Celebrating two decades of regional film connections

Celebrating two decades of regional film connections

The Sarajevo Film Festival is celebrating its 20th successful year.

The Sarajevo Film Festival started at the end of an almost four-year siege by snipers and artillery from Bosnian Serbs that had taken up positions in the hills overlooking the city. Towards the end of the siege of Sarajevo, with the desire to help the reconstruction of civil society and maintain the city's cosmopolitan spirit, organisers launched the Sarajevo Film Festival (SFF) in 1995.

Like a phoenix, the festival emerged from ashes, and now celebrates its 20th anniversary.

"This year is the 20th anniversary of the SFF and it will be the completion of what we have worked on over the years. We have our plans, objectives and vision, as we had in 1995," said Mirsad Purivatra, festival director.

The festival stands as a testament to the power of art and reconciliation, Purivatra said.

The event was no ordinary festival from the begining: the first event was held in a city with no running water or electricity; Sarajevo's infrastructure was devastated but filmmakers were determined to participate.

Two decades later, the Sarajevo Film Festival is the leading festival of its kind in the region, recognised by both film professionals and the wider audience. It is an international film festival with a special focus on the region of southeast Europe, shining an international spotlight on films, talent and future projects from the region.

"SFF is the one of the projects on priority list of the Federal Ministry of Culture and Sports for the reason that it is an important project, a project with tradition and projects a real positive image in Europe and the world, which I think is the...