Just before their father is drafted during the 1999 NATO bombing of Serbia, two teenage sisters start a Hi8 video diary, overwriting older recordings. They capture the serene nature around them, air raid skies, and their playful moments with their younger sister. Their lives change with the arrival of a mysterious boy and his shy sister from Belgrade, leading to new friendships, first kisses, and heart-wrenching disappointments. As the war looms, these experiences push their fears into the background. In her debut feature, Emilija Gašić reflects on her childhood through a found footage aesthetic, skillfully casting non-professional actors alongside seasoned professionals. The film evokes the memories of Gašić’s generation, enhanced by the deliberate use of vintage, low-grade video.

Emilija Gašić is an award-winning Serbian filmmaker and photographer, born in Yugoslavia. She graduated with an MFA in Cinematography from NYU Tisch School of the Arts and holds a BFA in Film Directing from the Academy of Arts in Belgrade, Serbia. Recently awarded the Vanguard Award at the Vancouver International Film Festival, Emilija’s debut feature 78 DAYS had its screenplay developed at Venice Biennale College Cinema in 2020 and is supported by Film Center Serbia and AVCRS.