A day before the official opening on Thursday, a special work-in-progress screening of a new documentary film about Emerik Blum by Jasmila Žbanic was held at the Coca-Cola Open Air Cinema. Entry to the screening was free as a gift to the public.
Žbanić and DEBLOKADA production are searching for film archives, photos and stories about Emerik Blum, legendary director of Energoinvest and mayor of Sarajevo. They decided to screen their work-in-progress before it is complete in order to share with the citizens of Sarajevo what they have found so far and ask them to assist in its completion. This is a unique process that will allow all citizens to participate in the making of this film. This experiment should be particularly interesting for young audiences because it will reveal a story about Bosnia and Herzegovina that may seem like science fiction to them.
The 28th Sarajevo Film Festival will be opened on Friday, August 12 with film TRIANGLE OF SADNESS by Ruben Östlund.
Towards the end of the four-year siege of Sarajevo, in 1995, Obala Art Centar initiated the Sarajevo Film Festival with the aim of helping to reconstruct civil society and retain the cosmopolitan spirit of the city.
Today, two decades later, the Sarajevo Film Festival is the leading film festival in the region, recognized by both film professionals and the wider audience. The Sarajevo Film Festival is an international film festival with a special focus on the region of South-East Europe (Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Georgia, Hungary, Kosovo*, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Turkey, Ukraine), shining an international spotlight on films, talent and future projects from the region.
High quality programming, a strong industry segment, an educational and networking platform for young filmmakers and thus generated presence of the international film industry, film authors and media representatives alongside a paying audience of over 100,000, confirm its status as the leading film festival in the region, recognised by both professionals and the wider audiences.
In an emerging territory of more than 140 million inhabitants, Sarajevo Film Festival serves as a common platform for film businesses from all over the region, setting the future standards in festival organisation, film promotion and presentation in South-East Europe.
Feel the creative energy of our Festival and share our passion for films in the remarkable atmosphere of the city of Sarajevo.
