Nataša Burger
Birth : 1968-01-20, Ljubljana, Slovenia
History
In 1986, she started studying at Faculty of Economics, University of Ljubljana, which lasted until she was accepted to study film direction in Prague. During her student years, she finished multiple short films and documentaries. After her graduation, she returned to Slovenia where she founded her own theater group called Burgerteater in 1997. Together, the members created two plays: Piki and Romi (1997), Mrs. Margareta (1999) and over a hundred improvised performances.
In 1997, she directed her first feature film V leru. Its premiere took place in 1999 as a part of the competition in Karlovi Vari, Czech Republic. The film had received 20 different awards and was later screened at over 60 other festivals.
In 2002, she recorded her second film Ruševine (Ruins, 2002), which received 13 awards in Slovenia. The first international screening happened in Rotterdam in 2005.
She formed her own production house called STARAGARA together with Jani Cvitkovič and they soon produced a film called Odgrobadogroba (From-grave-to-grave). In 2009, the directed her third feature film Circus Fantasticus, which was a collaboration among Slovenia, Ireland, Finland and Sweden and was financed by European film council EURIMAGES. The film was finished in 2010.
Helena
Lucija, quiet and shy 15-year-old girl, enters the prominent Ljubljana’s Catholic high-school. If she meets her mother’s expectations about the grades, she will be awarded summer holidays at her aunt in Paris – a dream she has been having for years. Never having been practicing music, Lucija is surprised to be invited to join the school’s prominent girls’ chamber choir – a privilege offered to only the most talented first-year students. In the choir, Lucija meets the second year’s most popular and charismatic girl, Ana-Marija. After an intensive singing weekend at the convent, the two become friends.
Herself
This film is a homage to the life, career and fears of Slovenian actor Peter Musevski. He was always Pero for me, not Peter.
Mozakarjeva žena
The focus is on the disintegration of an idyllic relationship between parents, Marko and Dunja. This is due to a lack of respect, caused by loss of employment and a financial breakdown. In time, the parents are no longer able to bear their burden, which is thus increasingly weighing their children down. In Slovenia, the story from The Basics of Killing occurs on a daily basis, but it could happen anywhere. To those familiar with the phenomenon, the film will be a painful experience, to others, may it be a warning.
Roza Anzelowna
The account of keepers of the Warsaw Zoo, Jan and Antonina Zabinski, who helped save hundreds of people and animals during the Nazi invasion.
Mother in waiting room
North Carolina mountains at the end of the 1920s – George and Serena Pemberton, love-struck newly-weds, begin to build a timber empire. Serena soon proves herself to be equal to any man: overseeing loggers, hunting rattle-snakes, even saving a man’s life in the wilderness. With power and influence now in their hands, the Pembertons refuse to let anyone stand in the way of their inflated love and ambitions. However, once Serena discovers George’s hidden past and faces an unchangeable fate of her own, the Pemberton’s passionate marriage begins to unravel leading toward a dramatic reckoning.
Prijateljica
The pursuit of happiness, 22 years later.
On New Year's Day, two preteen boys wind up in the apartment of Katerina, a teacher from their school, along with her friends, Stepan and David. As the older trio bickers, drinks and flirts, the boys gain eye-opening insight into the adult world.
lázeňská recepční
Johanka
Jirka, Roman, and Ivan have been friends since school. Today they are about 35 and, although they went into different fields, their friendship has lasted. Each of the three friends hides a secret, and their lives change radically when the secrets come out. How will the three friends stand up to the tests they are forced to face? Will their friendship survive?
Ema
A successful stage director plans to put on an outdoor production of a previously unknown play by a famous writer, but is haunted by his past in the form of the actors and crew with whom he has to work.
After cheating on his wife with a prostitute, Peter must try and forge ahead with his idyllic family surroundings while carrying the guilt, but that doesn't stop his wandering eye or the temptation to do it again. Meanwhile, his wife Katarina receives mysterious text messages that might be indicative of her own indiscretions. As the two drift further apart while living in secret, their teenage daughter takes after their behavior while exploring her own sexuality, careful not to divulge too much information to her parents. A portrait of a family in a constant state of calm before the inevitable storm of discontent and discovered lies.
Miluška
Milan and Goran are two criminals who smuggle illegal immigrants. One night after they complete a smuggle, they discover that one of the immigrants has left a baby behind. Milan and Goran decide to sell the baby to Lubos and Eman, who are responsible for running an illegal baby adoption center. Lubos and Eman make attempts to sell the baby to Miluska and Frantisek, a barren couple.
Tonetova mati
Egon Vittori (Janko Mandic) is thirteen years old and does not have a record player. It is the beginning of the seventies and Yugoslavia seems to be the land of prosperity. Goods are being imported from the West, and these include American music, films and fashion. Everybody but Egon owns a record player. Finding his path among his family members, hippie owners of music records, schoolmates, teachers, communists and dissidents. Egon gets his record player in the end. And grows up somewhere along the way. Written by (Slovenian film fund)
Marina
Dizzy is a perennial student living in a small double room in a hostel. He never seems to study, but spends his time sleeping, watching TV, and drinking. Marko, a studious freshman from the country, is assigned to the other bed in the room, and he is soon joined by his young, very pregnant, girlfriend Ana. Meanwhile, Dizzy's girlfriend Marina is trying to get Dizzy to make a commitment, but he would prefer to continue his idle ways.
