Jelena Novaković is a Serbian-born filmmaker and visual artist, currently based in Canada. She is best known for her documentary and narrative films, which explore the intersections between individual identity and the society in which it resides.
Novaković was born in Belgrade, Serbia, in 1979. She studied film direction and screenwriting at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade, where she wrote and directed her first short film in 2005. This film, entitled “Rite of Passage”, went on to win Best Short Film at the 2006 Pula Film Festival.
Novaković then moved to Canada in 2008 to pursue her Master’s degree in Film Production from York University. During this time, she wrote and directed her first feature-length film, "Fireflies". The movie premiered at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival and won Best Canadian Feature at the 2011 Vancouver International Film Festival.
Novaković has since gone on to direct several other feature-length films, including the critically acclaimed “The Good Fight” (2014), “The Waiting Room” (2016), and “The Moth” (2017). These films have been shown at numerous international film festivals, including the Berlin International Film Festival and the Tribeca Film Festival.
In addition to her film work, Novaković is also an accomplished visual artist. She has exhibited her artwork in galleries around the world, including the National Gallery of Canada, the Centre Pompidou, and the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Paris.
Novaković is currently working on her next feature film, “The Eternal”, which is set to be released in 2020. She has also been involved in a number of other projects, including directing music videos for up-and-coming Canadian bands.
Novaković’s work has earned her many awards and accolades, including the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival and the Canadian Screen Award for Best Director. Her films have been praised for their thought-provoking stories and unique visual style. Novaković is a gifted storyteller, whose work continues to captivate audiences around the world.
