Jelica Jerinic is a filmmaker from Serbia, based in Helsinki, graduated with an MA in Film and Theatre Writing from the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade. In 2019 she was a participant of the Academy of Moving People and Images. Her first film, a short documentary GIRLS WHO CUT THEIR HAIR SHORT, was screened at several international film festivals. More recently, she has written and directed her first short fiction film DOG DAY, which was broadcasted on Yle.
Currently, she is working on two new short films, SORSAPAISTI and IMAGINARY NUMBERS.
short fiction
developed script
Young immigrant is unsuccessfully wooing a Finnish woman over the duck roast dinner, while behind the camera a young director is failing to communicate her idea to the crew.
Attached to the project: co-writer, director
Looking for: producer
Keywords: immigration, integration, filmmaking, animal welfare
feature fiction
synopsis
Serbo-Albanian couple develops a relationship during the four days between their arranged engagement and their televised wedding.
Attached to the project: co-writer, director
Looking for: producer, co-producer
Keywords: arranged marriage, ethnic tension, love, society
2020 DOG DAY, short film, writer/director/producer
2016 GIRLS WHO CUT THEIR HAIR SHORT, short documentary, writer/director/producer
INT. MARIA’S LIVING ROOM – DAY
Srna sits on her knees near Arttu’s dead body and puts her phone on the floor. It says “Maria Arttu” on the screen. She presses the speakerphone button. She looks a bit uncomfortable.
SRNA
Can you hear me?
MARIA (V.O.)
Yes.
SRNA
Good. What would you like me to say?
MARIA (V.O.)
Just a few kind words about Arttu…
Srna clears her throat. She turns her eyes from her phone to Arttu’s motionless body, but quickly looks away.
SRNA
(clears her throat again)
Arttu… was obedient and loyal dog…
Srna waits for reaction, unsure what to say, but there is none.
SRNA
(more confident and emotional as
her speech progresses)
Arttu liked to eat. He liked to sleep.
Arttu loved to play in the park with
other dogs… He loved truly
everyone…
Srna sniffs, close to tears.
SRNA
Excuse me… I’m just sad I hadn’t had
a chance to meet Arttu.
MARIA (V.O.)
I’m sure Arttu would’ve really liked
you.
SRNA
(sniffing)
Arttu lived a happy and fulfilling
life with people who loved him…
Maria now also sniffs (V.O.).
SRNA
(slowly finishing)
… and now he is happy in dog’s
heaven… grateful for the life he
had.
MARIA
(V.O. after a short moment)
There is no such thing as dog’s
heaven, of course, but he surely was
lucky that he was a Finnish dog…
Thank you Serena, that was a beautiful
speech!
SRNA
I’m glad I could do something for
Arttu.
MARIA (V.O.)
Yes… Actually, could you help with
one more thing?
Srna is caught off-guard for a short moment, still emotional from her speech.
SRNA
Yes. Sure.
MARIA (V.O.)
Here is what I need you to do…
Srna nods saying “yes”, even though Maria can’t see her.
“I don’t want to give you a gun to kill me. I’m giving you a spade, a spade.”
–
Taste of Cherry (1997)