February Cycle of Slovenian Film Embraces the Avant-Garde

Kinoatelje is eagerly approaching the February evenings when the Cycle of Slovenian Film in Italy will showcase bold shades of cinematic avant-garde. On February 13, 2025, at 8:00 PM, the Gorizian Palazzo del Cinema will screen Alpe-Adria Underground! (Ali je bilo kaj avantgardnega?) with Italian subtitles. This documentary opens a special chapter in the history of Slovenian cinema, exploring its groundbreaking expression. In this occasion the two authors Matevž Jerman and Jurij Meden, will join us. As part of the official program for the European Capital of Culture GO! 2025, the cycle strengthens the tradition of cultural connection in the cross-border area, opening new doors for dialogue between cultures.

The film, created by screenwriters and directors Matevž Jerman and Jurij Meden, draws inspiration from an article by Silvan Furlan, a Gorizia-born film critic and founder and director of the Slovenian Cinematheque. Furlan, a pioneer in the study of Slovenian avant-garde film history, left an indelible mark on the art of cinema. The documentary is both a tribute to his legacy and an exploration of Slovenian avant-garde film, which continues to inspire generations of creators.

The documentary features notable names from the world of cinema, including Petra Belc, Vasja Bibič, Barbara Borčič, Greg de Cuir Jr., Jože Dolmark, Karpo Godina, Nerina T. Kocjančič, Naško Križnar, Davorin Marc, Miodrag Miša Milošević, Varja Močnik, Ivan Nedoh, Igor Prassel, Tone Rački, Borko Radešček, Ivan Ramljak, Slobodan Šijan, Zdenko Vrdlovec, Matjaž Žbontar, and Želimir Žilnik. The film was produced by Jerca and Andraž Jerič from Temporama, in co-production with the Slovenian Cinematheque and RTV Slovenia.

The Cycle of Slovenian Film has, for years, enabled Slovenian films enriched with Italian subtitles to transcend linguistic barriers and reach Italian audiences. Featuring both contemporary and restored gems of Slovenian cinema, the program speaks to viewers on both sides of the border, connecting them through the universal language of film.

Alpe-Adria Underground!
d.: Jurij Meden & Matevž Jerman, Slovenia, 2024, 98 min

Between 2013 and 2023, the Slovenian Cinematheque preserved and digitized 179 short films made during the socialist period (1945–1991), primarily outside the dominant state production. These films, now belatedly recognized as experimental, represent an important and innovative part of Slovenia’s cinematic heritage, brought back to light after many years.