26 July 2019 - The Government of Montenegro has already allocated 1,23 million EUR of grants for 1.800 farmers from 21 municipalities for the development of tillage and vegetable farming, while the processing of requests for an additional 800.000 EUR is ongoing, said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of Montenegro Milutin Simović presenting the results during a working visit to the city municipality Golubovci.

At the press conference, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Milutin Simović presented the results of agribusiness measures to support investments in vegetable farming and direct payments in plant production, as Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development stated.

As a result of one of the measures – a public call for support to vegetable farming – a total of 384 agricultural producers from 14 municipalities were supported, who invested almost 1 million EUR and received non-refundable support of 415.000 EUR. Investments covered the purchase of seeds, seedlings, foils, while the support amounted to 40 to 50%. In Podgorica, 122 producers received 125.000 EUR, or 30% of the total amount of support.

Presenting the results of the second measure of support to tillage and vegetable farming, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Milutin Simović emphasised that the support was provided for 1.413 beneficiaries from 21 Montenegrin municipalities in the amount of 815.000 EUR, and that support covers almost 5.000 hectares of crops.

Read more news about business in Montenegro at TMN's dedicated page.

The 33rd Herceg Novi Film Festival - Montenegro Film Festival, this year with the slogan “All Day on Film” will be held from the 1st to 7th of August. The programme for the festival was revealed at a press conference by the President of the Board Marija Perović, together with Feature Film, Cinema Europe and Midnight Screenings Selector Ivan Bakrač, Festival Business Director Zoran Živković and Director of Herceg Fest Gordana Krcunović.

The festival will commence with a premiere screening of the film “Grudi” (Breasts) by Marija Perović (out of competition) and “Dohvati nebo” (Reach the Sky), by director Milutin Darić.

President of the Festival Board, director Marija Perović, stated that this year they would be supporting the idea, promoted at other festivals, regarding equal participation of women in film. Along these lines, actors Mira Banjac, Dubravka Drakić, Marija Škaričić and “all women present” would together be opening the festival.

Perović said she believed that the festival was much enhanced, with showings of more films in a variety of categories, although there would be no highly-regarded documentary film category.

Film and TV director Ivan Bakrač, Winner in short film category at international festivals and selector for the Slobodna Zona Film Festival, assessed the second half of 2018 and first half of 2019 to be extremely successful for Montenegrin Cinema as, besides the major productions that were premiered at prestigious film festivals in Venice (Ti imaš noć - You Have the Night) and Montreal (Između dana i noći - Neverending Past), and the four smaller Montenegrin co-productions premiering at major festivals in Karlovi Vari (Mamonga), Sarajevo (Sam samcat - All Alone, Granice kiše - Borders, Raindrops) i Palić (Ajvar), two Montenegrin films will premiere in Herceg Novi (Grudi and Dohvati nebo). With such a good start, there was no question that the other films selected in the main category should have a focus on Balkan cinema, explained Bakrač.

During the week-long festival, Kanli Kula Fortress will be also be hosting public screenings of Ti imaš noć (You Have the Night) by Herceg Novi director Ivan Salatić (Montenegro), Monstrumi (Monsters) by Marius Olteanu (Romania), short film Peloid by Bojan Stijović (Montenegro); Između dana i noći (Neverending Past) by Andro Martinović (Montenegro, Serbia); Mamonga by Stefan Malešević (Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro); Bog postoji, ime mu je Petrunija (God Exists, Her Name is Petrunia) by Teona Strugar Mitevska (North Macedonia, Belgium, Slovenia, Croatia, France), Sam samcat (All Alone) by Bobo Jelčić (Croatia, Netherlands, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina); Šavovi (Stitches) by Miroslav Terzić (Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina); Küçük Şeyler (Little Things) by director Kıvanç Sezer (Turkey); Ajvar by Ana Maria Rossi (Serbia) and Granice kiše (Borders, Raindrops) by Vlastimir Sudar and Nikola Mijovića (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Sweden, Great Britain). Cannes Winner Parasite by director Bong Joon Ho (South Korea) will be shown out of competition at the closure of the festival.

The jury for the official selection comprises director Vinko Brešan (Croatia), actor Nikola Ristanovski (North Macedonia), producer Dunja Klemenc (Slovenia), producer Jelena Mišeljić (Montenegro) and director Nikola Ljuca (Serbia).

The selector for student film this year is once again director Dušan Kasalica. Films will be shown in the Dvorana Park (Park Hall) Amphitheatre. In total, 16 short films from the region’s film schools (Cetinje, Belgrade, Zagreb, Skoplja, Sarajevo and Romania) will be shown during the festival. The jury for this selection comprises producer Bojana Radulović (Montenegro), director Dušan Grubin (Serbia) and screenwriter and director Eleonora Veninova (North Macedonia).

The Cinema Europe selection includes films that have been particularly successful in major European festivals. Films shown will include Portrait de la Jeune Fille en Feu (Portrait of a Lady on Fire) by Céline Sciamma, My Extraordinary Summer with Tess by Steven Wouterlood, Alice et le Maire (Alice and the Mayor) by Nicolas Parisier, Le Jeune Ahmed (Young Ahmed) by Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne, Lara by Jan Ole Gerster, C'est ça l’Amour (Real Love) by Claire Burger, Il Traditore (The Traitor) by Marco Bellocchio, Dolor y Gloria (Pain and Glory) by Pedro Almodovar, Synonyms by Nadav Lapid, Sorry We Missed You by Ken Loach, Celle Que Vous Croyez (Who You Think I Am) by Safy Nebbou, Bashata (The Father) - featured in the main selection - by Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov, and El Reino (The Candidate) by Rodrigo Sorogoyen.

Midnight screenings in Dvorana Park, an idea started by Ivan Marinović, have received the full support of this year’s selector Ivan Bakrač. The local public will have the opportunity to see films shown at the biggest festivals - Cannes (Liberté - Freedom and Zombi Child), Berlin (Die Kinder Der Toten - Children of the Dead, and Répertoire des Villes Disparues - Ghost Town Anthology) and Toronto (High Life).

This year, one absence is the category of documentary film, with the resignation of the segment’s selector Vladimir Perović.

Responding to journalists, Marija Perović, Zoran Živković and Gordana Krcunović explained among other things that this year, as ever, they had been working on the same terms and in the same circumstances, and that Perović had been present at all the festival Board meetings up until June. When he announced his resignation, a replacement was not sought as very little time remained until the opening of the festival. However, it was noted that particular attention would be paid to documentary film, starting with cooperation with Beldocs Festival, and as a separate programme. It was indeed noted that documentaries deserve particular attention, but it was noted that the Herceg Novi Festival was primarily conceived with full length feature films in mind.

Repeated suggestions were accepted that the festival needs continued preparation throughout the year and that the programme should be announced earlier, however Marija Perović recalled that many aspects of the festival may need to be amended, in spite of its long-standing tradition, and added that The Cannes Festival is planned for May with good reason. However, decisions on this level not only need to be taken by the Festival Board, but also the relevant authorities (Herceg Novi Municipality and The Ministry of Culture), particularly due to the fact that the event is of national significance to the culture of Montenegro.

Source: Radio Herceg Novi

All photographs: Zvezdana Kujović

26 July 2019 - Prime Minister Duško Marković recently hosted Sándor Csányi, Chairman and CEO of OTP Group, which had recently acquired the Societe Generale Montenegro, thus strengthening its position as the leading bank in the country, as reported the Public Relations Service within the Government of Montenegro.

Congratulating the OTP Group on the successful acquisition, the Prime Minister noted that this is important for Montenegro, which has been given an even stronger partner for the continuation of successful cooperation primarily on development projects.

"I believe that the stronger position of your bank will have a positive effect on Montenegro and that you will be an even stronger player in the Montenegrin economy," said PM Marković, expressing his gratitude to the OTP Group for having had consideration, at each stage of the acquisition process, for the demands of the Montenegrin side.

The Prime Minister informed Mr Csányi about the excellent results of the Government's economic policy, which includes a high growth in GDP and strong investment activities with simultaneous fiscal consolidation and a reduction in public debt. The meeting also discussed the development projects the OTP Group could be interested in, as well as the forthcoming issue of securities announced by the Government.

On 16 July, CKB Bank purchased 87.602 shares (90.55%) of the Societe Generale Montenegro, at a total value of 35.629.692,37 EUR, at the Montenegro Stock Exchange.

The meeting was attended by Minister of Finance Darko Radunović, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of OTP Group Zsolt Barn, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of OTP Group László Wolf, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Montenegrin Commercial Bank Miklós Németh, and CEO of the Montenegrin Commercial Bank Pál Kovács.

Read more news about business in Montenegro at TMN's dedicated page.

Miroslav Šuković, an artist living and working in Kolašin and Podgorica, has presented his artwork in the Summerhouse Buća Gallery in Tivat.

The exhibition was opened last night by art historian Marija Saičić who pointed out:

"The story of coexistence struggle, the struggle of man with himself, and the story of the inevitable spiritual heritage, are being told through the works of Montenegrin painter Miroslav Šuković. His paintings bear the painful truth about existence, inner demons, man's tedium in the contemporary world and society through unconventional scenes from which there is an unmistakable truth emerging in Šuković's work. There is one question that he tries to answer with the brush, that is, the movement and the color: How to paint a man's soul?"

“Man is at the centre of my creativity, and human psychology, or the inner state of man, is something that interests me most and I have been dedicated to it since the beginning of my work. These works were created by combining different materials on canvas and paper. I like to experiment with material, so I use pastels, pencils and coal. It is a process that goes its own way and we shall see how this story will continue. I do not like calculation in creativity and creation," the artist said about his work.

Šuković was born in 1977 in Bihać. He is a member of the Association of Fine Artists of BiH, a participant of numerous solo and collective exhibitions. He won the Cetinski Fine Show "Thirteen November" award in 2015.

Art historian Marija Saičić concluded that Šuković’s compositions have extraordinary power and are not a mere celebration of existence but a picture of mental pain that destroys modern man when he contemplates existence, interpersonal relationships or deviations of the modern age.

Šuković’s exhibition will be open until 16 August on the ground floor of the Tivat Museum and Gallery.

27 July 2019 - Co.Co.Tour (Coastal Communities Tourism) project will have the third meeting and the Steering Committee of the project in Herceg Novi on Wednesday, July 31st, as stated from the Municipality of Herceg Novi Cabinet of President. The partners from Italy, Albania and Montenegro will talk about the implementation of project activities through which, among other things, the reconstruction of the House of Nobel Prize winner Ivo Andric is being realized.

 Official addresses to partners were planned on that day at 12 pm, in the Grand Hall of the Municipality of Herceg Novi. The guests will be greeted by the Mayor of Herceg Novi Stevan Katic, Executive Director of the Agency for Local Democracy Niksic Kerim Međedović and Head of the Office for International Cooperation Simonida Kordić.

In accordance with the project activities, the same day, at 16:30, a visit to the House of Ivo Andrić is planned, where the representatives of the partners will have the opportunity to see the works and get acquainted in more detail with the course of the reconstruction financed through the project Co. Co. Tour.

The Co.Co.Tour project aims to preserve and promote the natural and cultural heritage of coastal communities through the development of a cross-border model and a network of eco-communities and community museums with smart, sustainable, tourism management.

This is the first time in the world that such a model of the eco-museum network is developing, which implies the use of smart technologies, the involvement of the local community with its specificities, putting particular emphasis on accessibility.

According to the Port Museum in Tricase, in the ambient of the renovated House of the Nobel Prize-winning Ivo Andrić, there are plans to establish an eco museum and community museum, which will connect the touristic capacities, cultural, natural and historical characteristics of the city from scales with personality, life and by the work of the great writer, Ivo Andric.

The leading partner of the project is the Albanian Development Fund, while the other partners are Local Democracy Agency Niksic, Herceg Novi Municipality, Tricase Municipality (province of Lecce, part of the Apulia region of south-east Italy), Magna Grecia Mare Organization (Italy), Himara Municipality (part of the Vlorë County, Southern Albania) and Associated Partner Agency for the Protection of Natural Areas (Albania).

The event organizer is the Local Democracy Agency Niksic in partnership with the Municipality of Herceg Novi.

Kanli Kula Fortress in Herceg Novi is getting a high-tech Visitor Center, which is part of the IPA Fortress ReInvented project. It will open on Wednesday, July 31, starting at 18:00, as said in the announcement by the Municipality of Herceg Novi Cabinet of President.                                                            The opening event will be a premiere of the documentary feature film "Herceg’s New Town", which depicts the history of the establishment of Herceg Novi, and was shot as part of the realization of this project.The director and author is Dragi Vujačić, and the film is being produced by "Digital dab", which was the best bidder with "Čikom" on the tender for equipment procurement and digital content being released by Herceg Novi Municipality.

This documentary-historical film shows people, habits, food, fashion, features of appearance and speech, all based on historical facts related to the events that the film describes. In addition, special attention has been paid to presenting Kanli Kula and her role to spectators, with the historical personality of Herceg Stjepan and the importance of the Square of Salt – Trg soli.

The officials will also have the opportunity to get acquainted with the details of the filming and activities on the project, which is being implemented by the Office for International Cooperation on behalf of the Municipality of Herceg Novi.

AR devices will be presented, that is, those working on the augmented reality system, which will be available to visitors at Kanli Kula.

Herceg Novi will also receive the "Fortress reality window" through the project, more precisely the screen through which it will be able to monitor events in real time at other locations in the partner towns: Fortress of St. Mihovil in Sibenik, fortress Klis in the city with the same name and the fortress Vranduk in Zenica.

The project "Innovative Approach and Digital Content in Historical Fortresses - Fortress ReInvented" is being implemented within the Interreg IPA Cross-Border Cooperation Program Croatia-Bosnia-Herzegovina-Montenegro 2014-2020. The project leader is the Museum of the City of Sibenik, and the partners are, apart from the Municipality of Herceg Novi, the Museum of the City of Zenica and the Municipality of Klis. The total value of the project for all partners is € 1.3 million, and the amount of € 202,609.25 is allocated for the Municipality of Herceg Novi.

26 July, 2019 - Baia, the new wing of the Regent Pool Club Residences has been opened, thus marking the final phase and completion of this glamorous building in the Porto Montenegro superyacht marina, situated in Tivat. The opening of the new wing was marked by a glamorous party at the hotel's pool, as announced by Regent Porto Montenegro. 

The Regent Pool Club Residences now consist of three wings, where the two, AQUA and BAIA, are taking waterfront living to a new level of elegance in a luxurious setting, joining the existing Venezia wing. BAIA’s 67 new units range from rooms, one to three-bedroom suites and penthouses. The leading London design consultancy WATG Architects and MHZ Paris are responsible for their design. Earthy shades of straw, beige and grass contrast harmoniously with sumptuous furniture in rich dark tones creating a calm oasis.

Each room will offer utmost privacy to guests with either sweeping views across the bay and marina, lush countryside or the dramatic Vrmac mountain range. Rooms and suites are surrounded by beautiful landscaping, where the infinity swimming pool and pool club take centre stage, with a clean and minimal design reflecting the Mediterranean beach style.

The architecture of the BAIA wing follows the Venezia and AQUA wings style, combining Venetian and Italian Riviera aesthetic with a rich palette of natural shades, that blend seamlessly with the adjacent luxury 5* Regent Porto Montenegro hotel. WATG worked closely with the internationally renowned designer Tino Zervudachi to create interiors which portray modern-day glamour with an art-deco feel.

Kai Dieckmann, General Manager at Regent Porto Montenegro, remarked: "The opening of the BAIA wing, in our 5th year of operation, is the finishing touch to Regent Porto Montenegro’s project and offers our guests a diverse selection of rooms, residences and penthouses to choose from. We want to offer a sense of unobtrusive luxury which has been brought to life through WATG and MHZ Paris’s contemporary designs, whilst tying into the existing aesthetic of our two other wings with the recognisable nautical design. Guests can experience stunning views from every room and exceptional Regent service and experiences – such as the excellent dining, the relaxing Regent Spa and a variety of activities in the destination.”

During their stay, guests will have access to the award-winning infinity pool, which was named one of the top 30 hotel pools in the world in 2018.

There is also the resident-only Pool Club with landscaped gardens, lap pool, children’s pool, poolside restaurant and sunbeds, gym, private walkway to AQUA and Venezia wings, elegant spa facilities and four restaurants.

“We’re delighted to round off the Regent project which falls coincidentally with the hotel’s fifth anniversary. In a short while, our homeowners will take the keys to their new residences, enriching the Porto Montenegro community and enjoy the fantastic lifestyle promise we offer all of our residents”, said David Margason, Managing Director of Porto Montenegro.

The total investment of the Baia hotel extension is 36 million euros.

On Sunday, 28th July in Stoliv, as part of the traditional Fešta Kamelija 2019, Stoliv Camellia Association, AMA Sport Fishing Club Kostanjica and Stoliv Local Community Association are organising the Camellia Trophy wooden boat race, to promote the preservation of wooden boats.

Fishers with wooden boats will gather at the Stoliv Quay at 5.30 am, then leave to fish in the waters near Stoliv, later returning for their catches to be weighed.

At 10 am there will be a parade and a rowing race with wooden boats, with yachtsmen and gondoliers taking to the water at 1030 am. At 1130 am, winners will be announced and trophies awarded.

“Following this, there will be a round table with owners of wooden boats and fishers exchanging experiences, giving expert advice and presenting their completed wooden boat restoration projects. There will be entertainment and time to socialise and enjoy the fish and wine. This event itself serves to preserve our traditional values,” say the organisers.

For further information, contact 069 644 506.

The event is sponsored by the Kotor Tourism Organisation.

The Tourist Organization of Tivat organizes the "Gastro Night of Fish and Wine" on Monday, July 29, starting at 9:00 pm in the tavern "Giardino" in Donja Lastva.

In addition to the fish and wine prepared by the tavern "Giardino", the cluster "Homemade dishes" will be presented, organized by the company "Djokovic" from 6 p.m.

Cluster “Homemade dishes” gathers producers of traditional food and drinks from all over Montenegro. In the entertainment part of the program, from 9 p.m. klapa "Maris" and Theater 303 will perform.

On this occasion, the Tourist Organization Tivat announces the already known manifestation "Olives from Boka", which will be held on Tuesday, 30th July, at the promenade Pine, organized by the Olive Oil Company "Boka", under the auspices of TO Tivat. The program starts at 6 pm with the promotion and tasting of local products. The entertainment will be provided by klapa "Asa Voce" starting at 9.30 p.m. 

Come and enjoy the rich program and good time in Tivat! 

Monday, July 29th - from 6 pm – Tavern “Giardino " 

Tuesday, July 30th - from 6 pm – Promenade Pine

Text by Boka news, on July 26th, 2019, read more at Boka News

Company "Termoinzenjering" from Podgorica has offered 886.000 euros for the hotel "13. July "in Virpazar, announced by the bankruptcy administration of Atlas Bank, while there were no interested buyers for the attractive bank building in the center of Podgorica in the street “Stanko Dragojevic”.

The bankruptcy board of the bank owned by the president of Atlas Group who is on Interpol warrant Dusko Knezevic has authorized the law firm of Zorica Djukanovic for the sale of property that was announced on June 24th. The public tender was held yesterday.

The initial price for selling the hotel in Virpazar, which in the foundation has 862 square meters and a garden of 2.113 square meters, was 785 thousand euros, while the property in Podgorica was offered for 1.98 million euros.

The law office of Djukanovic opened the offer of "Termoinzenjering", whose activity is according to the data from the Central Register of Business Entities "Facility Maintenance Services". The owner and executive director is Ranko Scepanovic. “Termoinzenjering" was the only one who submitted the offer, while the second public tender for the sale of real estate in Podgorica was not held because there were no applications for participation.

The building in Podgorica in the foundation has 400 square meters plus a courtyard of 34 square meters, but it is built on four levels, of which one part includes a congress hall below the ground. One month and a half ago, the bankruptcy administration of Atlas bank already announced this property for sale together with the former headquarters of Atlas Bank in Atlas Capital Center, but this tender was canceled very quickly according to the decision of the Central Bank. The bankruptcy at Atlas Bank was introduced at the beginning of April this year. The acknowledged claims of the Atlas bank in bankruptcy amount to 133.07 million euros, but this is not the final figure due to appeals procedures initiated by bank customers dissatisfied with the amount of money recognized by the bankruptcy administration according to their basic claims.

The bankruptcy manager of Atlas Bank Mirko Radonjic said that appeals procedures are currently being conducted according to a number of decisions, and the appeal period is still ongoing for a certain number of verdicts, and certain procedures are terminated for legal reasons.

Text by Milorad Milosevic and Marija Mirjacic, on July 25th, 2019, read more at Vijesti