Biography
Branka Besevic Gajic is a Serbian and Croatian award-winning film and TV director, creative producer, screenwriter, and Doctor of Arts (Ph.D.). She holds a Master's degree in Drama and Audiovisual Arts. Branka is a member of the European Film Academy, based in Berlin. She graduated under the mentorship of Professor Goran Pekovic at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade. She earned her Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Arts with a specialization in film directing under the class of Professor Aleksandar Davic, with mentorship from Ivan Pravdic and Sonja Marinkovic, at the University of Arts in Belgrade. Her doctoral project, which included directing the interactive feature film The Decision (Odluka), was presented before a committee consisting of Professors Srdan Golubovic, Janko Baljak, and Marko Stojanovic. In addition to her doctoral studies in Interdisciplinary Arts, Branka also holds a doctoral degree in Digital Arts, with a specialization in film directing, focusing on the integration of artificial intelligence into filmmaking. She believes that traditional filmmaking belongs to the past and that embracing the digital age is essential for the future of cinema. In 2014, Branka debuted as a director and screenwriter with the film Laus, which explores the life of the renowned Yugoslav actor Zarko Lausevic. The film features over 20 prominent names in Serbian culture. Following a successful premiere at the Sava Center in Belgrade, Laus was distributed across Serbia and the Balkan region. It was also screened at numerous international festivals in cities such as Toronto, New York, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Wollongong, Melbourne, Canberra, Peking, Johannesburg, and Moscow, earning multiple awards for directing, artistic contribution, and authorial courage.
Featured Awards:
Best Film Award at the Serbian Film Festival in Chicago (2014)
"The Best Women XXI Century" in Drama and Audiovisual Arts, Airli Nivo, Belgrade (2016)
GRAND PRIX for Best Screenplay for Laus at the International Festival (2016)
GRAND PRIX for The Home of Angels at the International Festival "Gold Buklia" (2017)
Dejan Kosanovic Award for Best Master of Arts Graduate Film, Faculty of Dramatic Arts, Belgrade (2017)
City Fest Awards (2019, 2021)
Avant & Una Awards (2021)
Best Film Award at Nis Film Festival (2021)
Best Director Award at the Film Festival "Gold Buklia" (2022)
Best Screenplay Award for The Testimonials at the International Film Festival (2022)
Best Directing Award for The Testimonials at the Vstreca International Film Festival, Obninsk (2023)
Recognition for promoting a healthy lifestyle for the film Dule Savic and Silence in London at the Vrmdza Film Festival (2023)
Feature Film Director Award for Dule Savic and Silence in London, Budva, Montenegro (2023)
Best Director Award, Belgrade, Serbia (2024)
IMDb Mini Biography By: Branka Besevic Gajic
