Zagreb-born director, Nebojša Slijepčević has picked up the Prix Vimeo in the Short Film category at the European Film Awards for his acclaimed work, The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent.

Considered the equivalent of the European Oscars, the EFAs give a good indication to how Europe’s directors will fare at the Academy Awards in Hollywood.

Also the recipient of the Short Film Palme d’Or at Cannes, The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent is a 14-minute-long feature that focuses on a hidden story from the Yugoslav conflict. In it, a heroic officer tries to save the life of a young passenger, earmarked for execution along with 20 others. His actions subsequently doomed both protagonists.

The officer would also have vanished from history if Slijepčević hadn’t come across a newspaper article in the archives.

Earlier this year, the film’s writer and director was granted the medal of the City of Zagreb and his crew fêted at the City Palace.

At the EFAs in Lucerne, Slijepčević shared the winners’ stage with French director Jacques Audiard, whose musical crime comedy Emilia Pérez swept the board by taking four main awards, including Best European Film.