This week’s Staff Pick Premiere “Maja” is a moving, autobiographical tale from the writer, director and actress Marijana Jankovic. After 10 years of acting for others, she turned inward to create a personal piece about her immigration and struggles with identity.
Jankovic’s immigration as a child from Serbia to Denmark was the main inspiration for the film. Her parents enrolled her in a local kindergarten, where she attempted to learn a new language and make friends. However, the inability for everyone to communicate, caused elements of schooling and socializing to get lost in translation. The short film focuses on miscommunication and the shame that can grow around it. For Jankovic, tackling the subject through film has been a form of therapy. She found it so effective that she’s doubling down in order to write a feature version of “Maja.”
Jankovic’s personal story resonated in film festivals, winning Best Short at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival, and is now available worldwide exclusively on Vimeo. Ahead of the release, we reached out to Marijana about how her short film came together.
On the film’s inspiration:
“I was inspired by the time we live in. The refugee storm has never been bigger and everyone has something to say about it – bad and good. ‘Maja’ is my parents and my story and a part of our life as foreigners. I wanted to open up a little window for people to see the life of people that they don’t know.”
On finding the right personal experiences:
“Since I was little and since I experienced how it was to move from one country to another I promised to myself that I wanted to use it for something one day. Most of my life I hid the fact that I was the poor people’s child. I was ashamed of being a foreigner in a new country and not being like the other kids. When my family and I moved from Montenegro to Denmark, we didn’t have anything and had to start from beginning. We had a hard time, but that is also what made me to the strong and fearless woman I am now.
I wanted to use my story to inspire other people, even if they start in the lowest place in the society. What you see in ‘Maja’ is truly how it was in real life. I’m blessed that I found that little actress who could express exactly the feelings I remember from my childhood.”
On playing her mother:
“It was amazing! The fact that I have grown up to be old enough to play my mother to myself in the period the movie is about was so emotional. I couldn’t imagine anyone else playing her than myself, because I know her so well. It was a beautiful experience watching it with her and holding her hand.”
On transitioning from actress to writer-director-actress:
“I have always been interested in telling stories. I have prepared myself for a long time to jump out of my comfort zone and write and direct my own stuff. However, it was not important for me to just to go out and direct something to try it out. I wanted to tell a true story. It is very important for me to open up my heart and tell stories from there – “Maja” was first in line.”
On her immigrant identity:
“My experience being an immigrant has truly made me the woman and filmmaker I am today. It has taught me that things do not come easily, that I have to fight for what I think is important and to never give up. If I ever fall, I pull myself up again. It has helped me find my voice and to be brave enough to put myself out there.”
On advice to emerging filmmakers:
“Always tell stories from your heart! Nobody knows better than you!”
