When Love Me star, Bojana Novakovic travels from Hollywood to rural Serbia to explore the life of the eccentric, tormented aunt she was never allowed to know, she is forced to face secrets about the women in her family and about herself as well. The result is a rousing documentary about the survival of four generations of women in the face of patriarchal violence.
2026
The Forbidden Aunt
2026
The Forbidden Aunt
Australian Premiere.
Guest in attendance.
Director
Bojana Novakovic
Runtime
82 Minutes
Country
Australia
Classification
Unclassified 15+
In a world overflowing with soap operas, one Serbian family proves reality can be just as extraordinary.
After a painful breakup, actress-turned-filmmaker Bojana Novakovic leaves Hollywood and returns to rural Serbia, hoping to reconnect with her estranged Aunt Gordana. Instead, she uncovers family secrets that reveal how violence, silence and trauma have shaped four generations of women.
Once the family's black sheep, Gordana lived many lives - hairdresser, mother, alcoholic, widow, successful salon owner and, eventually, caregiver. Bojana had long seen her aunt as a symbol of resilience. But as she films, that story begins to unravel, exposing difficult truths about abuse, addiction and the lasting consequences of generational trauma and patriarchal violence.
Blending dark humour, family conflict and the heightened style of the Turkish soap operas Gordana loves, The Forbidden Aunt evolves from an intimate portrait into an exploration of inherited trauma, resilience and the possibility of breaking cycles that have endured across generations.
Sarajevo
Film Credits
Director
Bojana Novakovic
Year
2026
Country
Australia
Language
English & Serbian
Subtitles
English
Type
Feature Documentary
Program Strand
Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund
Producer
Milan Stojanovic, Bojana Novakovic & Danielle Redford
Writer
Bojana Novakovic
Cinematographer
Bojana Novakovic
Editor
Sonja Bozic & Dragan Petrovic
Music
Janja Loncar & Vasil Hadzimanov
Genre
Documentary, Family & Women
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