Danilo Ceković studied film directing at the Academy of Arts in Belgrade. During his studies, he filmed short fiction documentaries, one of which, “The Garden of Dreams,” was selected for the “Belgrade Documentary and Short Film Festival.” Currently, he is working as a director, cinematographer, and producer of a feature film titled “From 0 to 8,” in which the author describes his relationship with a Roma boy named Ivan, whose life he has been documenting for 8 years. Both films have received support from the Serbian Film Center and the Ministry of Culture.
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“Finding Ivan”
The authors of the photographs in this exhibition are children of Roma origin, aged 3 to 13, from the “Mileva Marić Ajnštajn” settlement. The work on the photographs began spontaneously: director Danilo Ceković and editor Andrej Pavićević accidentally met the children in their neighborhood while searching for Ivan, the protagonist of Danilo’s documentary film “8.” They continued to visit them over the next six months and soon became part of the team. The children included them in their games, revealed secret hideouts, and took them sledding, swimming, and fishing; they introduced them to their families and difficulties, confiding in them like older siblings. Danilo and Andrej also introduced the children to their world behind the camera. During their time together, the children would photograph moments that interested them, constantly vying for the camera with the question, “Can I go next, Ćupo?” repeating endlessly. The photographic equipment would remain with the children between encounters….
As this unusual, accidental friendship deepened, the photographs became better and better — showing us how friendship is born through art and how, at the same time, art emerges from friendship.