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The magical city of Lisbon will host EuroPride in 2025 (Photo: Deensel / Wikimedia)

The Associated Press.EuroPride organizers and LGBTQ supporters celebrated the fact that the parade was held without large-scale violence as a success, given that opponents had tried to exert their power by compelling authorities to cancel the parade.The European Pride Organizers Association had originally chosen Serbia’s capital as the host city for EuroPride three years ago, in the hope that — like past EuroPride celebrations held in Poland and Latvia, two former Eastern bloc nations known for their social conservatism, in 2010 and 2015, respectively — a successful event would signal that Serbian society was more accepting of LGBTQ progress.Organizers had also hoped that a successful EuroPride would show the country was distancing itself from the more hardline anti-LGBTQ forces in the country, including church leaders, and could draw attention to the need for additional rights and protections for LGBTQ people in the country, including legal recognition of same-sex partnerships.Although several Pride marches have been held in Serbia over the past few years, they have not all been advertised to the extent that EuroPride was, and some of those events — especially the 2001 and 2010 Pride parades — had devolved into violence.Serbian police had banned the parade last week, citing concerns over potential violence from far-right activists and whether local police would have enough officers on hand. In the weeks prior to EuroPride’s opening ceremonies on Sept.

Thousands of LGBTQI activists and allies took to the streets of Belgrade for the EuroPride 2022 March on September 17, 2022, in the face of a police ban that was withdrawn at the eleventh hour and threats from right-wing Christian protesters. EuroPride 2022, hosted by Belgrade Pride, was hailed by  European Pride Organisers Association (EPOA) as the “most important in the event’s 30 year history”.  More than 7,000 police personnel were deployed to ensure the Parade passed off peacefully, after calls from homophobes to disrupt the event.  Police formed a protective corridor around the Pride participants as football hooligans, anti-gay right-wing and religious protesters threw projectiles and clashed, reported Balkan Insights. According to EPOA, several LGBTQI activists were attacked as they left the closing concert.

vowing to “curse” its attendees and saying that if he had a gun, he’d use it against people taking part in the event for flaunting and celebrating homosexuality. The far-right Zaventnici (Oathkeepers) political party also held a protest in August featuring tens of thousands of marchers calling on the Serbian government to cancel the parade.On Sunday, the day before EuroPride was scheduled to kick off, anti-Pride demonstrators, including biker gangs, far-right groups, and religious organizations held a rally “for marriage and the family” demanding the parade’s cancellation.Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has warned for weeks that the Pride march would be banned, arguing that police don’t have the manpower needed to protect Pride revelers from potential riots by right-wing groups.Serbian government officials, including Vucic and the country’s lesbian prime minister, Ana Brnabic, have said the country currently faces more pressing issues that need to be addressed, including attempts to broker a successful peace between the Serbian government and the breakaway province of Kosovo, and an energy crisis that has been exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, reports the Associated Press.“In the current geopolitical situation and tensions in the region, senseless clashes on the streets of Belgrade would make the position of our country more difficult, (and) endanger the safety of participants in the marches, as well as other citizens,” Serbian Interior Minister Aleksandar Vulin said in a statement.Serbia’s history and record on LGBTQ rights has been spotty.

Just days ahead of the event, Serbian authorities have banned the 2022 EuroPride Parade through the streets of the country’s capital Belgrade.Last month, the Serbian Church had called for armed attacks on LGBTQI people marching in EuroPride. Subsequently, Serbian president Aleksandar Vučić had called off the march citing “security concerns”. EuroPride organisers had said they would go ahead with the parade, but this week updated that police had banned the route of the Pride walk scheduled for September 17, 2022. Police bans EuroPride 2022 MarchToday, on September 13, the Serbian Police banned this year’s EuroPride March, by handing over the official notice to the organizers.

K.J. Yossman Visual effects and animation company Cinesite has acquired a majority stake in Balkans-based visual effects studio FX3X. FX3X, which works on both feature film and episodic television projects, has offices in Skopje and Belgrade. It was founded by Milivoje Gjorgjevikj and Kristijan Danilovski in 1997 and is one of Eastern Europe’s largest VFX houses. It also boasts a fully-equipped motion capture stage at its Skopje location. Among the credits the studio has worked on are “Thor Love & Thunder” and “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” The studio is currently at work on projects including “Star Trek: Picard” (season 3), “Peter Pan and Wendy” and “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.”

European Pride Organisers Association (EPOA) is insisting that EuroPride in Belgrade is not cancelled despite nationalists joining church protests and Serbian President Vučić announcing the cancellation.Three years ago, EPOA had chosen Belgrade as the host for the annual event for 2022. Vučić cancelled the event on the grounds of tensions in Kosovo, along with economic issues within the country.President of EPOA, Kristine Garina has stated that the event would have the opposite effect, boosting the economy.“EuroPride in Belgrade will not be cancelled and will bring together thousands of LGBTI+ people from across Europe with LGBTI+ people from Serbia and the wider western Balkans,” Garina said.The bullies she refers to are the right-wing anti-LGBTQ+ Serbians whose numbers have grown and have become vocal about their opposition to the pride event.Srbija za primer.

The defiant organisers of EuroPride 2022 say they will not accept the Serbian president’s shocking declaration that the event has been cancelled.

Manchester United will discover their Europa League group stage opponents for the coming season on Friday (August 26), with some potentially difficult ties awaiting them.

Christopher Vourlias Croatia’s Drugi Plan and Bulgaria’s Agitprop, two of the leading production outfits in Southeast Europe, have been attached to co-produce the upcoming drama series “Sabre,” a political thriller revolving around the 2003 assassination of Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic produced by Belgrade-based This and That Productions.Created by Goran Stanković and Vladimir Tagić, the series will star Serbian-Danish actress Danica Curcic, known to international audiences for her lead role in the Netflix psychological thriller “The Chestnut Man,” as a reporter investigating the shocking murder.The companies announced the deal on Monday at the Sarajevo Film Festival, where This and That’s “Bad Blood” and Drugi Plan’s “The Silence” were among the top Balkan drama series vying for Heart of Sarajevo TV Awards, which were handed out at a ceremony in the Bosnian capital on Sunday night. “Sabre” was first pitched in Sarajevo three years ago during the CineLink Drama co-financing forum, where it was named best drama project.

Christopher Vourlias Belgrade-based Firefly Productions has closed a raft of deals in the run-up to this year’s Sarajevo Film Festival, where the Serbian production powerhouse leads the pack with 19 nominations at the Heart of Sarajevo TV Awards, including best drama series nods for supernatural drama “Block 27” and psychological thriller “Black Wedding.”As Variety previously reported, Beta Film has acquired international distribution rights to “Block 27” (pictured), a science fiction-mystery series about the disappearance of a teenager in Belgrade. Firefly has also closed deals with Australian public broadcaster SBS on “Black Wedding,” which follows a government agent investigating a killing spree and its links to ancient folklore, and “The Family,” a five-part miniseries about the arrest of the former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milošević.

Christopher Vourlias Beta Film has added two new titles to its growing slate of titles from Central and Eastern Europe, acquiring international distribution rights to Serbian supernatural drama “Block 27” and the Czech crime series “Ultimatum,” the company announced on the eve of the Sarajevo Film Festival.Veronika Kovacova, Beta’s VP of international sales and acquisitions for Eastern Europe and Turkey, said the deals underscore the company’s continued commitment to the fast-growing region. “We are there for the creators, for the producers, to help them and to support what they want to produce,” she said.Directed by Momir Milosevic and Milica Tomovic, and produced by Belgrade-based Firefly Productions, “Block 27” is a science fiction-mystery that follows the disappearance of a teenager in Belgrade, and the search by his twin sister to find him—a journey that finds her traveling to another dimension.

Austria’s ORF Joins Big Budget Central Europe Drama Series ‘Rise Of The Raven’

Christopher Vourlias Principal photography is underway near Budapest on “Rise of the Raven,” an epic drama series produced by veteran Canadian producer Robert Lantos’ Serendipity Point Films (“Crimes of the Future”) and Beta Film (“Gomorrah”) that marks the most lavish TV production in Hungary’s history.Adapted from author Bán Mór’s bestselling novels, the 10-episode series tells the story of the Hungarian warrior Janos Hunyadi, who defeated the Ottoman army in 1456 at the Battle of Belgrade, halting its march across Europe.Lantos, whose producing credits include “The Sweet Hereafter,” “Johnny Mnemonic” and “Eastern Promises,” spoke exclusively with Variety about a passion project more than a decade in the making. He was joined by Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning director Robert Dornhelm (“The Children of Theater Street,” “Maria Theresa,” “War and Peace”) and Hungarian directors Attila Szász (“Tall Tales,” “Eternal Winter”) and Orsi Nagypal (“The Deal,” “The Outpost”), who joined the conversation fresh off shooting an epic battle sequence outside Budapest.

Here are your Manchester United morning headlines for Wednesday, June 8.

The scoreboard at the WACA lists an XI of the greatest Western Australian cricketers, with Dennis Lillee at the tail. Lillee used to pound the Perth crease and in the cool July climate another individual is embarking on sprints.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaMichelle Salcedo will direct “The Body,” a new thriller from Catalyst Studios. The film boasts a script from “Inside Man” and “Righteous Kill” writer Russel Gewirtz. Salcedo previously directed “Woman of the House.”Catalyst is the new banner from social entrepreneur Holly Levow, Mark Pennell and Paul Kampf.

'Allo 'Allo star Robin Parkinson has died at age 92.The esteemed comedian and actor passed peacefully with his family by his side. A statement issued on behalf of his devastated family said: "Robin Parkinson, actor, known for 'Allo 'Allo and as the voice of Button Moon, has died peacefully at the age of 92 with his wife and daughters by his side." The 92 year old rose to stardom in the 70s and 80s securing a place as a regular on TV screens.

EXCLUSIVE: U.S. production company Catalyst Studios is launching with a slate of female-fronted projects that will be repped for sales by Highland Entertainment Group.

Stefan Savic believes his move to Manchester City in 2011 came at a time when he "may not have been ready" for the challenge of playing in the Premier League.

Johnny Depp's most recent performances have included him taking on some notable projects. In Minamata he retold the story of an injustice against a Japanese community. In Waiting for Barbarians he played a cruel Colonel battling against indigenous people in an unnamed empire.

Johnny Depp is now the proud recipient of Serbia’s medal of honour, presented to him by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić in Belgrade Tuesday.

Christopher Vourlias Belgrade-based Firefly Productions, one of the leading producers of high-end drama in the former Yugoslavia, is launching two new series as part of its slate at this year’s European Film Market.“The V Effect” is an eight-episode drama series inspired by the real-life case of an actor who commits suicide on stage during a live theater production. After the renowned actor’s death, Inspector Sorga will try to find out whether it was an unfortunate accident, a suicide – or possibly murder.“Domestic (Violence)” is a six-part true-crime anthology series set in a small town in Serbia.

Dusan Vlahovic has broken silence on his January switch to Juventus amid 'interest' from Manchester City.

Manchester United were rarely beaten at Old Trafford under Sir Alex Ferguson, never mind completely outclassed.

John James revealed he took "method acting" to a "new level" after he was rushed to the hospital while in Serbia filming for the upcoming Hunter Biden biopic. James, 65, took a tumble Saturday at a top Belgrade restaurant while he was off-set.The incident resulted in a head injury.  The actor, who is portraying President Joe Biden in "My Son Hunter," pointed to "method acting" as the reason for his injury.

Davide Abbatescianni Swiss sales outfit Lightdox has acquired “Museum of the Revolution,” the feature debut of U.S.-based, Serbian director Srđan Keča, ahead of its world premiere in IDFA’s Luminous strand, Variety has learned.The documentary is set in Belgrade, where, in 1961, there were plans to build a grand museum as a tribute to Socialist Yugoslavia. Meant to “safeguard the truth” about the Yugoslav people, the plan never got beyond the construction of the basement.

wore during her final concert in 2011 raked in $243,200 at auction over the weekend.The green-and-black dress, which was designed by Winehouse’s stylist Naomi Parry, was initially expected to raise between $15,000 and $17,000. Winehouse’s garment was worn at her last performance in Belgrade, Serbia, in June 2011.

Amy Winehouse wore during her final stage performance has sold for more than $243,000 (£180,000) at an auction of items from her estate.The late singer-songwriter wore the halter mini-dress in Belgrade in June 2011, a month before she died aged 27.

Amy Winehouse for her final stage performance has sold at auction for £180,000, 16 times more than the original estimate. The halter-neck mini dress, which was designed by stylist Naomi Parry, features neon green and black stripes.

JD Linville Gritty crime drama “Awake” is the first Serbian series to be in the official selection at Canneseries. It follows Sonja Kljun, a cold-yet-caring detective relegated from her case in Belgrade to the small city of Subotica where she must work with her new partner to solve a seemingly open-and-shut suicide.

Christopher Vourlias “Rise of the Raven” Producers: Robert Lantos (Serendipity Point Films) and Tibor Krsko Showrunner: George Mihalka Synopsis: An epic drama series about Janos Hunyadi, a fearless warrior who defeated the vast Ottoman army and defended Europe in 1456 at the Battle of Belgrade.

Mirror: 'It's just as popular out there as it is here. A local DJ said it was the only thing that made them smile during their terrible wars.

Alissa Simon Film CriticSerbian director Stefan Arsenijević is competing for Karlovy Vary Film Festival’s Crystal Globe with his second feature, “As Far As I Can Walk.” It’s a surprising and exhilarating blend of contemporary refugee story, love triangle and medieval Serbian poem.Arsenijević’s hometown Belgrade marks an important point on the Balkan migrant route. A few years ago, he could see thousands of new refugees arriving every day.

Guy Lodge Film CriticThe year is 1993, and Yugoslavia is dead. Long live the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, though that, too, will only last another 10 years.

coronavirus rules eased, Nemanja Dragic, 36, said he can't open his balcony door without a thunderous cacophony bursting into his apartment. He used his savings to install a thicker door and sturdier windows, desperate to muffle the sounds coming from over a dozen bars and clubs.Dragic's apartment overlooks a downtown Belgrade street that is one of the hot spots in a European capital with a reputation for partying after dark.