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ARHITEL Production Group

Vlajkoviceva 4, Belgrade, Yugoslavia

• Organization background:

Video production ARHITEL derived from production The Right to Pictures and Words, which had to discontinue the work due to the lack of funds. But the activities remained the some – it opposes censorship and media abuse, as well as state and political monopoly in this area. It encourages and supports all projects that contribute to the development of independent media.

The goals are pointing out the role of state media in preparation for war and war itself; it’s intensifying, spreading of hatred and intolerance, the smothering of democracy.

Long-term goals are the public informing and education on the abuse conducted by the state media, developing the conscience of the necessity for the existence of independent media and the responsibility of media professionals.

The expected result is the forming of a critical public view of the role and influence of media.

Beside this, video production ARHITEL is prepared to produce also the films from other domains such as cultural – artistic programs, educational programs, etc.

• References

The television serial IMAGES AND WORDS OF HATE was filmed as part of the video production in co-production with RADIO B 92. The serial consists of sIx films (Vukovar 1991, Year One, Year Two, The News at 7:30 P M, Year Three and Year `99). The films have been aired on local television stations in Serbia, members of ANEM, and have been rerun by viewer demand. The film The News at 7:30 P M has been aired on the Montenegrin state television, with the participation of the authors and prominent Montenegrin intellectuals. This was one of the programs that marked the change of editorial policies after the victory of democratic forces in Montenegro.  The other films have been also presented on TV Montenegro. According to the editor in chief of Montenegro TV, Velibor Covic, the films created great interest of viewers. Since there are also English language versions, films were shown at many conferences abroad, dealing with the media. They are also used in journalist schools. So far we have done eight programs of TV serial YU FILE. This project is using the existing archive material from which consists of around 300 VHS tapes (around 1000 hours) with recorded news programs from state-run television in Serbia. The archive covers the period from 1990 to 1993. There is also material covering election campaign in Serbia before the 1996 elections. During 1988, the RTS prime time news were recorded with reference to Kosovo events. It all amounts arounds 1500 hours of material. The most of material, as already mentioned, is made of prime time news of RTS, but the part related to STUDIO B, TV POLITIKA and one time YUTEL, is also present. The TV program YU FILE , in addition to being a reminder of what happened, is also connected to current political and social events whenever possible. This project contributes to the struggle against “short memory phenomenon”, very evident in these regions, which is also obstacle for the development of democracy.

We have done also documentary-feature film THE BANKERS. The basis of the film comprises stories about banks that the Serbian regime has created with the single aim of snatching money away from the people in the easiest possible way. The main "heroes" are the major bankers of that period - Dafina Milanovic and Jezdimir Vasiljevic. The film has three basic tracks that would interweave and supplement each other. One part has been done on the basis of documentary material taken from the extensive TV archive and press clipping of that particular period. The second part comprises interviews with contemporaries and people who were directly involved - duped bank clients. The third part is a specific kind of feature film that mainly relates to the former oligarchy in Serbia. Ljubivoje Tadic and Branko Vidakovic, two of the most distinguished actors in Serbia, whose performances are played with great success at home and abroad, are in the leading roles. Recently, after the fall of the regime of Slobodan Milosevic in Serbia, our films has been aired on the New Radio Television of Serbia. According to the editor in chief of RTS, Nenad Ristic, the films created great interest of viewers.

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P.O. Box, CH-8031 Zürich, Switzerland
Phone +41-1-272 46 37,  Fax +41-1-272 46 82, email: info@MEDIENHILFE.ch