Popadiฤโs cinematic journey began in Belgrade, where he immersed himself in the fundamentals of directing. At the Faculty of Dramatic Arts, camera, editing, screenwriting and directing are considered separate but closely related fields from the very beginning of the education. โThis approach has had a huge impact on meโ, explains Popadiฤ. โYou grow together with your team, each and every one of you in your field, and through dialogue, a deep understanding of the various aspects of filmmaking arises.โ
His decision to continue his studies at ZHdK was not random. โI appreciate the institutional connection and the opportunity to be part of an international discourse.โ He emphasises the inspiring collaboration with his mentors Sabine Gisiger and Christian Iseli, who have opened up new perspectives on his work for him. โItโs not just about making films, but also about thinking about film and developing it further.โ He is also fascinated by the technical expertise of ZHdK students and the excellent student films that are made here.
Film as a means of reflection
His latest documentary, โEchte Schweizerโ, was created in response to international filmmakersโ reaction to his dual role as a soldier and director, and sheds light on the miltary with an unusual but reflective eye. It offers a personal insight into the Swiss Armed Forces from the perspective of four officers โ Popadiฤ being one of them โ with migrant backgrounds whose roots extend to Tunisia, Sri Lanka and Serbia. With a great sense of humour and depth, Popadiฤ addresses topics such as home, belonging and integration, while questioning common prejudices.
โI wanted to understand what narratives exist about the military and how they can be reinterpreted cinematically,โ explains Popadiฤ. He had explored the subject of the documentary film in depth as part of his PhD research, and now he is using his cinematic examination to show how personal and collective service can be questioned in a field of tension between national identity and belonging. At ZHdK, he leads the seminar โNarrative Strategies in Documentary Filmโ and teaches students how to tell stories with substance. โI want them to ask themselves: Why am I telling this story? What is my position on it?โ he explains. It is particularly important to him that film is not created in a vacuum: โWe should know whose shoulders we stand on, which developments in film history have shaped us and how we can take them further.โ
For Popadiฤ, film is above all a means of reflection. โFilms allow us to see the world from a different perspective. They create connections, ask questions and open up discussions. Thatโs what drives me in filmmaking.โ