His name Ognjen (O-gni-en) is a Serbian adjective meaning fiery or ardent.
Born in 1988. MA in Film Directing. Splits his time between Cologne and Belgrade, working across film and commercials.
Author of several acclaimed short fiction films, currently developing his first feature-length film.
His work carries a palpable, visceral quality, driven by an instinct for human truth and a sharp sense of humor. At the core is a performance-driven process, where authentic emotions and raw presence come to life through close collaboration with actors.
Beyond his professional work, he explores personal projects such as “Kino-Haiku,” a short film form he created to celebrate the poetic side of cinema.
His best ideas often appear unexpectedly, during walks in nature or while fishing.
Industry & Learning
In advertising, he has collaborated with agencies including Leo Burnett, Publicis, Saatchi & Saatchi, McCann, and Communis.
He has taken part in a number of international film workshops and development programs, including First Films First (Goethe-Institut’s program for debut feature directors from Southeast Europe), Sarajevo Talent Campus, Eastweek Script Campus at the Trieste Film Festival, and the “5x5x5” documentary residence in Switzerland.
Alongside his directing work, Ognjen is pursuing a PhD at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade. He is a member of the Association of Film Directors of Serbia, where he also serves on the Executive Board.