SXSW 2025 | Exploring Trauma, Music, and Resilience in Surviving Earth

Hey everyone!

I'm thrilled to share another SXSW 2025 interview with you.

This time, I spoke with Thea Gajić & Slavko Sobin from the film Surviving Earth.

Surviving Earth is a poignant drama based on a true story about Vlad, a talented harmonica player and counselor who fled the conflict in Yugoslavia and rebuilt his life in Bristol. As he rekindles his passion for Balkan music by forming a band with his friends, unresolved traumas begin to resurface, jeopardizing his relationships, especially with his daughter, Maria.

Buy tickets for Surviving Earth's SXSW screenings here.

I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did!

Chapters

• 00:00 - Introduction

• 00:15 - Meeting Thea and Slavko

• 00:37 - Synopsis of Surviving Earth and Screening Details

• 01:09 - Inspiration Behind the Film

• 02:08 - Slavko's Preparation for the Role of Vlad

• 03:45 - Thea's Perspective on the Stigma of Addiction

• 05:20 - Mental Health in Balkan Culture

• 06:17 - Balancing Lightness and Darkness in Vlad's Character

• 07:29 - Connecting with Vlad

• 07:59 - Balkan Culture and Music

• 08:28 - Exploring Vlad's Complexity

• 09:20 - Capturing the Nuances of Vlad

• 09:35 - Thea & Slavko's Collaboration Process

• 12:48 - Language and Identity in the Film

• 15:27 - Challenges and Reflections

• 20:04 - Core Message and Audience Takeaways

• 24:01 - Conclusion and Farewell

• 25:41 - Plugs

Prefer audio?

Click below to listen to the full interview or listen on your favorite podcast platform.

Follow Me

Bluesky ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Letterboxd ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Mastodon ⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Threads ⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube

Support My Work

Your support makes interviews like this possible, so thank you for being part of Austin B Media! If you want to become a Patron, head to Patreon.com/AustinBMedia or AustinB.Media/support for more information.

Until next time!