Check Out Ivan Djurovic’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ivan Djurovic.

Hi Ivan, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Movies have always held a special place in my heart, and becoming a filmmaker has been my goal since I was a kid. I made my first short film at 18 and have been striving to perfect the art of storytelling and directing ever since. At 26, I was accepted into Columbia University and moved to New York for four years, during which time I wrote several feature scripts, TV pilots and directed three short movies and one feature documentary. Recently, I completed my MFA in Screenwriting and have relocated to Los Angeles. Currently, I am in the final post-production stage of a feature documentary about the EXIT Music Festival and my thesis short, September Dawn.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
As someone who grew up in post-war Serbia, becoming a filmmaker was not the most pragmatic choice. I’ve spent most of my life in poverty, and the only reason why I kept fighting for my goals was the love I always had for the magic of cinema. After I moved to New York, I was on my own and had to find the strength to study in one of the most competitive film schools in the world while also funding myself and paying tuition. It was really difficult and challenging, especially during the pandemic, but I always felt that if you truly believe in something, it is not a matter of if it will happen but when.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’ve always considered myself a narrative storyteller, but recently I got an opportunity to direct a feature documentary about EXIT Music Festival. I spent a few months following the adrenaline-fueled journey of festival organizers and world-renowned musicians, including David Guetta, Paul Kalkbrenner, and others. They raced against time to prepare for the first major music event in 18 months. During that project, I was able to express myself as a storyteller more than ever. And this experience encouraged me to keep working in this field and create more as a documentary filmmaker. We are going to have a premiere in July, right before the next festival, and I can’t wait to see how people will react to what I definitely consider my most important project so far.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
After completing the documentary, I became passionately invested in my latest project: the feature script “Ghetto Kamikaze.” For the past 12 months, I’ve been pouring my heart and soul into this story, which recounts my experience growing up in war-torn and post-war Serbia. Telling this tale required digging into the deepest corners of my soul and confronting memories and emotions I’d long tried to forget and overcome. I am planning to shoot this film in 2024 and currently, I am gathering the crew that would be willing to get onto the journey of bringing this highly personal story of one generation and one country to life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ivan-djurovic.com
• Facebook: facebook.com/djurovic.ivan.3
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/ivan-djurovic-b70ab4253