Noomi Rapace, member of the jury of the Sarajevo Competition, visited the Variety Lounge of the Sarajevo Film Festival and BH Telecom to share her story with the Balkan region.
Although this is her first time in Sarajevo, Rapace grew up watching films from the Balkan region and praises their courage and passion. She noted that the Sarajevo Film Festival is “perhaps one of the most important film festivals because it shows the power of films and the impact of art on people and how you can discover stories and characters and look into situations and hearts that you would never have known about otherwise.”
She recalled her role in Macedonian-Australian director Goran Stolevski’s You Are Never Alone and described how he made her feel safe despite the scenes where she was completely naked. She noted that Goran is “a fascinating and very gentle director, but with a very strong vision.”
Rapace is drawn to filmmakers and stories no matter where they are set. She says she will bring her own truth to it no matter where they are set. She loves directors who are willing to explore a genre and push it to the extreme.
Together with another Macedonian director, Teona Mitevska, she is in the middle of preparations. Her film “Mother”, which shows a week in the life of 38-year-old Mother Teresa, will be shot in a month.
Now working as a producer, Rapace loves exploring the different sides of filmmaking and believes she is getting closer to fulfilling her dream of directing.
