Woven Energy
Woven Energy
This short film by Nemanja Jovanović explores the world of Serbia’s traditional carpet weavers, the artisans behind the iconic Pirot kilims—intricately woven rugs known for their geometric patterns, natural dyes, and centuries-old craftsmanship. Filmed inside working ateliers, the documentary reveals the meticulous process of hand-weaving each carpet on wooden looms, where every motif carries cultural meaning and every thread is placed with precision and care.
Through the weavers’ dedication and artistry, the film highlights a living tradition that has shaped Serbian cultural identity for generations. Their work preserves not only the beauty of the Pirot rug but also the heritage, symbolism, and storytelling woven into every design.
Film Maker
Nemanja Jovanović
Serbia
Nemanja Jovanović is an artist, filmmaker, and videographer from Novi Sad, Serbia. His work is deeply rooted in movement, shaped by years of filming dancers, circus performers, and extreme sports such as parkour and motorcycle riding.
Educated at a circus school in Paris and trained in theatre, he brings a performer’s sensitivity and physical understanding into his filmmaking. This background allows him to approach film not just as a visual medium, but as a living choreography of bodies, space, and emotion.
Drawn to raw physical expression and the poetry of motion, his films explore the intersection of discipline, risk, and inner states — translating movement into cinematic language.
Film Master
Slavica Ćirić
- Craft
- Carpet Weaver
- Country
- Serbia
Born in 1960 in Pirot, Serbia, she comes from a long line of skilled craftsmen and craftswomen from Stara Planina. Raised in a family of potters, builders, carpenters, and master weavers, she was surrounded by traditional knowledge from an early age, learning through everyday life and practice.
Nearly forty years later, she rediscovered this inherited knowledge by founding the association GRLICA, dedicated to preserving old and artistic crafts. Through her work, she recognized that Pirot rug weaving was the most endangered craft and began actively working on its preservation through training, production, and community projects.
Her skills—rooted in heritage and refined through decades of lived experience—span weaving,embroidery, pottery, and traditional construction. Since 2005, her work has been widely recognized with numerous awards for her contribution to safeguarding intangible cultural heritage.