Zillion Film is a Serbian production company founded on February 22, 1996. During its 27 years of existence, 21 feature films and 8 TV series were made. The first adventure that Lazar Ristovski embarked on was called THE WHITE SUIT. It started with great success. The film gathered over 250,000 viewers and in 1999 had its premiere at the biggest film festival in Cannes, in the “Critics’ Week” program. He participated in numerous prestigious world festivals where he won awards. The film “The White Suit” was a Yugoslavian candidate for the Oscar in 2000. The rest is history!
Currently, Zillion’s films have won over 100 awards at home and abroad. They participated in the biggest festivals like Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Toronto and many others. Film co-productions are made with Croatia, Macedonia and Montenegro, and according to the number of films produced and the participation of films at foreign festivals, Zillion Film is one of the most successful production companies in Serbia.
Cool Timeline
Our story begins much earlier than the year when the ''Zillion Film'' officially started, on February 22, 1996.. A series of acting performances in the theater and on film screen in Lazar Ristovski's career led this actor to tell a story in his way – to write it, play it and direct it. Production as an indispensable part of every film creation represents an important step in the story in order to tell it the way Lazar conceived. That is how we came up with the idea of a production house. It became clearer in time what is needed for the establishment of this film house, where and how to start it, whom to rely on, how to realize all the plans … In the process of the entire organization and towards the very end, one crucial thing was unintentionally left out – the name of the production house. At that moment, two boys, Petar and Jovan, the sons of Lazar and Danica Ristovski, without telling anyone about it, decided to take this task upon themselves. Inspired by a cartoon in which a boy with a “zillion-dollar account“ gives his money for the opening of a company, Petar and Jovan made a signboard, and by accidentally mistaking Cyrillic and Latin letters they ended up creating a 3illion film (Zillion film). 3illion film (Zillion film).
In 1999, the film "The White Suit" had its world premiere in Cannes, numerous festival performances and awards, especially in Serbia. All the recognitions of Lazar Ristovski, as a director, encouraged him to continue with his filmmaking and decide that acting becomes one of, and not the only means of practicing this art. He decides to use his acting tools equally well in the profession of producer.
For him, each new film represents a challenge that brings with it passion, excitement, adventure, an opportunity to convey important messages to the world around him, all in an attempt to become better than he currently is. Inspired by the events of that time, in an unpretentious, above all intimate and poetic way, The White Suit talks about the cruelty of the moment in which we lived, and in which we may still be living.
The energy, stubbornness and depressed optimism of the main character Ensign Sava, interpreted by Ristovski, at the same time largely depicted the beginning of a much bigger story today, and then absolutely unimaginable - Zillion film.
In the coming years, the films that set Zillion film on the production map of the region are created despite the period of film standstill in the Cinema of Serbia. Together with Danica Ristovski, actress and legal owner of our production house, Lazar succeeds in positioning Zillion as one of the top quality and most successful independent productions houses, the one that guarantees both artistic and commercial results. These are primarily contributed by the films Boomerang, A Little Night Music, Midwinter Night's Dream
Directed by Dragan Marinkovic, Boomerang participates in international film festivals in Berlin, Karlovy Vary, Valencia, Montreal, Vancouver, San Paulo, Washington, Brussels, Cottbus ... In the same year, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC wins the award for the comedy of the year in Serbia, and with over 250,000 admission tickets sold becomes part of the film history of our regions, and whose replicas are still quoted today.
Two years after this, there follows a big step forward in terms of film production within our house as well as our country. For the first time, we are supported by the largest European film fund Euroimages, which financially helps us in the realization of the film FALLING INTO PARADISE. With Lazar as the main protagonist and Milos Radovic as the scriptwriter and director, Radovic's screenplay wins the Euroimages screenplay contest. The support of a world-renowned fund means not only financing but it also gives credibility across Europe, which further encourages producers from France, the Netherlands and Germany to become our co-producers. A series of these achievements have put us in a position to choose the best authors as our associates, without exception.
During 2006, a film was created TOMORROW MORNING is made, which pushes the limits of the Cinema of Serbia at the time, respecting the rules of the Dogme 95 manifesto for the first time in Serbia. With an emphasis on directorial focusing, documentary style, neatness, hand-held cameras and with the omission of optical processing and time-geographic distances, the absolute integration of the audience has been achieved. Along with this artistic step within Zillion, our story almost inconspicuously acquires a new dimension of creativity – the then student of the first year of film and television directing, Petar Ristovski, who for the first time officially participates in the making of the film ”The Optimist”Along with the role of a video control operator, he performs various technical tasks, spending all his time on the movie set and learning about every part of this world. This has further influenced the change of his preconceptions about the creative process – that a good film is a matter of coincidence and good luck, that the goal of a director and creator in general is not to make the best film at all costs, but with the minimum of compromise to create the best possible in the given circumstances and time frames. During this process, he is learning how talent is actually the ability to overcome every possible obstacle. Therefore the full growth is visible only after the completion of the whole process. The words of Orson Wels: “The enemy of art is the absence of limitations“ are those that characterize the beginning of Petar’s film career, while working on this film in the Zillion film company, laid the foundations of his further professional growth. At that point, he comes to a resolution that will affect not only his but also our story – the director has to be trusted by all other authors; He needs to be stubborn in his own intentions and at the same time free of pride and vanity. He reveals how he wants to create stories about people of importance to him, and the reason for this should be familiar and clear, by showing the essence so that every action in the storyline is a small step closer to that essence.
Fifteen years from the founding of the Zillion, Lazar Ristovski decides to direct a film for the second time in his career and tell a story of the working class and his parents who belonged to it. Therefore, he dedicates this film to them. Lazar’s growing up and becoming acquainted with the life of workers was the reason to show how their position was equal to a tiny screw in the complex system of the working mechanism. At the time, Serbia is already going through a transition process that brings privatization accompanied by the closing of many factories. The workers begin to lose their jobs massively, and the atmosphere in the country experiencing transition feels like the story of a “small“ man, a member of the working class and his inevitable struggle for his dreams and freedom that belongs to him, which the White Lions portray.Thanks to this film, the horizon and capacity of Zillion are continually growing, which is significantly influenced by the cooperation with other production houses. With the Croatian co-production, White lions once again demonstrate the success of the joint work of regional artists, from Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia. The films that we’ve made since are the result of numerous co-productions which additionally enriched our work.
The Priest’s Children“ film is definitely an example of exceptional regional cooperation that we have achieved with, in this case, Croatian production. Using humor as a basic instrument of expression, director Vinko Bresan renders an intriguing story of the crisis of faith and ideology. The worldwide success of this film is primarily evident in the fact that there have been numerous screenings around the world – Brazil, Italy, Hungary, Greece, France, Norway, South Korea, which are some of over 40 countries in which we have had the opportunity to show our creation. Shortly after the premiere, the same year, The Priest’s Children becomes a candidate for the European Film Academy Award for Best Comedy, thus reaching the list of films selected by the most eminent European institution in the film sphere, and becoming one of the 10 most successful films in Croatia.
Regional cooperation continues with National hero Ljiljan Vidic's i ON THE OTHER SIDE which have achieved festival success and numerous awards. The fact that ON THE OTHER SIDE was premiered at 66th Berlin Film Festival, where it was awarded by a jury with the Europa Cinemas Label, testifies to the success achieved. That same year, another one of our films is created - the TRAIN DRIVER'S DIARY directed by Milos Radovic. Tragically-humorous melodrama introduces train drivers to the audience by showing their specific way of life, and the fact that every train driver accidentally kills 20 to 30 people, thus becoming a victim of their victims – those committing suicides, drunken or simply absent people. In the production of this film, the contribution is again provided by Petar Ristovski, but in the most responsible and significant way so far- as the second unit director.
The very making of the movie meantlovercoming many obstacles that were present to the very end - the lack of money and time made this film process extremely uncertain. Nevertheless, the persistence and determination to present a specific, never before told human story of railroad workers, resulted in that film being Zillion's most awarded film. At the time of the premiere, it was clear that the Train Driver’s Diary was going to become a particularly important step in both our and wider filmmaking – the World Premiere at the Moscow Festival brings the Audience Choice Award, and the Serbian premiere – the Cinema City Award for Contribution to the Cinema of Serbia. That same year, Lazar Ristovski receives “The Golden Iguana“ -the Lifetime Achievement Award in Mexico, while Milos Radovic wins the title of the Best Director at the “Winter Film Awards“ Festival in New York and the Jaipur Film Festival in India. They are followed by a special award for Best Film at the Balkan Film Festival, Golden Star for Best Feature Film in Uruguay; Grand Prix for Best Actor, Golden Eagle for contribution to European film art at the International Film Festival in Prague, Audience Choice Award in Portland, Golden Arena for Best Director in Pula, as well as the Young Cinephile Award for Best Minority Co-Production … Numerous acclaims and participation in national and international festivals with this film encouraged and inspired us to create even more exciting film stories.
The powerful impression left by the film Train driver’s Diary is present in the year that followed. At the same time, an accident happens in which the Cultural Center in Ravno Selo, where Lazar Ristovski was born, is destroyed in a fire. It is precisely at that place, the wreckage of the Cultural Center, that we decide to premiere our, the then last film, in order to encourage potential donors to collect money for the destroyed Center. A mixture of positive and negative impressions provoked a decision to launch an initiative to rebuild it. Shortly after, the idea and intention regarding the reconstruction of the Center are extended – the first film festival in Ravno Selo (Ravno Selo Film Festival) is created , dedicated to young people with a message that culture is not found only in big cities. This celebration of culture is contributed by professional regional artists who introduced the world of film to the participants through a variety of workshops and accompanying program activities.
In line with our goal, we have devised a wide range of categories of film debuts, which include amateurs and professionals alike. Regardless of whether the film is a short one, recorded by phone or feature-length and with a more serious production, all authors together with us as part of the whole organization contributed to this village coming to life. Over 10,000 people visited the festival in the past two years, and the construction plan of the Cultural Center began its realization - the project documentation was handed over to AP Vojvodina, which will give subsidies for the building of the new Center. In the meantime, we are trying to achieve for Ravno selo festival to become more widely known and more important in order for young people to accept responsibility for maintaining and developing the culture of their hometowns, villages or cities.
In 2018, we are faced with great challenges that make this year the most productive to date; there are three films, three minority co-productions: What a country, Leeches, Between Day and Night and the most complex production project for Zillion – a film that we have been waiting for seven years and which took a hundred days to shoot. We are given an opportunity to tell the story of our country, our history and an event that has been emotionally attached to the Serbian people, the debut film by Petar Ristovski – King Petar the First . This historical drama, based on the motifs of the novel “King Petar’s Socks“ by Milovan Vitezovic, speaks of the epic suffering of Serbia in the First World War and the victory of the small nation over the great power. Respecting historical facts, director Ristovski has emotionally upgraded the story of the king and his people by creating layered characters – heroes, victims and freedom fighters, those fighting for both, their own and the freedom of their country. King Petar, played by Lazar Ristovski, is portrayed as a brave man, in constant struggle with his doubts and fears, as a living man with a clear idea of freedom, and not as an untouchable and distant icon.
The rest of the cast including Milan Kolak, Danica Ristovski, Ivan Vujic, Radovan Vujovic and others, equally and in every aspect of their artistic achievement, emotionally revive historical characters and their inner battles, imbued with dignity, honor, honesty and heroic resolve. In the year when we are celebrating the Armistice Day, we jointly delivered a story of freedom and a nation that managed to save itself. With the hope that this film will restore collective memory of the most dreadful and brightest moments of Serbian history as well as give new generations an insight into historical moments of decision-making, persistence, sacrifice and love for the country which enabled them to exist, we worked devotedly to create a film that would be a historical testimony to our science , culture and art.
Movie "Leeches"
It was a time of great social and political crisis in Serbia. Petar Mirić, the writer, used a local tv station to represent his personal attitudes that contradict the principles of President Milošević and his political regime. Petar's close encounter with the organ of State Security- Stjepan Štroha raised suspicion in the honesty of his closest friends. Life in paranoia compelled him to seek for the truth. Set of mysterious circumstances introduced him with the symbol of circular lines inscribed in triangles. With his limited knowledge of semiotics, Petar followed the lead left by an unknown girl and searched for an answer in mathematical formulas and theories. He secretly fell in love with the daughter of his new acquaintance, unknown girl from before- Margareta. That chain of events opened a love triangle, in which Petar's longtime lover- a clever woman, called Svetlana, also took place. The triangle of love, passion and mystery dragged him into the world of closely guarded Jewish secrets. Using manipulative methods, Margareta forced him to make more strongly pressure in the media, which resulted in a physical attack on him, demolition of tv studio and, eventually, murder of his acquaintance, the painter- Jaša the Jew. Having found out that Stjepan Štroh and Svetlana killed Jaša, he hid himself at Margareta's place and she revealed him the truth about the ''opening triangles''. As a public figure, Petar was a puppet, used by secret services. Using an old tape recorder, he revealed his hidden Jewish background.
Petar starts a new life in Canada, with a professorship at University. Margareta joined him. After one of his classes, he recognized Štroh in the mass of students. He frantically wanted to escape, but Margareta had a plan. In the series of professional ''cleanings'', Štroh died under the wheels of a truck. Štroh's co-worker, called Vesna, also died- she fell from the window of a multistoried building. Petar set up a murder of Svetlana, who was hit with the bullet while having sex with him. Margareta became agent of MOSSAD (Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations).
Movie "What a country!"
The film consists of three stories, and during its course, we found out about structure and interrelationships. The main characters are the general, who has a strong desire to commit a suicide, the minister in the Government of the Republic of Croatia, who imprisoned himself without an official judgement and a group of parents of different nationalities (Croatian, Serbian and Bosnian) who want to force the Governments of Croatia and Serbia to find their children lost in a war, by digging the graves of their dead presidents.
Movie "Neverending past"
Three stories about a father and a son in three time periods: the end of World War II, during the fall of Berlin Wall and after Yugoslavia breakdown.
In each of these stories, father and son find themselves in characteristic, borderline situations, in which they begin to question their own existence.
Decisions they are forced to make will change their lives forever.
The movie "The Name of the People"
Svetozar Miletić was a distinguished lawyer, a member of the Hungarian Parliament and a lifelong fighter for the rights and independence of Serbs in Austro-Hungarian Vojvodina. After he was politically condemned several times, his fight is continued by his daughter, the first female journalist in Serbia - Milica Miletić and Jaša Tomić, Miletić's successor in the Serbian People's Free-Minded Party, who will declare the annexation of Vojvodina to the Kingdom of Serbia in 1918. This is the story of them and their fight.
The movie "A Blue Flower"
A Blue Flower is a film about a woman, a mother and a daughter, and at its center is the middle-aged Mirjana, an employee in a thread factory in Zagreb. On the day of the celebration of the 20th anniversary of work, Mirjana's meetings and conversations with her relatives illuminate parts of her life: the one behind her, the one leading and the one yet to come. A Blue Flower speaks about family, love, selfishness and loneliness, and it evokes emotional associations and encourages us to take a long look at ourselves.
"Dream Team" series
DREAM TEAM is a 14-episode comedy series intended for broadcast on Sunday evenings.
Partly created based on the unverified biography of star Maradona, the famous Inget, the TV series
DREAM TEAM is the story of the not very successful football player Ilija Ika Srdić and his team of 11 sons.
Each episode of the series will tell one funny story from the life of this large football family, this unusual
football team. At the very beginning of the series, "BULBUDERAC" (the name of this brotherly team)
performs in the zone competition, but with a great ambition enter the Second League one day, then the
First, and even the Champions League! Unfortunate that he was never a good footballer, Ika
passionately teaches his sons to become top footballers. Our series will fulfill his wish, in the end!
Each episode is a story in itself, and the central thread that connects all episodes is the progress of Ika's
family club on the football map of Serbia and the region.
"BULBUDERAC" is located in Zvezdara forest, there is a small field, a house where everyone lives
together, around twenty of them, a dilapidated tavern with a garden, a barbecue. The club mainly
supports itself from this bar, as Ika is a better barbecue master than a coach. The field is meticulously
arranged because Ika takes great care of the grass. The playground looks more like a tennis field than a
football field.
This isolated place in the forest is also the main location of all the stories of the series. Most of them
take place on the field, around it, in a bar, in a dressing room, in a small house.
Each episode has its main characters (Ika, his 11 sons, mother Ciga, hundred-year-old Grandfather
Drakče) but many interesting guest characters will also appear in each episode.
The task of this series is to be easy, funny, fast, to tell a romantic story about the hopes, desires and
ideals of ordinary, simple people in a humorous way.
"Dream Team" is a contemporary series. No matter how much they hate and argue, strong bonds of love
bind the members of Ika’s family. A pillar of discord but also a pillar of love and tranquility is the main
character of the series Ika Srdić.
“Mind Tunnel” series
The tense psychological drama “Mind Tunnel”, based on police reports, newspaper reports and statements of police officers, shows the lives and work of police negotiators, which takes place on the arbitrarily chosen border between life and death. The team of negotiators is credited with saving more than two hundred human lives with a 100% success rate, yet is in constant danger of being shut down on the grounds that it costs too much and may never be used.
The movie “Holy Family”
By marrying the young man who is, for the village he lives in, burdened by a shameful secret that has made him a hostage of his pathologically traditional and religious mother, and unscrupulous but very charming father, Janja also becomes a hostage in a trap made of deceit, hypocrisy, ruthless traditionalism and devastating lust. She soon realizes that she has been chosen just to complete their image of the holy family.
“Drim tim 2” series
The second season of the comedy Dream Teamconfronts Ilija Srdić, his wife Ciga and their eleven sons with new challenges and troubles. In their desire to preserve their original, independent way of life in Belgrade’s Bulbuder and to save the survival of the joint sports field after the collapse of their football ambitions, they encounter obstacles that they more or less successfully overcome with countless comedic twists.
"Crown Street 11" series
The TV series " Crown Street 11" is set in a courtyard in Belgrade, which becomes the epicenter of events during the global coronavirus pandemic. The residents of the building face unexpected curfews and quarantines that disrupt their daily lives and plans. The series follows their various reactions to the new situation, from enthusiasm and resourcefulness to frustration and conflict. In this crisis, while some couples decided to separate, many found new love. Through humorous, emotional and dramatic moments, the residents of Crown Street 11 together discover how lives and relationships change under the pressure of crisis circumstances, while each of them finds a way to adapt to the new reality and build the bonds that will define them as a community.
In development phase are:
The series "The name is Varvara", directed by Dejan Zečević;
The film "Accomplices", directed by Marko Novaković;
The film "Južina", directed by Ante Marin;
The film "Bumblebee’s flight", directed by Daniel Kušan;
YEARS
MOVIES
TV SERIES
FILM AWARDS
Zillion Film
Zillion Film offers co-production services for shooting and preperation of feature films, shorts, documentaries, TV serias, and commercials over Serbia and Montenegro territory. We are doing script and project development, location scouting, casting, budgeting, shooting plans, script breakdowns as well as all kind of organization and logistic services.
Our team
PETAR RISTOVSKI
Director | Producer
LAZAR RISTOSVKI
Actor | Director | Producer | Writer
JOVAN RISTOSVKI
Projects manager
JELICA ROSANDIC
Financial Organizer
