milan_pet@yahoo.com

+381 63410791

Astra Video Production

Astra Video Production was founded in Pirot, in 2006. The films we make help us contribute to raising professional standards in television production and emphasising complex social issues in this region which have not been identified yet or have not been addressed in a proper manner.


A Story of the Cherry Tree

(40’ One-off, HD, 2020,)

   During WWII Pirot, town in South East of Serbia, was occupied by Bulgaria, allay of Nazi Germany. Jewish Community in Pirot was accepted and respected in Pirot before the war, but on March 13th 1943 Bulgarians arrested more than hundred Jewish people and deported them in concentration camp of Treblinka. Luckily, not all Jews from Pirot were taken from city – citizens of Pirot rescued and kept safe a large number of Jewish children. One of survivors is protagonist of this documentary, neurosurgeon Tuvi Jusefovich.


THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE

36', HD, 2020

The Way, the Truth and the Life is a documentary feature film about the only married couple who survived the horrors of the Auschwitz camp. The purpose of this film is introducing the public to dramatical historical events taking place between October 1941 and January 1945. In that period, 1 100 000 camp inmates perished, and among them 20 000 people from the territory of Yugoslavia.

 The film is inspired by true events

I AM THE WAY THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE is a well-known sentence from the Gospel of John, spoken by Jesus Christ.

The documentary A Story of the Cherry Tree was awarded the Vigil of Jakov Orfelin prize.

At the 14th documentary film festival “A Cinematic Vigil of Soul” in Sremski Karlovci, the film A Story of the Cherry Tree dedicated to the rescue of Jewish children in Pirot during the Second World War, was awarded the Vigil of Jakov Orfelin prize.

The film was written and directed by Emilija Lilić, while camera and editing are credited to Milan Petrović, and music and graphic design to Milan Panić. The film´s executive producer is Miloje Nešić.


The documentary A Story of the Cherry Tree was premiered in Belgrade, at the Jewish Cultural Center "Oneg Shabbat",

A Story of the Cherry Tree was premiered at the Jewish Cultural Center "Oneg Shabbat", the former REX cinema in Dorćol, in the presence of the ambassador of Israel, famous actors, directors, representatives of the Ministry of Culture and other important dignitaries.

After the premiere, Yahel Vilan, the Israeli ambassador in Serbia, did not hide his satisfaction with the film, expressing his gratitude to the production team. In his words, the film crew did an excellent job for future generations by preserving the story of suffering of the Pirot Jews.

THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE

The Way, the Truth and the Life is a documentary feature film about the only married couple who survived the horrors of the Auschwitz camp. The purpose of this film is introducing the public to dramatical historical events taking place between October 1941 and January 1945. In that period, 1 100 000 camp inmates perished, and among them 20 000 people from the territory of Yugoslavia.

 The film is inspired by true events. 

I AM THE WAY THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE is a well-known sentence from the Gospel of John, spoken by Jesus Christ.

The documentary A Story of the Cherry Tree on the Radio Television of Serbia

 The documentary A Story of the Cherry Tree produced by ASTRA production company based in Pirot was premiered on RTS 2. The premiere took place on Thursday, January 27th, 2022, the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, at 9:50 p.m.

The Belgrade promotion of the afore-mentioned film was held recently at the Jewish Cultural Center. The film met with exceptionally favourable reactions both at home and abroad, and the promotion was attended by the Israeli ambassador in Serbia, as well as by representatives of other embassies, film workers, actors, etc.

Video prodUCTION Astra

Jevrejska 4/18 street , 18300  Pirot

+381 63410791

milan_pet@yahoo.com