The domestic premiere of the first music album “Gorske oči” by composer Ana Krstajić was held on November 25th at Bioskop Balkan in Belgrade.
The album “Gorske oči” had its world premiere as part of the Wild Beauty Art Festival at Durmitor in August 2023, in Montenegro.
During the domestic premiere, music videos were showcased with accompaniment from the string orchestra Belgrade Chamber Orchestra and soloists Nemanja Stanković and Miljana Popović Materni. Special guest on the album is Stefan Milenković, and the album will be released by Universal Music Serbia in January 2024.
Krstajić is one of the most talented young composers in Serbia. She earned her Master’s degree from Berklee in Applied Music as well as from the Faculty of Music Arts under the mentorship of professor Isidora Žebeljan. She composed music for the series “Puffins Impossible” (Apple TV) and for films such as “The Path Will Pass Here,” “Saint Petka – The Cross in the Desert,” and “Kreka: Dream Hunter,” among others. Her original music represented Serbia at Expo 2020 Dubai.
She has received numerous awards, including the first prize at the “Women’s Works” International Composer Competition (Ithaca, NY), second prize at “De Bach au Jazz” (France), and the Hollywood Music in Media Awards. In 2020, she was selected as one of six composers worldwide for the mentorship program by the Alliance for Women Film Composers, and in the following year, she was chosen for mentorship by the Society of Composers and Lyricists as one of 10 composers. She has also worked on the RockElClasico project performed by Nele Karajlić and Stefan Milenković, and is currently assisting the composer for the hit Netflix series “The Witcher.”
“Through the art of contemporary dance inspired by the rhythms of nature, I aimed to illuminate the essence of connection between two individuals amidst the raw beauty and vastness of the mountains. The choreography intertwines with the organic cadence of nature’s movement, symbolizing the fusion between human emotions and untamed wilderness. The serene yet harsh essence of the wilderness deeply resonated with me, compelling me to translate these sensations into music. I invite listeners to embark on a reflective journey, akin to wandering through unknown expanses of nature,” stated composer Ana Krstajić on the occasion.
In the music videos shot on Durmitor in Montenegro, along with the author and producer of the project Ana Krstajić, the team included producer Jovana Jovičić, cinematographers Marko Kažić and Aleksa Borković, director Marina Uzelac, choreographer and dancer Dejan Kolarov, costume designer Suna Kažić, dancers Staša Ivanović, Mila Stijak, and Vladimir Čubrilo, editors Marija Kovačina and Nikola Polić, colorist Natalija Shaczka, and graphic designer Dragana Krtinić.
The music album project was supported by Serbia Creates, SOKOJ, production companies Lucha from Serbia and Aba Film from Montenegro, Vision Team, the Municipality of Žabljak, Durmitor National Park, Durmitor Tourist Center, and the Crno Jezero restaurant. The domestic premiere was supported by Bioskop Balkan, Cebef, Production Pool, New Balkan Cuisine, Winery 100 Women, Wine Art, and Eden.
