Sun Never Again
| Sun Never Again | |
|---|---|
International promotional poster | |
| Serbian | Sunce nikad više |
| Directed by | David Jovanović |
| Screenplay by |
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| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Mladen Teofilović |
| Edited by |
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| Music by | Nemanja Mosurovic |
Production company | Pointless Films |
Release date |
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Running time | 72 minutes |
| Country | Serbia |
| Language | Serbian |
Sun Never Again (Serbian: Sunce nikad više) is a 2024 Serbian film co-written and directed by David Jovanović, in his debut feature. A drama, it explores how a father's struggle against industrial encroachment is transformed by his son's imaginative worldview, revealing resilience and hope through a fusion of innocence, mysticism, and storytelling.[1]
The film had its world premiere at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival on 20 November 2024.[2][3] It was selected as the Serbian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards, but it was not nominated.[4][5]
Cast
- Dusan Jovic as Vid
- Rastko Racic as Dule
- Natasa Markovic as Ada
- Radovan Miljanic as Radjo
- Joakim Tasic as Pop
- Svetozar Cvetković as Bog
Production
The film produced by Pointless Films in co-production with the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade, was shot in Bor, Serbia and Negotin in Bor District in 2021.[6]
Release
Sun Never Again had its premiere in the 'First Feature Competition' at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival on 20 November 2024.[7]
It was screened at Cultural Centre of Belgrade movie theatre on 25 December 2024 and Cinema Vrnjačka Banja, Serbia on 11 January 2025.[8]
It completed in International competition Glocal Images at the Cyprus Film Days International Festival on 7 April 2025.[9]
In April 2025, it participated in The Festival – Europe around Europe, at Paris European Film Festival with screening at The Ursulines Studio on 26 April. It competed in Connections 2025 and SAUVAGE 2025 Prize Competition.[10]
Reception
At the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, the film was praised by Marko Stojiljković of Cineuropa. Stojiljković observed that the director drawing from his own childhood experiences in a Bosnian mining village and inspired by David Lynch’s rendition of "The Ballad of Hollis Brown," "unites the realist Yugoslav Black Wave with magical realism in an extremely potent way." Stojiljković commended the cinematography by Mladen Teofilović, describing the handheld camerawork and dim lighting as perfectly suited to the film's setting in Krivelj, Eastern Serbia. Stojiljković, emphasizing the contribution of Nemanja Mosurović's abstract music and Antonio Andrić's "striking sound design," which in his opinion together "complemented the visual aspect" of the film. Edited by Jovanović alongside Branislava Stefanović and Mina Petrović, Stojiljković described the film as leaving "the impression of a contemporary symphonic poem," underscoring its lyrical and immersive qualities.[11]
Accolades
| Award | Ceremony date | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival | 24 November 2024 | First Feature Competition | Sun Never Again | Nominated | [12] |
See also
- List of submissions to the 98th Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film
- List of Serbian submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film
References
- ^ Jovanović, David (20 November 2024). "Sun Never Again". Cineuropa. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
- ^ "Wednesday's PÖFF captivates the senses with gripping thrillers". Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival. 20 November 2024. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
- ^ "Sun Never Again". Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival. 20 November 2024. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
- ^ "Odluka o izboru srpskog kandidata za nagradu "Oskar"" [The decision on the selection of the Serbian candidate for the "Oscar" award] (in Serbian). Film Center of Serbia. 24 September 2025. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
- ^ "European titles submitted for the Oscars race". Cineuropa. 17 September 2025. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
- ^ Jankovic, Zoran (4 September 2024). "PRODUCTION: Serbian Director David Jovanović in Postproduction with Sophomore Feature Sun Never Again". Film New Europe. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
- ^ Economou, Vassilis (11 October 2024). "Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival unveils its First Feature Competition line-up". Cineuropa. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
- ^ "Sun Never Again". Pointless Films. 25 December 2024. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
- ^ "International competition". Cyprus Film Days International Festival. 7 April 2025. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
- ^ "Sun Never Again". Paris European Film Festival. 26 April 2025. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
- ^ Stojiljković, Marko (21 November 2024). "Review: Sun Never Again". Cineuropa. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
- ^ "Tallinn Black Nights Festival reveals movies for First Feature competition". ERR News. 12 October 2024. Retrieved 24 September 2025.