OMI presents the film screening of Hotel Jugoslavija as part of the exhibition Monuments of the Collective: Yugoslavian Brutalism by photographer Rob ’t Hart. The documentary film narrates the life of the famous building, and its controversial future, through the eyes of Yugoslavian-born Swiss film director Nicolas Wagnières.

Hotel Jugoslavija, built in 1969 in Belgrade, embodied the modern ideals of the new Yugoslavian nation. Built as the largest, most luxurious and elegant hotel in the country, it attracted international celebrities and high officials visiting Belgrade, as president Tito included the hotel in his official protocol. Its gradual collapse through the 80s and 90s, led to its closure in 2000, and only partially reopened afterwards.

The film is an example of the challenges faced by forgotten monuments. Despite national and international push-back declaring the hotel a historical monument worth preserving, others look forward to new possibilities upon the ruin. Last year, demolition started to replace the famous hotel by a luxury chain-hotel and high-rise residential towers.

Join us at Leeszaal for the screening with short introduction by OMI, before returning to an exhibition viewing of Monuments of the Collective: Yugoslavian Brutalism at OMI.