Cast
Leni Wesselman as Anna
Leni Wesselman was born in Munich in 1985. After school she studied art and multimedia at university. During this time she got her first acting experience in student films. She studied acting with several teachers and got her first roles in film and TV productions. In 2008 she landed the challenging lead role in the drama, “Mine”. Mine’s world premiere was at the Festival of Films du Monde in Montreal in 2009. Other roles followed including the feature „Silvi“ 2012 and the graduate thesis film „Der Wald“ 2014. Most recently she performed a guest role in Andreas Dresen’s drama „Als wir träumten“, which will be released at the Berlinale in 2015.
In „Open Cage“ Leni plays the role of the young photojournalist ANNA. She travels to the Serbian capital Belgrade to finish her photo reportage. Encouraged by her quest for acknowledgment and her fear of failure, Anna starts to photograph the young Belgrade Maja without telling her why. Blinded by the wish to change her life.
Jelena RakočeviĆ-CekiĆ as Maja
Jelena Rakočević-Cekić is a young actress who was born in Podgorica in 1986. She finished her acting studies at the Academy of Arts Novi Sad (Serbia) in 2009. During the past few years she acted in a number of Serbian cinema movies such as “Little Buda” (2014), “Nymph” (2014) and “Oktobar” (2012) as well as in numerous TV-series including “Ulica lipa“ (2008), “Sva ta ravnica” (2009), “Dolina sunca“ (2010) and “Evropa, bre!“ (2014).
In “Open Cage” Jelena plays the role of MAJA, a withdrawn but sensitive young woman from Belgrade. Unhappy with her current life and lack of prospects, she is dreaming of a new beginning somewhere abroad.
NENAD OKANOVIĆ as DŽeki
Nenad Okanović was born in 1980 in Ljubovija. He graduated in 2003 from the Academy of Fine Arts Belgrade, where he studied acting under Mirjana Karanović. He gained fame through his adorable role in the popular Serbian TV show “Selo gori a baba se česlja / The Village is Burning, while the Old Woman is Combing Her Hair” and cinema movies like “ Vir / The Whirlpool”. Nenad works as an actor, producer and moderator for Serbian TV- and film productions. In “Open Cage” he plays the taxi driver Džeki. Das ist fantastischen!
BORIS KOMNENIĆ as Luka
Boris Komnenić was born in 1957 in Pula. He graduated from the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade with a degree in Acting. He became a member of the National Theatre in Belgrade in 1984, where he acted in many popular plays. His impressive filmography as well as his authentic performance on stage and on screen makes him one of the most admired Serbian actors. In “Open Cage” Boris plays Luka, Maja’s father.
Heiko Pinkowski as Rainer
Heiko Pinkowski was born in 1966 in Krefeld. He began his career in youth theatres and later worked mostly at the Stadttheater Krefeld, Bauhausbühne Desau and Schillertheater in Berlin. He also founded the production company “Sehr gute Filme” in 2011. Heiko acted in numerous film and TV productions and Has was awarded Best Male Role at the Queens World Film Festival for his performance in the German cinema movie “Dicke Mädchen”. In “Open Cage” he plays Rainer, Anna’s father.
RUŽICA SOKIĆ as RuŽa
Ružica Sokić was one of the great actresses of former Yugoslavia. She was born in 1934 in Belgrade. Ružica sadly passed away in 2013. She began her acting career in 1957 in the movie “Doktor”. This performance was followed by numerous roles on stage, film and television. In 1973 she received a Golden Arena, the most prestigious film award in Yugoslavia, at the Pula Film Festival for her lead in the movie “Žuta.” Her role in the TV series “Tesna Koža” and other popular productions raised her among the great actors of Yugoslav cinematography. In “Open Cage,” Ružica played the role of Ruža, which was her last credited movie role. With great respect for her lifetime achievement, we dedicate the film to Ružica and her family.
MILAN KOVAČEVIĆ als darko
Milan Kovačević was born 1972 in Belgrade. He graduated from the University of Arts in Novi Sad with a degree in Acting. He acted in numerous plays and is known for his roles in the movies “Ringeraja” (2002) and “The Whirlpool” (2012), as well as the TV show “Folk” (2012). In “Open Cage” Milan plays Darko, the owner of the restaurant where Maja works.
JELICA SRETENOVIĆ as Smilja
Jelica Sretenović was born in 1954 in Belgrade. She began her career as a child actress in both TV and film productions.
At the age of 16 she became the youngest student of the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade. She continued her success with notable roles in legendary Yugoslav TV shows like “Bolji život” and “Tesna koža”, accompanied by great performances on film and stage. In “Open Cage” Jelica plays Smilja, Maja’s colleague.
ELISABETH DEGEN as Rike
Elisabeth Degen was born in 1971 in Berlin, Germany. She debuted in 1986 in the film “Tödliche Liebe” by Wolf Gremm. Elisabeth was part of numerous German film and TV productions, as well as theatre productions at Hamburger Kammerspiele, Düsseldorfer Kammerspiele and Staatstheater Darmstadt. In “Open Cage” Elisabeth plays the guest role of Rike, Anna’s stepmother.
VIŠNJA OBRADOVIĆ as Fatinma
Višnja Obradović graduated from the Academy of Arts in Novi Sad with a degree in Acting. Through the years, she performed at the Serbian National Theatre in Novi Sad, the Youth Theatre in Novi Sad and the National Theatre in Sombor. She also appeared in films (“Golden league,” “Apofenija,” “More than a Game”) and TV shows (“Mixed Marriage,” “Jagodici”). Višnja currently performs at the Serbian National Theatre in Novi Sad. In “Open Cage” Višnja plays Fatima, Maja's mother.
NADJA NEDELJKOVIĆ as young Maja
Nadja Nedeljković was born in 2003 in Zemun. She gained her first acting experiece in the childrens acting studio „Maska“ in the group of Bojana Grabovac. She acted in several plays in the children theater „Pinokio“. Actually she is performing in the acting studio „Maska“ in the group of Katarina Dimitrijević. We are happy and proud to introduce you the youngest member of our cast. In „Open Cage“ Nadja is acting the role of the protagonist Maja in her years of childhood.
Extras
ŽELJANA OKANOVIĆ, LAURA SCHMAUS, SOPHIE ILG, PHILIPP WEISER, RADOJE GALIĆ, NELA BOKAN, MARIJA GRULOVIĆ, NEBOJŠA DJORDJEVIĆ, NEMANJA DJORDJEVIĆ, BOJAN VUK KOSOVČEVIĆ