Dane Komljen is an award-winning director and screenwriter from Bosnia and Herzegovina. He is best known for his debut feature All the Cities of the North, which won numerous awards at festivals around the world.
Komljen was born in Sarajevo in 1982. His family moved to Belgrade, Serbia in 1991 due to the Bosnian War, and he grew up in the city. He studied philosophy and history at the University of Belgrade before enrolling at the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade, where he specialized in film directing.
In 2015, Komljen made his feature film debut with All the Cities of the North, a film that follows a young man living in an isolated village in rural Serbia. The film was praised for its unique and surreal take on the Bosnian War and its aftermath. The film premiered at the Rotterdam International Film Festival and won the FIPRESCI Prize. It went on to win numerous awards at other film festivals, including the FEDEORA Award for Best Feature Film at the Belgrade International Film Festival and the Grand Prize at the Sarajevo Film Festival.
Komljen’s follow-up feature, Our Body, was released in 2019. The film follows a young man who is sent to a psychiatric hospital to find out why he is suddenly losing his memory. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and won the Special Jury Prize.
Komljen has also directed numerous short films and music videos. His short film, The Disobedient, won the Best Short Film Award at the Sarajevo Film Festival in 2017.
Komljen is currently working on his third feature film, which is set in the Balkans during the Bosnian War. He is also developing a television series based on his debut feature, All the Cities of the North.
Komljen is considered one of the most exciting and talented directors in the region. His films are known for their thoughtful and powerful exploration of identity and social issues. He has become a champion of contemporary Bosnian cinema and is celebrated for his innovative and genre-defying works.
