Montenegrin Documentary “To Hold a Mountain” Premieres at Sundance

The Montenegrin-Serbian documentary film, titled “To Hold a Mountain” (original title: Planina), directed by Biljana Tutorov and Petar Glomazić, will have its world premiere on January 26, 2024, at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival. The film is part of the highly regarded World Cinema Documentary Competition, showcasing exceptional contemporary documentary works from filmmakers worldwide.

Filmed over a period of seven years, from 2018 to 2025, the documentary was shot in the mountainous region of Sinjajevina, located in northern Montenegro. The project received support from the Filmski centar Crne Gore in both 2018 and 2021. The film follows the story of a mother and daughter, Gara and Nada, who fiercely defend their mountain and nomadic pastoral tradition against the backdrop of a NATO military training ground being established in their region.

The narrative highlights the struggles of Gara, a community leader and mother of six, and her youngest daughter, Nada, as they engage in two crucial battles: one for environmental protection and the other against personal and societal challenges, including patriarchy and violence against women. As noted in the film’s synopsis, the local community’s resistance began when military exercises were conducted in September 2019 without prior consultation with the pastoral communities that have inhabited the area for generations.

In anticipation of the film’s premiere at Sundance, the directors expressed their excitement about presenting their work on such a significant platform. They stated, “Our film is an ambitious artistic endeavor, rooted in our activism, which provides an ethical framework for the narrative. The global visibility offered by Sundance is invaluable for addressing crucial topics intertwined with Gara and Nada’s story—militarization, ecology, and women’s rights. We are grateful to the entire community of pastoralists in Sinjajevina for their warm acceptance and support during our years of shared efforts to protect this mountain and create this film.”

The creative team includes cinematographer Eva Kraljević, editor George Cragg, original music composer Draško Adžić, sound designer Julij Zornik, and colorist Emil Svetlik. Producing credits go to Biljana Tutorov, with co-producers including Megan Gelstein, Bianca Oana, Petar Glomazić, and several others. The main protagonists, Gara and Nada, are portrayed alongside other community members, such as Rajka Radonjić and Ljiljana Šaranović.

The film benefits from a broad spectrum of support, including funding from the Filmski centar Crne Gore, Filmski centar Srbije, CNC France – Cinéma du Monde, and various other European funding bodies and initiatives.

The upcoming Sundance Film Festival will take place from January 22 to February 1, 2024. Considered one of the most significant independent film festivals in the United States, Sundance provides emerging filmmakers with an opportunity to promote their projects and attract wider public attention. Notable directors such as Quentin Tarantino, Paul Thomas Anderson, and Darren Aronofsky have launched their careers through this prestigious event, making it a vital platform for independent cinema.