According to Serbian Economist, the Ukrainian documentary “Night Shift,” directed by Megumi Lim, has been selected for the competition program of the 39th Herceg Novi Film Festival, which will take place in Montenegro from August 22 to 28, 2026.
The festival’s documentary section will feature 26 films by filmmakers from various countries. Of these, 24 films will compete for the “Golden Mimosa” award, while two others will be screened out of competition. Screenings of the documentary program will take place from August 23 to 27 in the courtyard of writer Ivo Andrić’s house.
Ukraine will be represented by the film *Night Shift*, shot in 2025. Its director is Megumi Lim, a documentary filmmaker and journalist based in Kyiv who previously worked with international media outlets in Japan and China.
The 29-minute film tells the story of people who continue to work in Kharkiv during the nighttime curfew. The film’s protagonists are employees of public services and businesses who keep the city functioning amid regular Russian attacks. The filmmakers show how the war has changed Kharkiv’s nightlife and how residents maintain their usual rhythm despite the threats.
“Night Shift” marks Megumi Lim’s debut short documentary. In 2025, the film won the Audience Choice Award at the Kyiv International Short Film Festival and was also screened at several international film festivals.
The festival program in Herceg Novi also features documentaries from the United States, Norway, Greenland, Chad, Palestine, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Germany, Iran, the United Kingdom, Azerbaijan, Finland, France, Spain, Switzerland, Portugal, Colombia, Serbia, Georgia, Sweden, and Montenegro.
Vladimir Perović, the documentary program’s selector, noted that this year’s program focuses on the war in Ukraine, the situations in Palestine and Bosnia, climate change, the legacy of colonialism, historical memory, the status of women, and the challenges of coming of age.
The festival will take place under the slogan “All the Colors of Cinema” at several venues in Herceg Novi. In addition to the documentary section, the program includes regional feature-length films, European cinema, student films, television series, and events for film industry professionals.
According to “Serbian Economist”, a South Korean consortium led by Incheon International Airport Corporation has withdrawn from the process of awarding a 30-year concession to operate the international airports in Podgorica and Tivat.
On July 18, the Montenegrin government announced that it had received an official letter stating the consortium’s withdrawal from further participation in the process. The reasons for the South Korean side’s decision have not yet been disclosed. The government stated that it does not intend to completely abandon the idea of bringing in a private operator, but will not agree to terms that could conflict with the public interest.
Incheon had been considered the winner of the tender. In April 2026, the Montenegrin government decided to proceed with signing a concession agreement with the South Korean consortium. The proposal called for a one-time payment to the state of 100 million euros, an annual transfer of 35% of the airports’ gross revenue, and approximately 300 million euros in mandatory investments over 30 years. The total financial benefit for the state was estimated at over 1 billion euros.
The investment program was to include terminal expansions, modernization of runway and apron infrastructure, implementation of new passenger service systems, and increases in airport capacity. However, the draft agreement was criticized for lacking a detailed breakdown of the €300 million in investments by individual phases and for making part of the work contingent on the state resolving property issues.
Incheon’s withdrawal poses several risks for Montenegro. The main one is a further delay in the modernization of airports that are strategically important for tourism. An increase in passenger traffic without the expansion of terminals and aprons could exacerbate queues, infrastructure overload, and seasonal disruptions, especially in Tivat.
The country also risks losing out on the planned one-time payment of 100 million euros and delaying the attraction of 300 million euros in private investment. A repeat tender or negotiations with another bidder could take a long time, and new financial terms may prove less favorable.
Reputational uncertainty is another negative factor. If the selected investor withdraws after the government has already made its decision, this could raise questions among other international operators regarding the terms of the tender, legal certainty, and the speed of approval for major infrastructure projects in Montenegro.
In June 2025, Serbian Finance Minister Sinisa Mali stated that Belgrade was interested in managing the airports in Podgorica and Tivat and was prepared to offer significant investments. However, Montenegrin authorities reported at the time that no official bid had been received from Serbia as part of the ongoing tender process.
According to Serbian Economist, Montenegro’s potential accession to the European Union by 2028 could become a new factor driving up real estate prices in the country, especially in the premium segment along the coast.
According to market experts, investors have about two years left to invest in Montenegrin properties before the country’s EU status ultimately locks in higher prices. Over the 20 years of Montenegro’s independence, the average cost of coastal real estate has risen from approximately 1,000 euros per square meter to 8,000–15,000 euros per square meter in premium branded residences.
Ana Zloković, sales director for the Luštica Bay complex, believes that, based on the experience of other countries in the region, potential EU accession could boost Montenegro’s real estate market by another 30% or so. According to her, the mere anticipation of membership is already driving up demand.
Kieran Kelleher, Managing Director of Savills Croatia & Montenegro, offers a more cautious assessment. He anticipates price increases of 30–40% for certain properties but warns that the era when investors could easily double their money in Montenegrin real estate is over. In his view, the market has already factored some of its future potential into current prices.
Experts cite not only the fact of European integration itself but also infrastructure modernization as the main driver of further growth. Montenegro is currently held back by poor roads, outdated airports, and overloaded border crossings, and resolving these issues could take at least five years. Improved transportation access is expected to increase tourist traffic and boost the value of resort real estate.
Analysts identify the “golden triangle” of Kotor–Tivat–Herceg Novi as the most promising area. In the Bay of Kotor, prices in the premium segment range from 4,000 to 15,000 euros per square meter. Stone houses in the Old Town of Kotor, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are of particular interest: such properties are scarce, suitable for rental, and, according to experts, better protected against depreciation.
On the Budva Riviera, the price range is estimated at 3,000–12,000 euros per square meter; however, experts warn of the risks of market oversaturation and excessive development in Budva. Bar and Ulcinj remain more affordable destinations, with prices around 2,000–5,000 euros per square meter and potentially higher growth rates due to their low starting point.
The factor of European integration for Montenegro has indeed strengthened. According to the Council of the EU, the country applied for membership in 2008, received candidate status in 2010, and accession negotiations began in 2012. All 33 negotiation chapters have already been opened, 16 of which were provisionally closed as of mid-June 2026.
In addition, the 28th Intergovernmental Conference on Montenegro’s accession is scheduled to take place in Brussels on July 14, at which it is planned to provisionally close negotiations on Chapters 8—Competition—and 29—Customs Union. This confirms that Montenegro remains the most advanced candidate for EU accession among the countries of the Western Balkans.
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According to The Serbian Economist, people in British politician Nigel Farage’s inner circle have developed significant business and political interests in Montenegro in recent years, a country that Prime Minister Milojko Spajić wants to promote as a hub for the crypto industry, the Financial Times reports.
According to the publication, several individuals linked to Farage and the Reform UK party have shown interest in Montenegro. Among them are crypto investor Christopher Harborn, former Reform UK treasurer Mehrtash Azami, Farage’s former communications director Hayward Taylor, and longtime adviser George Cottrell. The publication attributes their interest in the country to its low costs, favorable climate, supportive stance toward the crypto sector, and the political opportunities offered by this small Balkan economy.
Harborne, who had previously transferred 5 million pounds to Farage, registered the company Longevity Biotech Systems in Tivat in 2023, while Azami and Tauler also established business entities in that city. According to the publication, Cotrall has long been active in Montenegro through the consulting firm Geostrategy; his lawyers have denied allegations related to his alleged support of political campaigns in the country.
Montenegro has become particularly attractive to such players amid Prime Minister Milojko Spajić’s push to develop the crypto industry. Spajić has promoted the idea that cryptocurrency mining and trading could become a significant part of the country’s economy.
Interest in Montenegro is also growing due to its European prospects. The country applied for EU membership in 2008, received candidate status in 2010, and accession negotiations began in 2012. According to the Council of the EU, Montenegro has opened all 33 negotiation chapters and, as of mid-June 2026, has provisionally closed 16 of them, remaining the most advanced candidate for EU accession.
Nigel Farage is one of the most prominent British Euroskeptic politicians, the former leader of UKIP, and the current leader of Reform UK. For many years, he was one of the leading public advocates of Brexit. According to the official website of the British Parliament, Farage served as the Member of Parliament for the Clacton constituency from July 4, 2024, and left the House of Commons on July 8, 2026.
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Montenegro’s economy will demonstrate average annual growth rates of around 3% in 2027–2031, according to an updated forecast by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
According to data from the Serbian Economist Telegram channel, these rates will be higher than the average figures both for European Union countries and for eurozone states, where more moderate economic growth is expected during the period under review.
Experts note that Montenegro is maintaining its position as one of Europe’s most dynamically developing economies, although it is not yet among the regional leaders in terms of growth rates. In their opinion, in order to accelerate economic development and reduce the gap with the most developed EU countries, the country needs to increase the volume of investment in the manufacturing sector, digital technologies, innovation, and other industries with high added value.
At present, the main drivers of Montenegro’s economy remain tourism, construction, and the services sector. However, economic diversification and the development of industrial production are regarded as key conditions for ensuring sustainable long-term growth and increasing the country’s competitiveness.
According to Serbian Economist, the silver stickleback—Lagocephalus sceleratus, a poisonous fish that is gradually spreading throughout the Adriatic Sea—is being recorded with increasing frequency in Montenegrin waters.
This species entered the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal and has been moving westward in recent years. Previously, the main populations were more commonly found off the coasts of Greece, Turkey, and Cyprus, but now the fish is regularly spotted in the Adriatic as well, including along the coast of Montenegro.
For the region, this is not only an environmental problem but also an economic one. The silver pufferfish is dangerous to fishermen: its powerful teeth can easily damage fishing lines, tackle, and nets. In addition, the fish can deliver a painful bite, so experts recommend not handling it with bare hands or attempting to gut it yourself.
The main danger is not related to the bite, but to consuming the fish. The tissues and internal organs of the silver pufferfish contain tetrodotoxin—a potent toxin that is not destroyed by conventional heat treatment. Therefore, this fish must not be eaten, sold, or used in cooking.
The spread of the pufferfish illustrates how the Adriatic’s marine ecosystem is changing. Warming waters, changes in the migration routes of marine species, and the connection between the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea via the Suez Canal are contributing to the arrival of species new to the region.
For Montenegro, where the coastline is vital for fishing, tourism, and the restaurant industry, this is becoming a new risk factor. Fishermen will have to account for damage to their gear and a possible decline in catches, while tourist areas will need to inform visitors that they should not touch unfamiliar fish, let alone eat them.
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