23/04/2025 - The director makes his feature debut with the story of a retired surgeon whose life changes after an encounter with a girl who reports being plagued by a curse

After creating several short films, Bosnian filmmaker Adnan Hrustemović is off to the races as his feature debut, Evil Eye, enters post-production. Hrustemović also wrote the script for what is set to be the first Bosnian horror film. According to summaries of the story, Evil Eye follows a retired surgeon whose life changes after an encounter with a girl who reports being plagued by a vicious curse and haunted by a monster. He then starts to experience what seems to be the same curse.

The film stars Serbian actor Dragan Mićanović as the surgeon, known most recently for his roles as the Serbian prime minister in the mini-series Operation Sabre and as the lead in Nebojša Slijepčević’s Palme d’Or-winning short film The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent. He will act alongside Montenegrin rising star Itana Dragojević as the girl. Marija Pikić, Igor Skvarica, Tarik Filipović, Amra Kapidžić, Semir Krivić and Rea Memi complete the rest of the announced cast.

Filming for the project took place in November 2024 in the cities of Sarajevo and Tuzla as well as the small Bosnian village of Brezna. The crew includes cinematographer Amel Ðikoli, editor Redžinald Šimek, composer Mirza Rahmanović, production designer Adisa Vatreš, costume designer Monika Močević and make-up artist Lamija Hadžihasanović.

Evil Eye has been produced on a €200,000 majority self-funded budget from Hrustemović, with producing credits going to himself and Kerim Mašović, of Bosnian outfit Kontraplan. The movie is set to be completed by the end of 2025, with hopes for a 2026 release. Its world sales and distribution rights for all territories are up for grabs.