The controversial short documentary Tudi tukaj je Slovenija (This is Slovenia) by Australian / Slovenian writer and director Michael Frank has been selected for screening at the Encounters Film Festival in Bristol UK as well as the prestigious Uppsala Film Festival in Sweden.
Tudi tukaj je Slovenija is about rogue farmer Joško Joras and his continuing battle with Croatia over his house in Secovlje which the Croatians claim as their own land. Frank produced the documentary as part of his desire to explore his Slovenian heritage as well as highlight the trivial disputes which continue to trouble the regions of the former Yugoslavia.
As a result of filming this documentary, Frank was detained by Croatian border authorities who threatened to confiscate equipment and tapes for potentially producing an ‘anti-Croatian’ film. The camera and video footage had to be illegally smuggled across the border to Slovenia by foot.
The film has already been screened at the Croatian Minute Movie Festival and The One Minute Film & Video Festival in Switzerland.
Michael Frank is currently in Rome for post production of his Italian feature film Giuseppe and Calogera.
[release from Makovision Films]