The FILMharmonia project started their tour with concerts in Novi Sad and Ilok during September 2019.
The FILMharmonia project, contracted as part of the 2nd Call for Proposals, is dedicated to create a new cultural tourism product: the FILMharmonic program. This cultural program will combine screenings of mute films with live orchestra performances throughout the Programme area, in order to support and diversify tourism development, bring new experiences to the local community and capture new audiences. The partnership will introduce new training programs as well.
First of the concerts were held in Novi Sad from 3-5 September and in Ilok from 9-11 September. The events included screenings of two Charlie Chaplin’s films, A Dog’s Life (1918) and The Kid (1921), and music performances by the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra (lead partner). Mirko Boch, managing director of the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra, commented the project: „We decided to greet one of the cinematography’s greats in a particularly special manner: by performing the music from Chaplin’s films during their screenings. Through FILMHarmonia project we wanted to share this remarkable encounter with citizens of Novi Sad, Ilok, Subotica and Vukovar“. Partners selected movies of Charlie Chaplin, one of the most famous and recognizable figures in movie history, because 2019 marked Chaplin’s 130th birthday.
FILMharmonia brought together not only films and music, but also musicians from Croatia and Serbia. Six prominent musicians of the Association Music Youth of Novi Sad (project partner) are performing together with members of the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra. „The FILMHarmonia project is very fresh and inspiring. Synchronization is a very important moment, because the music follows the action of the film and it is necessary to react to every movement, facial expression … It was a great pleasure for me to incorporate the sound of the piano, under my fingers, into a joint sound. Great challenge in every sense. This project is a place where national differences are erased in the name of shared creation. Music is beyond all borders. Music brings people together. This project strongly confirms that“, said Rita Kinka, one of six musicians that have joined the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra and one of the most famous pianists from Novi Sad.
Concerts in Novi Sad were held at the Park prisajedinjenja and Novi Sad Synagogue (due to bad weather, the first of three concerts was moved here). Concerts in Ilok were held in front of the Museum of the Town of Ilok and in the church of St. Ivan Kapistran (first concert was moved here because of bad weather also). The concerts were visited by several thousand visitors from Novi Sad and Ilok, which came to see this unique blend of music and film set up by the FILMharmonia partnership.
New concerts are planned for 2020. Until then, follow FILMharmonia’s Facebook page.
The FILMharmonia project is implemented by two partners from Croatia and Serbia within the Programme Priority Axis 3: contributing to the development of tourism and preserving cultural and natural heritage. The total budget of the project is 1.356.191,90 EUR and the total EU co-financing is 1.152.763,11 EUR of ERDF and IPA II funds. The project started on 1 June 2019 and will finish on 30 November 2020.
