The Sarajevo Film Festival invites emerging film professionals and film critics from Southeast Europe and the Southern Caucasus to submit entries for the nineteenth edition of Talents Sarajevo, titled FILMING AS CARING. While Talents Sarajevo is scheduled to take place from August 16 to 21, coinciding with the 31st edition of the Sarajevo Film Festival, some of its programs will commence online before the festival.
Directors, producers, actors, scriptwriters, cinematographers, editors, and film critics hailing from Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Georgia, Hungary, Kosovo*, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Northern Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Turkey, and Ukraine are encouraged to apply.
FILMING AS CARING – Exploring Mental Health, Well-Being, and Collective Responsibility in the Film Industry
While the film industry has undergone significant technological changes recently – from the rise of streaming platforms to the impact of AI – some of the most profound shifts are taking place on a much more personal level, affecting the individuals who work within it. These transformations are not just about new tools or business models; they are reshaping the emotional and mental landscape of filmmakers, crew members, and other industry professionals. After all, every change in the industry, no matter how technological or structural, inevitably impacts the people behind the scenes, whose personal experiences and mental well-being are at the heart of this evolution.
The 2025 edition of Talents Sarajevo aims to explore these issues, prioritizing the perspectives of up-and-coming filmmakers from the region. Through discussions among this year’s participants, as well as exchanges with more experienced industry professionals—both from the region and beyond—Talents Sarajevo will foster a dialogue about the importance of mental health in filmmaking. It is our believe that caring for mental health cannot be reduced to an individual responsibility but a collective obligation within the film community. Creating a supportive and empathetic work environment can contribute not only to better working conditions but also to richer and higher-quality film production.
Thus Talents Sarajevo also actively advocates for structural changes in film industry which will enable psychological support, more sustainable working conditions, and the destigmatization of mental health concerns in the industry. “Filming as Caring” is not only about fostering a healthier work environment for filmmakers but also about cinema’s ability to reflect, engage with, end respond to the pressing concerns of our time: from social justice and environmental crises to questions of identity, displacement, and collective resilience.
By bringing these topics into focus, Talents Sarajevo reinforces its commitment to the well-being of emerging filmmakers and the sustainability of the film industry in the region.
Talents Sarajevo, founded in collaboration with Berlin International Film Festival and Berlinale Talents, has become the foremost regional hub for meeting and training aspiring film professionals. It’s mission is to provide unconditional support to up-and-coming filmmakers from the region by facilitating their creative and professional advancement and success through a program of master classes, project labs, lectures, discussions, and screenings.
The closing date for applications is April 6th.
Please find more information and apply HERE.
The 31st Sarajevo Film Festival will take place from 15th to 22nd August 2025.
