Dragan Vildovic celebrated the screening of his film Our Father featured at the Toronto International Film Festival.
By: Majdulina Hamed | Published October 13, 2025
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Dragan Vildovic, a visiting instructor at the Nicholson School of Communication and Media, is celebrating a career milestone: the screening of his film Our Father at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).
The film was featured in the Discovery program, which highlights bold, distinctive films from emerging global filmmakers and serves as a platform for them to launch their careers on an international stage. This program has introduced audiences to some of the most acclaimed filmmakers of our time, including Alfonso Cuarón, Christopher Nolan, and Barry Jenkins.
“The fact that Our Father was shown in the Discovery program means a lot to me,” Vildovic says. “This platform has launched filmmakers whose work I deeply admire, and to be included among them is an incredible honor.”
Our Father, directed by Goran Stanković, is inspired by true events that occurred in Vildovic’s home country of Serbia and shares the journey of an addict who enters a remote Serbian monastery rehabilitation facility.
For Vildovic, he says the project was both personal and artistically challenging.
“What really drew me in was the challenge of finding a visual way to explore feelings, faith, and authority—and to bring that experience closer to the audience,” he says.
Working on the film presented unique challenges, particularly with its modest budget of less than $200,000 and only 23 days to shoot the film. Vildovic says he and his team had to be resourceful and intentional with every choice.
“The biggest challenges were definitely budget and time,” Vildovic says. “We had to use what we already had in the best possible way to still tell the story visually in a strong and compelling manner.”
Collaboration was essential to the film’s visual storytelling. Vildovic worked closely with production design, costume, and makeup teams to build a world that felt authentic and true to the narrative.
“The image we create isn’t just about light and camera; it’s also about everything that helps tell the story honestly,” he says.
Unlike many commercial projects he’s worked on, Vildovic says Our Father gave him the freedom to prioritize storytelling over market pressures. It was a project that allowed him to focus entirely on artistic expression.
“The film wasn’t restricted by producer demands, market pressures, or commercial goals,” he says. “It gave me the freedom to explore and express myself creatively.”
At NSCM, Vildovic brings these lessons into the classroom, reminding students that creativity is not limited by money or equipment.
“This film is a perfect example that you don’t need a huge budget to tell a story visually,” he said. “Your creativity doesn’t come from money or the latest gear; it comes from you.”
For students who are interested in pursuing cinematography, Vildovic offers his advice.
“If you choose to enter this world of cinema, go into it with your whole heart and enjoy the ride,” he said.
Readers can watch the trailer for Our Father on YouTube.