Director: Dejan Zečević
Screenwriter: Miloš Radović

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Awards include: the March Festival Award for Best Short Film; the Aleksandar Saša Petrović Award for Best Film at the Auteur Film Festival; the Golden Mimosa for Best Director at the Herceg Novi Film Festival;
the Golden Arena for Best Film and Golden Arena for Best Director in Novi Sad; and the FIPRESCI Award for Director of the Year.

He has also participated in international festivals (Brussels, Luxembourg, Sitges, Athens, Jerusalem, Alexandria, Toulouse, Kyiv, Pucon).

He teaches film directing at the private film school Dunav Film. Recently, he has been working extensively on commercials and television programs.

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“This is my first time working on the same project with Miloš Radović and Lazar Ristovski,” says director Dejan Zečević for Blic.
“Miloš was actually an assistant to Professor Zdravko Velimirović during my second year of studies, and I previously worked with Lazar on the film A Little Night Music — he was the producer, and I was the director. I know them both well, and in a way, we’ve collaborated before. I’ve never worked with Lazar in a director–actor relationship, so I’m thrilled that I finally have the opportunity because he’s a great artist. I think our collaboration will be phenomenal. As for Miloš’s script, as soon as I read it, I immediately liked it. I’m glad that Lazar and Miloš thought of me for this project.”

When asked whether he would accept suggestions from Ristovski, who himself has directed several notable projects, Zečević replied:
“The essence of the relationship between an actor and a director is the exchange of ideas. I’m one of those directors who believe that casting is about 90 percent of the job. Once you have an actor for a certain role, you must be ready for anything — the point is that the actor breathes life into the character while you, as the director, guide and protect them in a way. A director’s job is not to animate every movement or line like in an animated film, but to help the actor find the character while maintaining the overall vision. I belong to the group of directors who love actors and are aware of how essential they are to the characters they play. The director simply needs to guide the actor. I offer them positive energy and a sense of security but also give them complete freedom to explore so that together we can find the best solutions without losing direction.”

Zečević emphasizes that the focus of the comedy Dream Team is not on sports or football but rather on family life.
“This is a story about people and how they cope with difficult life circumstances, but told in a lighthearted way. It’s optimistic, yet fun and full of local spirit. I think the audience will recognize themselves and their surroundings,” says Zečević.

He also reveals that football consultants — some of them well-known players and coaches — will work on the sports scenes, though it’s too early to say who.
“I think the football aspect of the series will be very convincing. It’s about a team that played in the third league, not professional players. Through the story, they improve and succeed in football. The focus is on a group of likeable and positive underdogs who, by chance, find their way through the football world and manage to break through in interesting ways. There will be many recognizable characters, temperaments, and situations.”

Zečević points out that many young actors are part of the project and that, as a director, he values working with new faces.
“I really care about working with young people I haven’t seen a hundred times in films and series. I’ve had experience with that before and think I manage quite well in that area. This group of young actors will surely leave a strong impression on the audience. With my team, I like to combine hard work and good humor. I’m one of those who actually look forward to going to work. I can already tell that we’ll have a lot of fun, but that doesn’t mean we won’t take care of the series’ quality,” says Zečević, who has recently focused more on directing TV series than feature films.

“There’s a much greater demand for series — not only here but worldwide. The content of series in our region has become increasingly interesting to audiences, and as a result, their quality is improving. I don’t plan to give up on film, but films take much more time. I do have some film projects in mind, though they’re still in the early stages,” Zečević adds.

Zvezdara’s Maradona

Lazar Ristovski plays the main character — a man of tremendous energy who forms a football team and, quite unexpectedly, leads them to the Serbian Cup final.
“The series is based on the unconfirmed biography of Zvezdara’s Maradona — the famous Inge. Disappointed by his failed football career, our Ika passionately teaches his sons to become top players. Beneath the football theme lies a romantic story about the hopes, dreams, and ideals of ordinary, simple people,” concludes the renowned actor.

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The plan is to film 12 episodes produced by Telekom Serbia and Zillion Film, directed by Dejan Zečević, with a script written by Miloš Radović.

The director noted that after reading the first page of the script, he immediately saw the series’ potential, which he believes will be very appealing to audiences.

“Besides being a comedy, this is a real human story, full of emotions reminiscent of Italian neorealism, and I truly think viewers will recognize themselves in each of these characters in some way,” said Zečević.

The filming location for Dream Team is the football club Bulbulderac, situated in the Zvezdara Forest, which includes a small pitch, a house where all club members live together, and a run-down tavern with a garden from which they earn a living.

This authentic, isolated forest location is the main setting for the series, and screenwriter Radović says he was inspired by the story as a young man when he lived near the Zvezdara Forest and met a couple who ran a club with their seven sons.

“They all worked together to achieve their ideas and dreams, which is why this romantic comedy shows that if you truly believe in something, you can achieve it,” Radović emphasized.

In addition to Ristovski, the cast portraying characters in this comedy about a small suburban club ambitiously aiming for the top of national football includes Tanja Šojić, Milutin “Mima” Karadžić, Jelisaveta Orašanin, Nenad Okanović, Bojan Dimitrijević, Moma Pićurić, Milan Kolak, and Aleksandar Filimonović.

Vladimir Lučić, coordinator for Internet and multimedia at Telekom Serbia Group, said he believes viewers will enjoy the series.

“Telekom Serbia entered high-quality content production about two years ago, and in this short time we have become synonymous with producing the best domestic series. Some of the series we produced are already airing in regional countries, and we expect them soon to be available on leading global platforms such as Netflix and HBO,” Lučić stated.

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Lazar Ristovski returns to acting, with Tanja Šojić playing his wife.
“I wanted to bring all 11 sons, but I haven’t memorized all their names yet. Here we have two, Milan Kolak and Aleksandar Filimonović,” says Ristovski.

Part of the cast is Milutin “Mima” Karadžić, who plays, in today’s terms, a hooligan — the leader of the fans.
“I gladly accepted the role. Our football team doesn’t have many fans, but it does have a leader, Čalija, whom I play,” Karadžić revealed.

After a series of crime dramas, next year, with the support of Telekom Serbia, a warm, humorous, and romantic story will hit the small screen. Milan Kolak continues his collaboration with Ristovski after the film and series King Peter the First.
“Laza first put us through our paces in the snow and ice, and now we’re baking at plus 40 degrees. I read the script in one breath and honestly had a lot of fun. I play Mika Blef, one of the best footballers. I’m excited to bring to life the story of a turbulent family and their dreams that make the impossible possible,” Kolak emphasizes.

Aleksandar Filimonović arrived in Belgrade from Hollywood, trained in football, and is the heir to a Partizan legend.
“My career took me abroad, and I’m happy to have the chance to come back,” the actor says.

The series will also feature Jelisaveta Orašanin, Nenad Okanović, Bojan Dimitrijević, and Moma Pićurić.

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