was also then that I decided to start doing them in Belgrade.” Many foreign film produc- tions have come to our country to shoot in recent years, and there is almost no foreign film that’s been shot here that you haven’t worked on. Do you find it more challenging to work on domestic or foreign pro- ductions? “When it comes to the fantasy genre and working with foreigners, I can say that they are all extreme- ly professional teams that simulta- neously also really love the genre it- self. It is easier to create if everyone understands and loves what they are doing. Foreigners are devoted, sac- rificing themselves entirely to the production process, and later also to post-production. They will work all day and night in order to meet deadlines (and deadlines are a great challenge in our industry). As for domestic productions, we increas- ingly receive support from foreign co-productions, and that support really means a lot to us. Foreigners value this genre, and the market is much bigger when you have a for- eign co-producer.” You’re considered Serbia’s best special effects art- ist. Could you single out the most challenging mask you’ve made to date? “That was for the American hor- ror film The Quantum Devil, the pre- miere of which awaits us this year. I had to make a body without skin, all in muscles made of flesh and blood (it’s impossible to describe). Making that mask took four hours each day, and that was with the help of two colleagues.” Is there a master of masks or special effects around the world for whom you have infinite admiration and would like to meet, but haven’t yet had the chance? “Of course! I would love to meet my idols from the ‘80s: Tom Savini (Friday the 13 th , Dawn of the Dead) and Rick Baker (Men in Black, An American Werewolf in London).”
to screen their films at our festival in particular, and we have equal appli- cations from feature-length produc- tions and short films. They compete for our special Koskar Award, which is visually reminiscent of the Oscar statuette, though we’ve adapted it to the theme of our festival. The fan- tasy genre additionally occupies the minds of filmmakers during this pe- riod of the year, due to the upcoming Halloween celebrations, which they spend as much as two months pre- paring for. What I can promise is that we will have good films that will have their premieres in Serbia.” The festival also includes the Zombie Walk, which has become increasingly popular over the years. Do you also participate in the walk? “That’s right, the Zombie Walk is bringing together ever-more inter- ested people, but we nonetheless had to limit the number of approved ap- plicants. We had almost 1,000 appli- cations one year (imagine that many zombies in the city). Despite the walk being held at the peak of a festival that leaves me with a lot of obliga- tions, I still manage to don makeup and participate in the walk. I would
like to take this opportunity to also thank the large number of makeup artists who come and mask all the participants. The atmosphere is phe- nomenal, and we’ve tried to be sure to always reward the best makeup artists (best mask).” Did the popularity of Zom- bie Walks increase after the release of the series The Walking Dead? Are you a fan of that series? “I’ve watched a lot of episodes of that series, and due to the nature of my work, I’ve watched almost every zombie film from the ‘80s to this day (laughs). The Walking Dead certain- ly contributed to the genre becom- ing more popular, though I would al- so mention the Resident Evil games and movies, and the series The Last of Us (we’re awaiting the new season).” What’s the best Zombie Walk you’ve participated in abroad? “The Grossmann Fantastic Film and Wine Festival in Slovenia, in the town of Ljutomer, has remained among my fondest experiences. The first Zombie Walk that I organised was there, in 2009. I have very pleas- ant memories of that walk, and it is still traditionally organised there. It
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