Submarine Deluxe has officially released the trailer for To Hold a Mountain, an acclaimed documentary feature that explores environmental activism, ancestral heritage, and the complexities of familial bonds in the remote highlands of Montenegro. The film, which captured the prestigious World Cinema Grand Jury Prize for Documentary at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, is scheduled for a theatrical release in select United States cinemas on December 16, 2026. Directed by the collaborative filmmaking duo Biljana Tutorov and Petar Glomazić, the feature-length documentary centers on a shepherdess named Gara and her 13-year-old daughter, Nada, as they fiercely protect their ancestral land from the establishment of a NATO-backed military training ground.
Main Facts and Narrative Overview
To Hold a Mountain transports viewers to the rugged and breathtaking landscape of the Sinjajevina plateau in Montenegro. Every summer, Gara and young Nada return to these remote highlands to herd animals, harvest wild herbs, and sustain a traditional way of life that has existed for generations. To this family and the local pastoral community, the mountain is not merely a geographic location; it is revered as a maternal figure, providing life, sustenance, and cultural identity.
The central conflict of the documentary arises when the Montenegrin government advances controversial plans to convert the heart of this protected ecological zone into a military training area supported by NATO. Refusing to stand idly by, Gara transforms into an unexpected grassroots leader. She mobilizes her community, organizes protests, and confronts government officials directly to safeguard the fragile ecosystem.
Beyond the external political struggle, the film delves deeply into an intimate personal narrative. As Nada approaches young womanhood against the backdrop of escalating conflict, the encroaching violence on the landscape forces her to confront her family’s historical trauma. The narrative thoughtfully examines the parallels between the defense of the physical earth and the psychological effort to break generational cycles of harm within the family unit.
Chronology of Production and Festival Success
The journey of To Hold a Mountain from conception to international acclaim spans several years of dedicated documentary filmmaking. Co-directors Biljana Tutorov—known for her work on When Pigs Come and Matriarch—and Petar Glomazić spent extensive time embedded within the Sinjajevina community to authentically capture the daily rhythms and high-stakes resistance of its inhabitants.
The project achieved a major milestone in January 2026 when it made its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. Competing in the World Cinema Documentary category, the film received widespread critical praise for its breathtaking cinematography, emotional depth, and urgent environmental message. The jury recognized its artistic and journalistic merit by awarding it the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize for Documentary, cementing its status as one of the most vital non-fiction discoveries of the year. Following its festival run, international distribution rights were secured, culminating in the recent trailer debut and the forthcoming US theatrical release distributed by Submarine Deluxe.
Background Context: The Struggle for Sinjajevina
To fully understand the gravity of To Hold a Mountain, it is necessary to examine the real-world socio-political backdrop of the Sinjajevina plateau. Spanning a vast karst mountain range in Montenegro, Sinjajevina is considered one of the largest and most ecologically significant pastoral agricultural zones in Europe. It supports hundreds of farming families who rely on traditional transhumance—the seasonal movement of livestock between lower valleys and high mountain pastures.
Despite its ecological importance and official designation as part of the regional natural heritage, the area has faced persistent threats from defense planning. Following Montenegro’s accession to NATO in 2017, government authorities designated parts of the plateau for military exercises, leading to strong resistance from local farmers, environmental organizations, and international conservation groups. Critics and local shepherds have long argued that military training would permanently destroy the fragile pasturelands, contaminate water sources relied upon by thousands of people, and destroy a centuries-old nomadic lifestyle.
Gara’s emergence as a figurehead in the documentary mirrors the real-life grassroots movements that have emerged on the plateau. Local women, in particular, have stood at the forefront of the resistance, staging peaceful blockades and legal challenges to protect their homeland. The documentary captures this tense socio-political climate through an intimate, human lens, bridging the gap between macro-level geopolitical decisions and micro-level human survival.
Production Team and Creative Vision
To Hold a Mountain is the result of an international collaborative effort led by an experienced production team. The film is co-directed by Biljana Tutorov and Petar Glomazić, marking their debut feature-length collaboration. The production duties were shared among an accomplished group of producers, including Rok Biček, Petar Glomazić, Quentin Laurent, and Biljana Tutorov.
The filmmakers adopted an observational yet deeply engaged cinematic style, allowing the subjects to tell their own stories without excessive narration. By focusing heavily on the sensory experiences of mountain life—the howling winds, the sound of livestock bells, and the quiet resilience of daily chores—the directors construct an immersive environment that places the audience directly alongside Gara and Nada.
Broader Impact and Implications
The release of To Hold a Mountain arrives at a crucial juncture for global documentary cinema and environmental advocacy. As climate change, resource extraction, and geopolitical militarization increasingly threaten indigenous and traditional lands worldwide, films like this serve as vital historical records and tools for awareness.
Industry analysts note that the Sundance grand jury win has positioned the film as an early contender in the international documentary awards circuit. Beyond its artistic accolades, the film carries significant implications for public discourse surrounding land rights in the Balkans and the socio-ecological consequences of military expansion in protected European zones. By focusing on the intersection of matriarchal leadership, generational healing, and ecological preservation, To Hold a Mountain transcends regional specificity, offering a universal narrative about the cost of stewardship and the courage required to protect what sustains us.
With Submarine Deluxe slated to bring the film to American audiences starting December 16, 2026, viewers will soon have the opportunity to experience the moving journey of a mother and daughter standing resolute against institutional power in the heart of Montenegro.
