As a seasoned movie critic with a penchant for unconventional and thought-provoking films, I find myself intrigued by the upcoming project of Ena Sendijarević, “The Possessed.” Having delved into the rich tapestry of her previous works, I am confident that this dark, surrealist exploration of love, power, and history will not disappoint.

Ena Sendijarević’s third film, titled ‘The Possessed,’ which marks her English-language debut, has received approval for production and will begin filming in Spain early in 2026.

Last year’s chosen project will be showcased to potential buyers during the approaching Cannes Film Festival. Global auditions are currently ongoing for the production. A total of 1.2 million Euros have already been secured for this project via the Netherlands Film Fund.

In 2019, Sendijarević’s first full-length movie, “Take Me Somewhere Nice,” a whimsical European road trip flick, garnered two prestigious awards: The Special Jury Award at the International Film Festival Rotterdam and the Best Feature Film Award, known as the Heart of Sarajevo, at the Sarajevo Film Festival.

The film titled ‘The Possessed’ has successfully obtained the necessary funds for production. This chilling, dreamlike narrative revolves around an intriguing love triangle involving two women on the run from the European witch trials, and a man unwillingly ensnared by them.

Sendijarević communicates to EbMaster: “‘The Possessed’ delves into the legacy of European witch trials, viewed through a modern and surrealistic perspective. The movie investigates how major societal conflicts permeate and mold even the closest personal ties.

In my creative endeavor, I aspire to weave a captivating cinematic tapestry that seamlessly merges the historical and the eternal, the tangible and the mystical – providing a mirror for viewers to contemplate the reverberations of these battles within their own existence. At its core, this narrative is intended to resonate deeply, stirring both emotional and physical responses, as it delves into the heart of human struggle.

The movie is created by Layla Meijman and Maarten van der Ven, who work for Studio Ruba based in the Netherlands. This studio has previously worked on films like “Idyllic,” which will be shown in the IFFR Big Screen Competition next year, “To a Land Unknown,” which was exhibited at Cannes Directors’ Fortnight this year, and “Kiddo,” which was screened at Berlinale Generation last year.

The film is jointly produced by Elisa Heene of Mirage Films (Belgium), a production company whose works include “Holly,” which was part of last year’s Venice Film Festival competition, Martien Vlietman from VPRO Broadcast, and Sendijarevic for Eklips in the Netherlands.

Meijmans, who had collaborated with Sendijarević on their films “Import” and “Take Me Somewhere Nice” in the past, expressed enthusiasm about this fresh beginning: “We can’t wait to share this enchanting production with people worldwide!

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2024-12-20 18:47