FIRST DAY OF SHOOTING · LJUBLJANA
4. 7. 2026 ·
Filming has begun on the feature film Azra
Filming has begun on Azra, the first Slovenian feature film musical produced within the national film programme.
Directed by Tijana Zinajić, who co-wrote the screenplay with Deja Crnović and Iza Strehar, the film tells a moving and intimate story about memory, family secrets, intergenerational wounds and the strength it takes to find freedom and begin again.
Shooting began on Saturday, 4 July, and will take place in two blocks. The summer block will be filmed in Ljubljana and Vipava, with the winter block to follow in November and December. Thirty shooting days are planned in total.
As the first Slovenian film musical produced within the national film programme, the film brings together an emotional story with musical and dance sequences in a distinctive way.
The title role of Azra is played by Polona Juh, one of Slovenia’s most prominent stage and film actresses. She is joined by Suzana Krevh as the younger Azra and Jerca Koprivšek as Azra as a child, Viktorija Jakin as Azra’s daughter Jelena, Jure Henigman as Niko, Nina Valič as Katarina, Mia Skrbinac as Zarja, and Klara Kuk and Roza Andolšek as the younger Zarja. Primož Bezjak plays Uroš, Vesna Pernarčič plays Pavla, and Uroš Fürst appears as Janez.
For director Tijana Zinajić, Azra holds special meaning: “You write, submit the project, wait for an answer, dream, repeat — and then sometimes the funding comes through and you are happy! I am overjoyed. This is without doubt the most personal project of my life. Let it begin!”
Producers Lija Pogačnik and Vlado Bulajić of the production company December note that this is their second collaboration with the director, whose previous feature film Prasica, slabšalni izraz za žensko was a major success with audiences and critics alike. At the 24th Festival of Slovenian Film in Portorož, it won seven Vesna awards, including Best Feature Film.
The film is directed by Tijana Zinajić, with Miloš Srdić as director of photography, Anže Verdel as editor, Neža Zinajić and Adrijana Furlan as production designers, Urška Recer as costume designer, Lija Ivančič as make-up designer, and Laren Polič Zdravič as composer and arranger. The choreography is created by Lada Petrovski Ternovšek and Žigan Krajnčan, and the executive producer is Nena Janković.
The film is produced by Zavod December with the support of the Slovenian Film Centre, Viba Film and the Creative Europe MEDIA programme. Following filming and post-production, the film will be presented to audiences next year; the premiere date will be announced at a later date.