A unique festival that connects the underwater world, film and ecology, Neum Underwater Film Festival 2025, will be held from August 28 to 30 in Neum.
This international festival gathers authors from more than 90 countries of the world, divers, environmental workers, artists and audiences eager for a different experience of the sea, and represents a combination of tourism, culture, ecology and science, and these days Neum is turning into the European center of underwater art, the organizers announced.
The festival was started out of passion for the sea and underwater creativity, and organized by the Standard Association, it has become one of the few in Europe and the world that deals exclusively with underwater film.
Over the past five years, it has affirmed young authors, opened the door to international cooperation and developed the ecological awareness of the audience, and the special importance of the event is also reflected in its contribution to the local community, as it is not only a cultural event, but also a driver of touristic and economic prosperity in Neum.
This year, the fifth edition of the festival, was recognized for the first time by the BiH Environmental Protection Fund, joining in supporting the event.
The festival program includes film screenings, exhibitions, educational workshops, panels and gatherings, and the audience will have the opportunity to enjoy films that explore the relationship between man and the sea, reveal the beauty of underwater flora and fauna, but also warn of the ecological challenges facing the seas and oceans.
On August 28, the festival will begin with Film Day, during which screenings of young authors entitled “Fest & Val” will be held from 5 p.m., with an accompanying off program. From 8 pm, the audience will be able to watch films from the official selection in the competition, and the evening will be rounded off with an art exhibition and an entertainment program from 10 pm.
The second day, August 29, is the Day of Ecology and Art. The program will be opened at 18:00 by the ecological and educational workshop “Sea and People”, followed by the official selection and award ceremony at 19:30. From 10 p.m., a networking event called “Artists in the Network” is planned, as well as an evening entertainment program.
On the third day, August 30, the Day of Education and Community is held. An educational workshop “Underwater World” is planned from 12 noon, while the “Creative Europe for Festivals” program will be presented an hour later.
The best films will be decided by an international jury made up of recognized names from the worlds of film, photography, music, diving, media and art. Jury members are: Ante Žono, Slaven Vlašić, Marino Pelajić, Antonio Slavujević, Lorenzo Moscia, Jurica Gašpar, Maja Raguž, Tamara Bekčić, Gareth Bartlett, Dražen Obad, Akin Bağcılar, Mike Frankel and Igor Filipović Fila.
The films will compete in six categories: Grand Prix, best eco underwater film, best original music in an underwater film, best camera, best BH. underwater film and audience award.
