The nineteenth edition of Talents Sarajevo welcomes 63 participants from 17 countries, grouped into eight specialised labs: Acting Studio, Directors Summit, Script Station, Camera Studio, Producers Summit, Editing Studio, Talent Press, and Pack & Pitch. Offering a collaborative environment for practical training, artistic exchange, and creative development, each programme is led by distinguished mentors and designed to respond to the emerging challenges faced by the next generation of film professionals.
In this year’s Acting Studio, celebrated actor Goran Bogdan brings a uniquely versatile mentorship approach shaped by both regional acclaim and international recognition. Known for his roles in FARGO, FATHER, and most recently THE MAN WHO COULD NOT REMAIN SILENT, winner of the 2024 Palme d’Or for Best Short and Oscar® nominee, Bogdan is uniquely positioned to mentor young actors navigating a high-pressure industry.
The newly reimagined Directors Summit introduces the One Day from Competition concept, bringing together filmmakers whose work is currently featured in the Competition Programme of the 31st Sarajevo Film Festival. Through candid, experience-driven sessions with Kukla(FANTASY), Vladimir Tagić (YUGO FLORIDA), Stefan Đorđević (WIND, TALK TO ME), Georgi M. Unkovski (DJ AHMET), and Hana Jušić (GOD WILL NOT HELP), participants will delve into the creative and emotional demands of directing, from managing crews on set to sustaining a long-term artistic vision. The new concept also offers a unique opportunity to connect emerging talents with the production landscape and the core of the Festival’s Competition Programme.
In response to the evolving needs of screenwriters in the region, the Script Station returns with a refreshed Writers’ Room format that emphasises collaboration over competition. Leading this lab are Isaure Pisany-Ferry, co-creator of BECOMING KARL LAGERFELD (Disney+) and VAMPIRES (Netflix), and Matija Dragojević, co-author of the Canneseries winner AWAKE. Both bring vital experience in serial storytelling, development room dynamics, and genre innovation, helping young writers understand how to protect their voice while working collectively.
The Camera Studio, led by acclaimed North Macedonian cinematographer Naum Doksevski, explores visual storytelling as an act of both empathy and collaboration. Doksevski’s work has been awarded at Sundance and Venice Film Festival, and includes collaborations with directors such as Goran Stolevski (HOUSEKEEPING FOR BEGINNERS) and Georgi M. Unkovski (DJ AHMET), reflecting a cinematographic practice which invites participants to approach the camera not merely as a technical tool, but as an ethical and aesthetic extension of the filmmaker’s perspective.
At the Producers Summit, participants will work with Katriel Schory, one of the most experienced and influential figures in international cinema. Schory has supported the production of over 250 films and brings a pragmatic, strategic understanding of how to balance artistic vision with financial and logistical realities. His mentorship focuses on the producer’s role as both facilitator and safeguard, ensuring that creative teams can function sustainably while navigating the complexities of international co-productions, funding structures, and cross-border collaboration.
This year’s Editing Studio brings together emerging editors with Redžinald Šimek, one of the region’s most experienced editors. With a background that spans sound, video, and post-production supervision, and includes collaborations with Danis Tanović and Aida Begić, Šimek’s approach to editing reflects a strong sense of structure and a collaborative working method. The lab focuses on editing as a decisive stage where creative choices meet practical constraints.
Talent Press, Talents Sarajevo’s long-running programme for emerging film critics and journalists, returns under the guidance of Neil Young. A critic, curator, and performer whose writing has appeared in The Hollywood Reporter, Sight & Sound, and Screen, and who has served on juries in Cannes, Berlinale and Venice, Young brings practical expertise in crafting insightful, responsible criticism in an industry shaped by rapid digital discourse and evolving public engagement.
The Pack & Pitch lab, co-mentored by Gabriele Brunnenmeyer and Nick Davies, provides essential guidance in how to articulate, package, and present a project. Brunnenmeyer, a fixture of Europe’s most respected project development labs, such as Midpoint and Rendez-Vouz-Industry Cannes, and Davies, a long-time cultural strategist and editor who has collaborated with the Venice Biennale and the Toronto International Film Festival, once again lead this programme, guiding participants as their projects evolve and culminate in a final pitch session for a competitive award.
Developed in partnership with the Berlin International Film Festival and Berlinale Talents, Talents Sarajevo reinforces its commitment to mentorship as a foundation for professional development. Through eight focused programmes led by active industry figures, the programme offers practical guidance, fosters cross-generational exchange, and equips emerging filmmakers with the tools to navigate today’s ever-evolving cinematic landscape.
The 31st Sarajevo Film Festival will take place from August 15 to 22, 2025.
