Gavrilo Gavra Azinović, the author and last director of the International Festival of Tourist, Sports, Ecology, and Culinary Film, MEFEST, passed away on November 3 in Belgrade, at the age of 63. Gavrilo Azinović closed the 15th MEFEST in Brus with dignity, and two months later passed away after a short and severe illness.

He graduated from the Faculty of Drama Arts in Belgrade, the department of Film and TV production. A great part of his career he spent on Radio-televizija Beograd, as a producer and programme manager for documentary and feature series. He worked on films as a programme manager for films and director of documentary films. He was a member of the Association of Film Artists of Serbia and Montenegro. He was also a member of many international juries, winner of the prestigious “Golden Link” award for the work in culture, and of the international award “A life for tourism” - from the European Federation of Tourist Press and the Tourist Organization, as well as of the award of “Golden olive” from Radio Beograd II program, for his contribution to development of ecological awareness. He was also a member of the Film Association of Serbia and Montenegro, the department of documentary film.

He was posthumously awarded by Mr. Antonio Conte the career award during the Festival of Itenerarium fidei, in Lecce, Italy, at the end of November 2007.

EUROPEAN FEDERATION TOURIST PRESS
Rome, 11/6/2007.

- To festival representatives
- To delegates and associates of European Club
- To directors of Tourfilm festivals

Dear friends,

It is my sad duty to inform you about the news I could not imagine that I would have to tell you: our dear friend GAVRA AZINOVIĆ has suddenly passed away.
It is only two months ago that we were together at the 15th annual MEFEST, which he founded and continued organizing with much love and care, without interruptions even during the bombardment against Serbia. We were tied by many years of cooperation, from the very foundation of Tourfilm Festival in Serbia, when he proclaimed me the honorary president of the festival.
We have scheduled our next meeting for the next festival in Italy, which takes place in Puglia at the end of the following November and where his and his beloved wife’s presence were fully expected. Together with my friends in the organization, we classified him amongst those who would win CAREER AWARD, for his accomplishments in the domain of tourism, as a journalist and director of Tourfilm Festival in Serbia for long years. Unfortunately, he will not be able to honour us with his physical presence anymore, but we are certain that he will be present in his spirit.
Bye, my dearest brother - how you always called me. Although we are speechless with deep grief, all the people who knew you and I are sure that you will always be with us during our festivals, where you will continue giving us support with your obligingness that always brought us joy.
So we are not saying farewell, but only bye for now.
Our kindest regards to Slavica and family,

Antonio Conte,
fellow FEST journalists,
associates of European Club, and festival directors

Euroekofestival-Dolna Banja – Brlgaria
www.euroekofest.org

Farewell, dear friend Gavro!

We parted forever with a great friend to Bulgaria and to the European Environment Festival – Prof. Gavrilo Azinovich, film director from Serbia. Prof. Azonovich, or Gavro as we all called him with due respect, was the founder and director of the MEFEST International Festival for Environmental and Tourisic Films, a unique festival in the Republic of Serbia. Gavrilo Azinovich was a member of the International Jury of the European Environment Festival in May 2007. His friendly feelings towards Bulgaria were related also to his work with the Bulgarian National Television and the Golden Chest International TV Festival in Plovdiv. 
His contribution to the popularization of the ideas for preserving of nature and development of tourism and friendship among Balkan peoples will never be forgotten. He was a great and tireless worker for cultural and intellectual partnership between Bulgarian and Serbian intellectuals, media and NGOs.
There are few people with so boundless hospitable heart and so moral view of life as his!
We make a deep bow in honour of his deeds!
May his memory live for ever!

European Environment Festival Foundation