Writer & Researcher
Dunja
Jelenkovic
Specialising in film festivals and cultural memory of conflict.
Dunja
I am a cultural historian specialising in film festivals, conflict and cultural memory.
My research examines the role of film festivals in contexts of political upheaval and war, with a particular focus on their function as sites of memory-making, political influence and gendered representation.
As the author of the first scholarly study on women in wartime film festivals, my work contributes to defining an emerging research area at the intersection of film festival, border, gender and conflict studies.
I live between France, Italy, Serbia and Canada, with research regularly taking me to archives across Europe and North America.
Selected Work
Research Projects
Academic research in cultural history.
Marie Curie Research project
FESTWAR FM: Film Festivals and War: A Fe-Male Perspective (1939-today)
Explore more
Marie Curie Research project
CBA TRIESTE: The Cinematic Battle for the Adriatic: Films, Frontiers, and the Trieste Crisis
Explore more
Publications
Academic work in cinema, cultural and political history
A curated body of work discussing film festivals, territorial conflicts and cultural memory.
Books
Monographs and edited collections.
Articles
Peer-reviewed academic articles.
Book Chapters
Peer-reviewed chapters in edited collections.
Other Publications
Selected writings engaging with contemporary academic and cultural debates.
Expertise & Guidance
Expert Advisory
I offer tailored advisory services for EU-funded programmes, working across research, culture and innovation. As an independent expert adviser, I support both academic projects in the social sciences and humanities and projects in the cultural and creative sectors.
I take on two complimentary roles: I advise individuals and institutions on proposal development, and I contribute to the evaluation of projects for funding bodies. These roles are carried out in accordance with the principles required to avoid conflicts of interest.
Selected Events
Lectures, conferences and public talks
A selection of lectures, conferences and public engagements across film, history and cultural research.
Conference
Ca’ Foscari University of Venice
Film Festivals: Borders, Identities, Solidarities
Explore more
Book launch
Dom omladine, Belgrade
Yugoslav Documentary and Short Film Festival, 1954 – 2004. From Yugoslav Socialism to Serbian Nationalism
Explore moreNotes
Personal writing and reflections
A space for writing beyond academic publications, exploring ideas, experiences and research in a more personal form.
Personal Statement
April 19, 2026
My academic work has been largely shaped by my personal, transnational, experience and the duality of my professional background, which has involved me regularly traversing industry and academia.
Collaborations
Partners & Institutions
Collaborating with universities, research centres and cultural institutions in Europe and North America.
And more…