Sarajevo Film Festival Selects 19 World Premieres in Competition Sections

As a film enthusiast with a deep appreciation for cinema from around the world, I am thrilled to learn about the Sarajevo Film Festival‘s impressive lineup for its 30th edition. Having spent years immersing myself in various film cultures and histories, I can’t help but be drawn to the unique perspectives that this festival showcases from Southeast Europe, the South Caucasus, and Ukraine.


At the Sarajevo Film Festival, where movies from Southeast Europe, the South Caucasus, and Ukraine take center stage, a total of 54 films have been chosen to contend for the Heart of Sarajevo awards. Among them are three films that will be screened outside of competition. The festival marks its 30th anniversary from August 16 to 23.

Jovan Marjanović, the festival’s director, stated that the awards would help “give a louder platform to voices from the region and make them more accessible to a worldwide audience.”

As an avid film enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share that the upcoming festival I’m looking forward to boasts an impressive lineup of films across four distinct categories: feature, documentary, short, and student. In these sections, you’ll find a total of 36 premieres! These include an astounding 19 world premieres, where new films will be introduced for the very first time on the global stage. Nine international premieres will follow suit, showcasing fresh cinematic creations from around the world. Three European and three national premieres will also be featured, providing a unique perspective of the European and domestic film scenes respectively. Overall, this festival promises an unforgettable experience filled with innovation and discovery!

In the competition section of the feature film program, you’ll find the world premiere of Vuk Ršumović’s “Dwelling Among the Gods.” Meanwhile, Mirjana Karanović’s “Mother Mara” is a Gala Screening, shown outside of the competition category.

Marjanović expressed that the program offers an up-to-date and authentic portrayal of film art in Southeast Europe, Ukraine, and the South Caucasus, appealing to both a wide audience and industry experts.

“He remarked: ‘These areas are both in the limelight and overlooked on the world stage, and the festival offers a valuable chance to explore the intricacies of experience from geopolitical and artistic outskirts that are frequently absent when shaping a comprehensive image of the current era.’ “

Competition Program – Feature Film

In this film festival, several movies are making their premieres in various regions: “Dwelling Among the Gods” by Vuk Ršumović (Serbia, Italia, Croatia) is having its world premiere. “Family Therapy” by Sonja Prosenc (Slovenia, Italy, Croatia, Norway, Serbia) is debuting in Europe. “Arcadia,” directed by Yorgos Zois (Greece, Bulgaria, U.S.), is a regional premiere. The same goes for “Holy Week” by Andrei Cohn (Romania, Switzerland), “The Editorial Office” by Roman Bondarchuk (Ukraine, Germany, Slovakia, Czech Rep.), and “The Village Next to Paradise” by Mo Harawe (Austria, France, Germany, Somalia). “Three Kilometres to the End of the World” by Emanuel Pârvu (Romania) and “Holy Electricity” by Tato Koteshivili (Georgia, Netherlands) are also regional premieres. Lastly, “Mother Mara” by Mirjana Karanović (Serbia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Luxembourg) is having a Gala Screening and world premiere, but it’s not in competition.

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2024-07-25 13:16