The Sarajevo Film Festival has a rich and unique history, having been founded in the midst of the Bosnian War when the city was under siege and without running water and electricity. Despite these challenging circumstances, the festival was established with the goal of reconnecting and rebuilding links between the countries of the former Yugoslavia that had descended into nationalist conflict and war.
Over the years, the Sarajevo Film Festival has expanded its scope and become a hub for Central Europe and beyond. It has become the largest and most important film festival in the region, attracting film and television industry professionals from Vienna to Istanbul. The festival has also reached out to countries facing conflict, such as Ukraine, providing them with a platform to showcase their films and projects.
The festival’s director, Jovan Marjanović, acknowledges the importance of remembering the past and the challenges of facing the future. He believes that the festival’s founding story is ingrained in its DNA and continues to inform its mission today. The festival is not just about showcasing films, but also about communication, exchange of opinions, and creativity. It serves as an active platform for watching and discussing films.
Marjanović sees the festival’s role as more than just a film festival. It aims to bring together fragmented markets and foster cooperation in the region. The festival not only focuses on the countries of the former Yugoslavia, but also reaches out to neighboring countries such as Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, and Turkey. It provides a common platform for these smaller European markets to connect and collaborate.
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The festival has played a crucial role in promoting regional cooperation and has been instrumental in fostering co-productions among the countries of the former Yugoslavia. It has also created opportunities for professionals from the region to enter bigger European and global markets. Through its industry programs and talent initiatives, the festival aims to constantly rejuvenate the film and television scene in the region.
Looking to the future, Marjanović believes that the region needs to enable bigger-budget projects with higher production value. He suggests that national film funds, public broadcasters, and telecom companies in the region should adapt their business practices to facilitate co-productions and support ambitious projects. He also emphasizes the need to focus on quality over quantity in terms of television series production and to create structures that enable the production of bigger-budget films and series.
As for the films in this year’s program, Marjanović highlights the opening film, “Kiss the Future” by Nenad Cicin-Sain, which is closely linked to Sarajevo’s history. The film tells the story of the underground alternative scene that emerged during the siege and their attempt to attract the attention of the band U2 to have a concert in Bosnia. The concert eventually happened after the siege, marking a cathartic moment in the city’s history and symbolizing the end of the war.
In conclusion, the Sarajevo Film Festival is not just a film festival, but a platform for communication, cooperation, and creativity in the region. It has played a significant role in reconnecting the countries of the former Yugoslavia and fostering regional cooperation. As the festival continues to grow and adapt to the changing industry, it aims to enable bigger-budget projects and focus on quality productions that can capture the imagination of audiences both within the region and beyond.
