Aleksandar Ilić

Aleksandar Ilić (Serbia) was a Yugoslav writer, editor and director. He was one of the most important filmmakers in former Yugoslavia and modern Serbia, primarily of documentaries and of popular science films. Illic died in 2012 at 85 years of age. In 1945, following the Second World War and his imprisonment in a German camp, he started working at the film company Zvezda and was one of the first students at Belgrade film school, where he opted for training for the creative job of editing. After completing his military service at the newly formed military film company Zastava, he continued working there as an editor there for several years. He then went on to take up positions at Hunting Forest Farm Jelen, Dunav Film, Television Belgrade and Yugoslavia Publicity Company. His vast body of work comprises more than 500 films that he either edited or also authored, directed and sound-designed. Most of Ilic’s films employ metaphors involving animals and their survival to speak about humans and our relations with each other and nature. In short they are fables on film. They include the masterpieces Ice (Led), Owl (Sova) and Mallet (Malj). He was widely recognised for his creativity and won domestic and international awards, including the City of Belgrade’s October Award, the UFUS Charter for contribution to Serbian cinematography and a Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival, as well as recognition for his outstanding contribution to the national culture of the Republic of Serbia.