Heretic is positioning this as an acquisition that brings urgent, politically-charged international cinema to global audiences. The company frames 'Until the Day Ends' as essential viewing—a debut filmmaker making waves before the film even premieres. The spin emphasizes artistic merit and cultural relevance rather than controversy.
Insiders note that Serbia's student protest movement has been generating serious buzz in European cinema circles for months. There's talk that Maksimović captured footage of actual demonstrations, which could either elevate the film to must-see status or land it in hot water depending on how governments react. Distribution companies have been circling this one aggressively.
Heretic acquired WORLD RIGHTS to 'Until the Day Ends.' The film is scheduled for its WORLD PREMIERE at Venice's Horizons section in September 2026. Director Jelena Maksimović's fiction feature debut stars Lena Trifunović as protagonist Lena, an anarchist character.
This acquisition signals that Heretic is betting big on politically-charged international content. With Serbia's student protests providing real-world ammunition and Venice serving as the launchpad, 'Until the Day Ends' could become either a critical darling or a lightning rod for controversy—or both.
Heretic has secured world rights to "Until the Day Ends," Jelena Maksimović's fiction feature debut set against the charged backdrop of Serbia's student protests. The film will celebrate its world premiere in September as part of Venice's prestigious Horizons section, marking a major launchpad for both the director and the distribution company that picked it up. The drama follows Lena, played by Lena Trifunović, described as an anarchist navigating the turbulent landscape of youth-driven protest movements.
Maksimović, making her fiction feature debut, appears to have tapped into real-world unrest that's been simmering in Serbia—the student demonstrations have become a significant cultural flashpoint in recent years. Sources close to the production suggest the film doesn't shy away from the intensity and chaos of those protests. Heretic's acquisition strategy here is clear: they're betting that audiences hungry for politically urgent cinema will gravitate toward a film with genuine contemporary relevance.
The Venice Horizons section has long served as a launching pad for films with something to say, and "Until the Day Ends" enters the lineup already generating industry chatter about its raw approach to civil unrest storytelling. What's notable is the timing—Serbia's student movement has drawn international attention, making any film that captures that energy particularly timely. Whether Maksimović's debut becomes a critical sensation or finds itself at the center of political debate remains to be seen, but Heretic clearly believes they have a winner on their hands. The world premiere in Venice this September will determine whether the hype translates into actual acclaim.
