from Jasenovac", premiered in February 2021. Between those two films, he announced four more.
Photo: PromoA scene from "Dara from Jasenovac"
Immediately after the premiere, in February, he announced the series, "because a lot of recorded material did not make it into the film", but also a new film.
"We will also continue the story of Dara and Bud through "Storm". And that will be the completion of a tragic story and a tragic epic of the Serbian people on the territory of Croatia" because "it is our duty and mine to find out the truth about it!" said Antonijević at the time.
Then, in June 2021, the pro-regime media announced that Antonijevic "will soon start filming the epic spectacle 'Janijičar' in which Christian Bale will play the main role", as well as that negotiations are underway with Sharon Stone, who would play Bale's mother.
However, nothing happened from all this, nor was it explained why it didn't.
Battle in Kosovo
In November 2022, Antonijević announced that he was preparing a new feature film "Battle in Kosovo", based on his own script, and that filming should begin next year. Nenad Jezdić was already planned for Prince Lazar, and Igor Đorđević for Vuk Branković. Antonijevic then said that filming will begin in June 2023 and that the film will be a Serbian-Spanish co-production.
For the needs of the film, a replica of the medieval Kruševac, estimated at around 1,5 million euros, had to be built in the Lipovická forest. Antonijevic then said that all the action scenes with the Spanish stuntmen were then choreographed, that the complete design of the armor and costumes was completed.
The media wrote that it is a very expensive project made in cooperation with Telekom and a Spanish production, and Antonijević and Maksa Ćatović will be signed as producers of the film.
The start of the film was moved to 2024, and then the film disappeared from the public eye.
This was followed by "Zadar's Crystal Night", a four-part mini-series from 2023, a continuation of "Dare", about the suffering and historical events related to May 2, 1991, for the mass demolition campaign in Zadar in which over 130 commercial buildings and hundreds of houses owned by Serbs were destroyed and looted.
The planned budgets for these projects were not discussed either.
The premiere of "Sretenje" is announced by the director of this film, Predrag Gaga Antonijević, for next year, around the Sretenje holiday.
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