BELGRADE, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- The 17th Kustendorf International Film Festival, initiated by renowned director Emir Kusturica, commenced on Tuesday in Drvengrad village, at the heart of mountain Mokra Gora, Western Serbia, boasting a rich array of international cinematic works.

At the opening ceremony, Kusturica greeted the audience alongside Serbian Minister of Culture Maja Gojkovic, while esteemed Italian filmmaker and Oscar nominee Matteo Garrone received the festival's "Tree of Life" award.

"I am very honored to have received this award, and also to have received the award from (Kusturica), the most important director in my career, and I repeat: I am very happy to be part of this atmosphere which is very authentic and familial," said Garrone.

Garrone, celebrated for his critically acclaimed movies "Gomorrah" and "Pinocchio," attended Tuesday night's screening of his latest work "Io Capitano," which clinched the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival, and is officially nominated at the Oscars 2024 in the category of "Best International Feature."

Under the slogan "Not Surveillance, Cinematography!", this year's Kustendorf's competition program highlights 17 films by international filmmakers from 16 countries: Austria, Finland, Greece, Poland, Sweden, Germany, the United States, Egypt, Mexico, Uzbekistan, India, the Czech Republic, Russia, Serbia, North Macedonia, and Croatia.

Gojkovic praised the festival as "a great project of preserving cultural heritage, namely cinema in its original form as it once was, as it should be, and as it will be in the future".

"Tonight and for the next four days, Mount Mokra Gora will be the European and world capital of cinema. Kustendorf is a victory of substance over form and a triumph of human creativity," Gojkovic said.

Founded by Kusturica in 2008, the Kustendorf Film Festival is an annual celebration of auteur cinema. It serves as a crucial platform bridging established and emerging filmmakers and as a beacon for film enthusiasts and professionals. Enditem

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