Montenegro has the potential to develop in the field of creative industries and become a film destination, but more work is necessary in this regard, said Ambassador of Great Britain Karen Maddox from the CIM Forum.
I think that Montenegro has great potential in creating creative economies. Your economy should be more diverse and not only dependent on tourism. It will involve a lot of work, it will not happen by accident. Your beautiful sea will not attract filmmakers. You need the infrastructure and talents that certainly exist, but also the support of the Government – Maddox said. She added that Montenegro already has the full support of Great Britain in the development of creative economies.
Great Britain is a very good example of how the Government created the right conditions with the strategic goal of creating a creative economy, and we are happy to share that experience with Montenegro – said the Great Britain ambassador.
The Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, Goran Đurović, said that the Government has the will to create a creative sector.
When you start a steel industry you need hundreds of millions to invest, and in creative industries you need pen and paper. I think we have people who can bring a global product. We need to think globally. Making sure that the creative industry gets a special place and let’s see how to finance and promote it, because I am convinced that it will return to Montenegro many times over – said Đurović.
On the topic of the creative economy and the importance of the film industry, experts in these fields from Great Britain spoke at the CIM Forum, with the support of the British Council. They answered the question of how to encourage the development of the creative sector in Montenegro based on the experience from Great Britain.
You have a beautiful country with a special culture. You have many young people who want to express their creativity. We need to create opportunities for them to express themselves, and this is how the creative sector is created. You must also have the participation of the Government, and the arrival of the minister shows that there is a desire for it – says John Newbigin, an expert in the field of creative industries. He adds that he is sure that Montenegro can be a film destination.
But you should not be a destination for foreign films, but for your own, and that is very important. I like Kotor, how can I not like it? The CIM Forum is a fantastic idea and the fact that people from the whole region are coming is a great thing – said Newbigin.
The director of the Film Center, Aleksandra Božović, is happy that she received answers from the leading experts from Great Britain about what Montenegro needs to do in the development of creative industries.
We should understand that what is our uniqueness and diversity can be our advantage not only at the national and regional level, but at the global level.
I think we are already a film destination. Especially since this panel takes place within the CIM Forum in Kotor, which is one of the most cinematic cities and there is no one who came here without reacting like our guests who were delighted with it – Božović concluded.
