[wzslider]By Medina Malagić
With already a multitude of awards and recognition behind his name, 27-year-old filmmaker and student at the Sarajevo Film Academy of the Directing Class Ado Hasanović is gradually emerging as one of the top talents in the filmmaking industry in BiH, the region and througout Europe.
A native of Srebrenica who now lives in Sarajevo, Ado delved into filmmaking at an early age. His first short film ‘Predrasude’ (Prejudices) came out in 2007 and was followed by “Ja Sam iz Srebrenice” (I am from Srebrenica). Ado co-wrote, filmed and directed this film that focused on perspective of young people living in Srebrenica. The film went on to win the special award for the best student film at the Mostar Film Festival in 2008. From 2008-2011, he worked as the Creative Director for the Srebrenica Short Film Festival.
The beginning of Ado’s career as a filmmaker in Srebrenica continued to develop when he moved to Sarajevo in 2010, but it did take time, enormous effort and patience. “It was very difficult when I arrived to Sarajevo, because I worked in Srebrenica in the Association “Prijatelji Srebrenice” and had a regular salary. I gave up everything over there and came to study at the Film Academy in Sarajevo. I don’t regret my decision. I am happy. Persistence pays off”, said Ado.
The work of this young, talented and ambitious filmmaker was recognized and acclaimed at a number of film festivals throughout Europe and in the US, such as the premiere of his film ‘Angel from Srebrenica’ at the Colorado Film Festival and the “Seal of Approval” at the Erasmus Euro Media Awards in Vienna.
His latest film ‘The Blue Viking in Sarajevo” has already won two awards for best documentary film at the Balkan Snapshot Film Festival in Amsterdam and the Duka Fest in Banja Luka.
The vital contribution of this short film was succinctly stated by the Jury in Banja Luka on Ado’s film: “The award is given for a humane and positive attitude to life that is reflected through the relationship with the main character’’.
The protagonist in the 17-minute film “The Blue Viking in Sarajevo” is a young man named Emilio, a composite of three different Latin American nationalities whose new home is Sarajevo. The comparison between Emilio’s background and the city in which he now calls home is transparent and powerfully symbolic. Sarajevo is a city that stands out as an interweaving mosaic of religions and ethnicities that continues to be burdened by a troubled and convoluted past. However, the city has still not lost its ineffable charm and vitality, and the city of Sarajevo is juxtaposed with the character of Emilio and his own complex background. With this, Emilio becomes a symbol for what should be a more positive future for Sarajevo.
“The Blue Viking in Sarajevo” can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F30vXESIw7w
Currently, Ado is working on the final touches to his short film as part of his master thesis at the Sarajevo Film Academy. The shooting of this film will take place mid-June, and the team participating in this film is made up of professionals from BiH.
