United Media is proud to announce that the documentary film “EKV: I’ll Change the World Before the Song Ends” has been selected as the winner of the first regional Nova Docu call for submissions.

The expert jury from United Media chose to support the production of this film dedicated to the iconic Yugoslav rock band EKV, whose music left a lasting legacy across generations in the region.

Directed by Vladimir Tagić and written by Katarina Pejović and Nebojša Krivokuća, the film will explore the lives of Milan, Magi, and Bojan—three band members whose personal destinies mirrored the tragic fate of the country they lived and created in. The documentary is set to begin production in the coming year and has also received the support of the Milan Mladenović Foundation.

“The United Media jury had a rewarding but difficult task, given the large number of high-quality submissions we received. In the end, we decided to support a film that we believe holds great potential—both because of the enormous cultural impact EKV has had on generations across the former Yugoslavia, and because of the quality of the proposed script. We believe the creative team behind this project will ensure that EKV is portrayed in a way that matches the exceptional talent Milan Mladenović and this legendary band shared with the public through their music and the messages they conveyed,” said Daniel Bukumirović, editor of the Nova Docu project.

The film’s creative team—producer Marija Lero, director Vladimir Tagić, and screenwriters Nebojša Krivokuća and Katarina Pejović—shared their thoughts on the importance of the project.

As they emphasize, the story of Ekatarina Velika and its members has never been told with the authenticity and depth that Milan, Margita, Bojan, and the rest of the band truly deserve. With the full participation and support of the Milan Mladenović Foundation, rich archival material, and a different perspective on the career of a band that marked the final decade of the former Yugoslavia, they are confident this film will change that—and set new standards for documentaries dedicated to the music scene in this region.

“Some artists become generational heroes because of the stories told about them. Others become heroes because their work inspires the creation of new ones. This will be a story about those kinds of heroes,” the creative team stated, adding that while they are proud of this award, it also brings an even greater sense of responsibility.

The Nova Docu call, which was launched at the end of 2024, attracted over 200 submissions from authors and independent producers across Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Bulgaria. The high volume of entries confirms the region’s growing documentary potential and the strong interest in socially relevant storytelling.

In addition to supporting the winning project, United Media plans to acquire and feature a selection of outstanding submitted films—both completed and in final production stages—on the Nova Docu catalogue, available to viewers across the EON platform in Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Bulgaria.

Nova Docu, United Media’s dedicated platform for premium documentary content, continues to build a unique and diverse catalogue featuring regional and international titles. The platform offers viewers a window into personal stories, pop culture, history, social issues, and more—demonstrating the transformative power of storytelling.

Photo: Goranka Matić