Oscar Nominee Nebojša Slijepčević to Adapt Kristian Novak’s Bestseller ‘Dark Mother Earth’ Into Feature Film

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Nebojša Slijepčević, who gained recognition for his Oscar-nominated short film “The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent”, is now focusing on a new full-length movie adaptation from the novel “Dark Mother Earth” by Kristian Novak.

The narrative revolves around Matija, an author grappling with memory issues, as he delves into his past while working on his third novel. As he meticulously reconstructs his life story, he unearths a tangled network of fabricated memories and self-deceptions that have been hiding in plain sight for years.

The award-winning book from 2013, recognized as Croatia’s Novel of the Year by Tportal, explores topics related to childhood hardship and its enduring effects. Slijepčević suggests that readers might interpret this narrative not only as a personal odyssey but also as a symbolic portrayal of the trauma experienced by Balkan nations during the ’90s.

As a movie aficionado, I’m thrilled to share that it’s my first time stepping into feature filmmaking, partnering with Nadia Petrovic in the scriptwriting process for this upcoming project. The production duties will be entrusted to Antitalent, Contrast Films, Les Films Norfolk, and Studio Virc – the very same talented teams who were instrumental in bringing my Oscar-nominated short film to life.

‘The Unsilenced Man’ documentary, detailing the brave actions of a man defying danger during the Bosnian War to prevent a massacre, made a significant milestone for Croatian cinema by securing its first Oscar nomination since gaining independence. The film has garnered numerous accolades, such as the Palme d’Or at Cannes and Best European Short at the European Film Awards.

Slijepčević is aiming to start pre-production on Dark Mother Earth in 2026.

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2025-02-12 20:43