WHEN SANTA WAS A COMMUNIST

Original Title: Djeda Mraz u Bosni

Year: 2024

Length: 86 min

Country: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia
Film Category: Feature Narrative

Cast & Credits

Director: Emir Kapetanović
Screenplay: Vahid Duraković, Emir Kapetanović
Director of Photography: Miksa Anđelić
Editing: Saša Peševski
Music: Adis Sirbubalo
Sound design: Samir Fočo
Costume design: Monika Močević
Production design (set design): Monika Močević, Hari Ejubović
Producer: Jasmin Duraković
Production: Depo Production
Co-producer: Bogdan Petković, Natalija Rudić, Slaven Knezović, Angelina Duraković, Daliborka Puz, Jovan Todorović, Dzemal Šabić, Emir Kapetanović
Co-production: Emote Films, Eurofilm, FederalnaTV, CKA Charlama

Cast: Mirvad Kurić, Zana Marjanović, Miraj Grbić, Mirza Tanović, Kristin Winters, Goran Kostić, Marija Omaljev, Alek Kapetanović Marjanović, Vanesa Glodo, Sasa Oručević, Rijad Gvozden, Miro Barnjak, Slaven Knezović, Armin Omerović

Film Synopsis:
A dark comedy about a troupe of actors deep in the provinces trying to bring holiday joy to children in a post-war, religiously divided country by putting on a Santa Claus play. But they face bans on the play due to ethnic and religious prejudices between the Catholics and Muslims who live and rule in Bosnia. A big problem is that in the old days before the war, Santa Claus in the country was also a communist. The story is based on true events

Director's Biography

Emir Kapetanović was born and grew up in Sarajevo, where he graduated directing at the Academy of Performing Arts. He is the author of socially engaged films, comedies, music videos, plays, and political cabarets, which have received domestic and international recognition.

His films have been shown at festivals around the world, Istanbul Modern, the State Department, and the headquarters of the United Nations in New York. They have also been screened at prestigious universities like Columbia, George Washington, and Pratt Institute. When Santa Was a Communist is his first feature film. He lives in Los Angeles, where he works as a director, screenwriter, and directing instructor.