As the calendar flipped to 1986, a pivotal moment arrived for her, as she took the first step towards a lifelong journey of academic exploration, opting to enroll in the esteemed Faculty of Economics at the University of Ljubljana, a renowned institution of higher learning, where she would embark on a path of intellectual discovery and growth. This marked the beginning of a remarkable period of scholarly development, which would eventually lead to her acceptance into the prestigious program of film direction in the culturally rich and cinematically storied city of Prague.
As a student, she displayed an extraordinary natural talent for filmmaking, accumulating a substantial portfolio of short films and documentaries that not only highlighted her technical expertise but also revealed a profound understanding of the art form. Her academic achievements culminated in the completion of her studies, after which she returned to her homeland of Slovenia, where she embarked on a new venture, founding her own theater group, Burgerteater, in the year 1997.
As a trailblazing creative force, she collaborated with Burgerteater to conceive and develop two groundbreaking original plays, "Piki and Romi" (1997) and "Mrs. Margareta" (1999),showcasing her versatility and artistic range. Additionally, she contributed to an impressive array of over one hundred improvised performances, consistently pushing the boundaries of her craft and cementing her status as a visionary and accomplished artist.
In the year 1997, a significant milestone was reached as she embarked on a new chapter in her career, transitioning from a background in short films to the world of feature filmmaking. This pivotal moment marked the beginning of an exciting journey, as she took the reins to direct her debut feature film, V leru, which was subsequently showcased at the prestigious Karlovi Vari Film Festival in the Czech Republic in 1999.
This groundbreaking film, V leru, would go on to make a profound impact on the world of cinema, garnering an astonishing 20 awards and receiving widespread international recognition. The film's success was not limited to its critical acclaim, as it was also screened at an impressive 60 film festivals worldwide, further solidifying its status as a landmark achievement in the world of filmmaking.
V leru's triumph in her initial cinematic endeavour instigated a chain reaction of creative fervour, culminating in the conception of her sophomore feature film, Ruševine. This highly anticipated motion picture, released in 2002, would go on to accumulate a staggering 13 prestigious accolades within the Slovenian film community, while its international debut at the esteemed Rotterdam Film Festival in 2005 would catapult it onto the global cinematic stage, introducing V leru's unique vision to a broader audience.
In the year 2009, a pioneering production house was established by a visionary individual, alongside the talented Jani Cvitkovič, and was subsequently named STARAGARA. This innovative venture marked the beginning of a new chapter in the career of this esteemed filmmaker, as she embarked on a journey to bring her creative vision to life. One of her earliest and most notable projects was the film Odgrobadogroba, also known as From-grave-to-grave, which showcased her exceptional storytelling abilities and artistic flair.
As her career continued to flourish, she went on to collaborate with other renowned filmmakers and producers from Slovenia, Ireland, Finland, and Sweden on her third feature film, Circus Fantasticus. This ambitious project was made possible through the generous support of the European film council EURIMAGES, a testament to the filmmaker's ability to bring people together and drive creative projects forward.
The completion of Circus Fantasticus in 2010 was a significant milestone in her illustrious career as a filmmaker, solidifying her position as a leading figure in the industry and cementing her reputation as a master storyteller.
