Marking over a decade of community building, the Bosnian and Herzegovinian Diasporic Conference (BiHDC) returns to its inaugural home of Chicago from June 5–7, 2026, under the theme “Roots in Motion: Naša Zajednica in the Making.” Returning to Chicago—home to one of the largest Bosnian-American populations in the U.S., estimated at over 40,000 residents—underscores the conference’s commitment to its foundational roots.
This annual event draws in Bosnians and Bosnian diaspora from around the world to reflect on the rich history and cultural heritage that shape our Bosnian and Herzegovinian identities. This gathering encourages open discussion about the challenges facing our community while emphasizing unity, resilience, and collective growth rather than division.
Headlining the event at DePaul University are award-winning filmmaker Ado Hasanović and feminist activist Jadranka Miličević. Their work spans the intersection of memory, peacebuilding, and civil society, offering attendees a deep dive into the identity of the modern diaspora. Hasanović is a visual storyteller and founder of the Silver Frame Film Festival, hosted annually in Srebrenica. His debut documentary “My Father’s Diaries” explores this theme by presenting an intimate portrait of the Bosnian Genocide captured in his father’s old VHS tapes. Miličević is a Bosnian co-founder of the CURE Foundation in Sarajevo, known for her decades-long work in peacebuilding, women’s rights, and post-war reconciliation. Her efforts focus on empowering marginalized communities and rebuilding civil society across ethnic divides.
The conference will also feature screenings of “Where Have You Been” (Sto te nema), directed by Mirko Pincelli, and “Sniper Alley to My Brother,” directed by Cristiana Lucia Grilli and Francesco Toscani, in addition to workshops, presentations and panel discussions.
Beyond the full day of programming, the conference features an expansive slate of off-site programming, including a free networking event co-sponsored with BH Futures Foundation on Friday, June 5th, to bring together all the attendees before the conference commences on Saturday.
This conference is both a celebration of Bosnian heritage and a call to action to unite our talents, knowledge, and vision to build a brighter future for our community. By leveraging our collective legacy, we can address today’s challenges and make progress that has an impact on the well-being of the BiH community.
