Belgrade Film Festival opens with Balabanov's Morphia

Feb 19, 2010, 18:14 GMT

Belgrade - The Belgrade International Film Festival (FEST) opened for the 38th time Friday night with Aleksey Balabanov's Morphia, based on Mikhail Bulgakov's autobiographical A Country Doctor's Notebook.

Balabanov was supposed to be the guest of honour and open the festival, but he canceled his arrival at the last moment, as he is 'casting for his next movie,' organizers said.

During a week-long event, Belgrade audience will have the chance to see 64 films from 30 countries, including latest releases from Ang Lee, Lars von Trier, Peter Jackson, Martin Scorsese, Jim Sheridan, the Coen brothers and many other.

This year, FEST celebrates its 40th birthday. However, the festival was skipped for two years in the 1990s after Yugoslavia's breakup, which prompted several regional wars and years of international sanctions.

Famous guests are scarce at the 38th running, as the event's budget was reduced due to the economic crisis. The festival closes on Sunday, February 28 with the German-British coproduction of Pope Joan.