My Friend Sely

My Friend Sely

Maja Alibegović, Croatia, 2025, 45′

The filmmaker returns to the place where she grew up to tell the story of her friend, the rebellious hunter Sely, raising the questions of intergenerational friendship, emancipation, and self-realisation.

Returning to her homeland, the filmmaker captures the inspiring story of Sely, a rebellious huntress, exploring themes of female empowerment, intergenerational friendship, and self-realisation through vivid contemporary and archival visuals.

“The film centres on the unlikely friendship between Sely, an elderly huntress and Spanish Civil War refugee, and myself. I was inspired by her story and my immigrant background. My Friend Sely explores the themes of migration, isolation, identity, and the power of empathy and friendship.” – Maja Alibegović

Maja Alibegović is a director, photographer, and curator living between Ljubljana and Zagreb. She graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Ljubljana and completed her master’s degree in Film and Television Directing – Documentary Film at the Academy of Dramatic Art, University of Zagreb in 2021. She is the author of several short documentary films that have been screened at festivals across the region.

Screened with:
Bambi By the River
Ester Ivakič, Italy, Slovenia, 2025, 6’

Two girls want to go to the cinema to see Bambi, but the screening is sold out.

“I’ve always been interested in the creation of a space out of my own imagination, something outside the established frames – and also in friendship, love, and a connection with nature. It was therefore no surprise that when I read an article on Bambi, which had constantly been sold out, two girls immediately appeared in my mind, and the story began unfolding by itself.” – Ester Ivakič

Ester Ivakič is a filmmaker and visual artist. She graduated from the School of Arts in Nova Gorica before enrolling in a master’s degree programme in Film Directing at the Academy of Theatre, Radio, Film and Television, University of Ljubljana. She has made several short films and music videos. Her debut feature Ida Who Sang So Badly Even the Dead Rose Up and Joined Her in Song has received several acknowledgements, among them also the Special Jury Prize at the Torino Film Festival.

In collaboration with Kinoatelje.

Talk: Maja Alibegović, Ester Ivakič