Daughter's Fight: Protecting Montenegro's Mother Mountain

The acclaimed documentary 'To Hold a Mountain,' a Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner, is set to reach U.S. theaters starting December 16. The film chronicles the powerful story of Gara and her daughter Nada, who return each summer to their ancestral pastures on Montenegro's Sinjajevina plateau. They live in harmony with the mountain, referred to as 'Mother,' until the Montenegrin government announces plans for a NATO military training ground.

Gara becomes a courageous advocate, rallying her community against the development threatening their UNESCO-protected landscape. The encroaching conflict on their land prompts Nada to reflect on her family's past and future. The documentary explores themes of love, protection, and the resilience of a community defending its cultural heritage against external threats.

Filmed over eight years, the documentary showcases the deep connection between the people and the land. Directed by Biljana Tutorov and Petar Glomazić, the film is Montenegro's submission for Best International Feature Film at the upcoming Academy Awards and is slated for an early 2027 debut on HBO and HBO Max.