Slovenian filmmaker Darko Štante, whose feature debut, Consequences, world-premiered at Toronto in 2018 and went on to win Best Film and Best Director at the national Vesna Awards, is bringing his second film, The Lost Son, for its bow in Sarajevo's Open Air Premieres strand. Cineuropa can exclusively reveal the film's poster.

The story follows Andrej, a seasoned criminal investigator, who faces a shocking revelation when he finds out his estranged brother, Kristian, is a perpetrator of domestic violence. As he grapples with guilt and tries to mend their relationship, parallels between Kristian's behaviour and that of their abusive father emerge. Amidst personal turmoil, Andrej's professional life intertwines with his private life, leading to substance abuse and strained relationships. A tragic turn of events pushes Andrej to confront his past trauma, ultimately culminating in a heartbreaking confrontation with their father.

The Lost Son explores the lasting impact of violence across generations, asking whether it is possible to break the cycle that so often turns victims into perpetrators. While addressing a difficult subject, it also aims to reach a broad audience and open up space for meaningful dialogue.

The film’s cinematographer is the acclaimed Peter Zeitlinger, who has famously worked with Abel Ferrara, Ulrich Seidl and Werner Herzog. The film is edited by two-time Oscar- and BAFTA-nominated editor and European Film Award winner Yorgos Mavropsaridis, best known for his collaborations with Yorgos Lanthimos on The Favourite and Poor Things.

The cast includes regional stars such as Jure Henigman (Wake Me), Nejc Cijan Garlatti (The High Sun), Lara Maria Vouk (My Last Year as a Loser), Igor Samobor (Class Enemy) and Goran Bogdan (Father).

The Lost Son was produced by Nina Robnik, Miha Černec and Jožko Rutar for Staragara (Slovenia), and co-produced by Irini Vogiokalou and Kostantina Staurianou for Graal (Greece), Boris T Matić and Lana Matić for Propeler Film (Croatia), David Cej for Staragara IT (Italy), and Robert Jazadziski for Kaval Film (North Macedonia).

Check out our exclusive poster below: