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31st Sarajevo Film Festival

The 31st Sarajevo Film Festival, took place between 15 and 22 August 2025 in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Black comedy film The Pavilion, by Bosnian filmmaker Dino Mustafić, opened the festival. A total of 227 films from 65 countries were shown in 22 festival programmes, out of which 50 films competed for the Heart of Sarajevo awards across four competition categories: feature, documentary, short, and student films. The selection included 15 world premieres, six international, 28 regional, and two national premieres.

Highlights
"Watch. Think. Act. - Youth for Human Rights" As part of this edition, in collaboration with UNESCO and the Dialogue for the Future 3 project, the festival will present the program "Watch. Think. Act. – Youth for Human Rights". Young people aged 18 to 25, through films, discussions, collaborative activities, and visits to key locations, will gain insight into the core principles of human rights, learn to identify and uphold them in daily life, and connect with like-minded peers committed to driving social change. • Special Youth Perspectives Award: From this edition newly introduced 'Special Youth Perspectives Award' with the participation of the Council of Europe will be presented. As per the Council: And it will be presented to a • Poster The poster designed by Jons Vukorep has the word 'SARAJEVO' written in the shape of a heart, representing a symbol of both the city and the award itself. • Spotlight on Sweden This year’s Festival will shine a light on Sweden with its "Spotlight on Sweden" initiative, designed to deepen collaboration between the Balkans and Sweden through co-production efforts and industry exchange. • Spotlight on Poland The festival will present Spotlight on Poland, in partnership with the Polish Film Institute in this year's festival. It will highlight the strength of Poland’s co-production potential and the innovative frameworks, tools, and production companies. • Sarajevo Film Festival Partner Presents In Sarajevo Film Festival Partner Presents programme the films from Doha Film Institute and the films aligning with Qatar National Vision 2030 will be presented. • "Tribute To" program A retrospective of Ilya Khrzhanovsky, a Russian-born film director, screenwriter, film producer and member of the European Film Academy, will be presented in "Tribute To" program. • Masterclasses , recipient of the Honorary Heart of SarajevoPaolo Sorrentino – Italian director and screenwriter on 17 August • Michel Franco – Mexican filmmaker on 18 August • Ray Winstone – English television, stage, and film actor on 19 August • Ilya Khrzhanovsky – Russian-born film director, screenwriter, film producer and member of the European Film Academy on 20 August • Willem Dafoe – American actor on 21 August • Opening ceremony The opening ceremony was held with the red carpet laid down in the front of the Sarajevo National Theatre, hosted by Max Alija Ludwig, Charlotte Izmira Cavčić and Bosanian actress Lidija Kordić. ==Jury==
Jury
Competition Programme – Feature Film The jury of the Competition Programme – Feature Film includes 4 members and Ukraine’s Sergei Loznitsa as jury president. • Sergei Loznitsa, a Ukrainian director of Belarusian origin known for his documentary as well as dramatic films. (Jury President) • Dragan Mićanović, a Serbian actor from Loznica • Emanuel Pârvu, a Romanian actor and filmmaker • Ena Sendijarević, a Bosnian-Dutch filmmaker and screenwriter known for her distinctive blend • Tricia Tuttle, an American festival programmer, film journalist, and curator. Sarajevo Film Festival's Special Award for Gender Equality • , Swedish film and television producer • Ivan Marinović, multi-award-winning director, screenwriter and producer from Montenegro • Norika Sefa, Kosovan film director, writer and editor, CineLink Female Voices awardAida Begić, Bosnian film director and screenwriter. • Nataša Bučar, Director of the Slovenian Film Centre • Dita Rietuma, Doctor of Arts, a film historian, critic and director of the National Film Centre of Latvia ==Official selection==
Official selection
Fifty films will compete for the Heart of Sarajevo awards at the festival in the four competition sections. Pre-opening and opening films A special pre-festival screening of a digital version of the 1955 Yugoslavian film Hanka directed by Slavko Vorkapić was held on 14 August 2025. The opening film The Pavilion is a Bosnian dark comedy film directed by Dino Mustafić. The film is about elderly residents of a nursing home, who frustrated by years of abuse, arm themselves and rise up against the staff, resulting in a tense confrontation with law enforcement. Competition Programme - Feature Film In the 'Competition Programme - Feature Film:, nine films will compete. Competition programme - Documentary Film There are 20 films in the Competition Programme – Documentary Film. Competition Programme - Short Film In this category ten films will compete for the award. Competition Programme - Student Film There are 11 films in the Competition Programme - Student Film. Out of Competition In Focus Open Air Programme Open Air Program, consisting of two sections, Open Air and Open Air Premiere, line up as follows: Open Air Open Air Premiere Special Screening - DFI Presents Arab films at the festival: Dealing with the Past Kinoscope The Kinoscope programme features 19 films; 14 in the Kinoscope section and 5 in the Kinoscope Surreal section. Cinemascope Kinoscope Surreal ==BH Film Program==
BH Film Program
The 20th edition of the BH FILM Program, held as part of the festival and organized by the Association of Filmmakers of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, will showcase a selection of 43 films. Feature filmsThe Pavilion (Paviljon), Dino Mustafić, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, North Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro • Otter (Vidra), Srđan Vuletić, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy, Croatia, Kosovo Feature-length Documentary FilmsBloom - The Masters of Your Future, Jasmila Žbanić, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Germany • Bosnian Knight (Bosanski Vitez), Tarik Hodžić, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia • Ćetiba, Ramiz Huremagić, Bosnia and Herzegovina • Dom, Massimiliano Battistella, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy • The Boy from the River Drina (Il ragazzo della Drina), Zijad Ibrahimović, Switzerland • Kapija - The Oath to Tuzla’s Youth!, Damir Pirić, Bosnia and Herzegovina • House With Heart, Sabahet Džafica, Bosnia and Herzegovina • Butterflies Without Wings, Anel Džanković, Damir Kerla, Bosnia and Herzegovina • Prison Beauty Contest (Miss Penitenciária), Srđan Šarenac, Serbia, Brazil, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia • The Mystical Canyon of Rakitnica, Rubina Smajić, Bosnia and Herzegovina • Grandma Sena, Dino Omerović, Türkiye, Bosnia and Herzegovina • No One Will Hurt You (Nessuno Vi Farà Del Male), Dino Hodić, Switzerland • The Partisan Necropolis, Chris Leslie, UK, Bosnia and Herzegovina • Family, Davorin Sekulić, Bosnia and Herzegovina • None Will Speak The Truth, Azra Husarić Omerović, Bosnia and Herzegovina • The Srebrenica Tape - From Dad, for Alisa, Chiara Sambuchi, Germany, Austria • The Track, Ryan Sidhoo, Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina Short Documentary and Feature FilmsAnatomy of a Lost Sound, Zuko Garagic, Czech Republic, United States, Bosnia and Herzegovina • A Distant Country, Edin Hurem, Bosnia and Herzegovina • Joe, Vuk Rađen, Bosnia and Herzegovina • Exam (Egzamin), Damir Mehić, Poland • Hercules, Marko Dukić, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Croatia • Bullet in the Rifle, Karmen Obrdalj, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia • No Big Deal, Mirza Abdagić, Bosnia and Herzegovina • Živa, Tamara Maksimović, Bosnia and Herzegovina • Lavander, Mateja Raičković, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro • Not Sure Where I Am, Enisa Adrović, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia • Piano Boxing, Saša Peševski, Bosnia and Herzegovina • Pun Kura, Antonela Pehar Šimunović, Bosnia and Herzegovina • Steel Hotel Song, Bojan Stojčić, Bosnia and Herzegovina • Every Time You Leave, You Are Born Again, Mladen Bundalo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belgium • Forgotten Stations, Zdenko Jurilj, Bosnia and Herzegovina Student FilmsIllumination, Mina Vavan, Bosnia and Herzegovina • About A Bull, Emir Solaković, Bosnia and Herzegovina • A Pigeon, Vuk Popović, Bosnia and Herzegovina • Beneath the Surface, Maja Ćetojević, Bosnia and Herzegovina • The Summer Of My Summerbreak, Milica Vujasin, Bosnia and Herzegovina • Rec, Fedor Marić, Bosnia and Herzegovina • The Offering, Marko Brkić, Bosnia and Herzegovina ==Network of the Festivals in the Adriatic Region Programmes==
Network of the Festivals in the Adriatic Region Programmes
Six prominent film festivals from Southeast Europe, Sarajevo Film Festival, Zagreb Film Festival, Auteur Film Festival, Belgrade, Ljubljana International Film Festival, Slovenia, Montenegro Film Festival, and the Manaki Brothers International Cinematographers’ Film Festival in North Macedonia, will in a collaborative platform showcase a total of seven films across its joint programmes: Adriatic Audience Award • ''Adam's Interest (L'intérêt d'Adam)'', Laura Wandel, Belgium, France • Christy, Brendan Canty, Ireland, United Kingdom • Maldoror, Fabrice Du Welz, Belgium, France • Perla, Alexandra Makarova, Austria, Slovakia • Renovation, Gabrielė Urbonaitė, Lithuania, Latvia, Belgium Ecoscope • ''Miyazaki, Spirit of Nature (Miyazaki: L'Esprit de la Nature)'', Léo Favier, France Yugoslav classicThe Boiling City , Veljko Bulajić, Yugoslavia, (1961) ==Awards==
Awards
Winners of the festival are: • Heart of Sarajevo for Best Feature Film: Wind, Talk to Me by Stefan Djordjevic • Heart of Sarajevo Award for Best Director: for Sorella di ClausuraHeart of Sarajevo for Best Actor: for '''' • Heart of Sarajevo for Best Actress: Sarah Al Saleh, Aline Juhart, Mina Milovanović, Mia Skrbinac for FantasyHeart of Sarajevo for Best Documentary Film: Our Time Will Come, by Ivette Löcker • Special Jury Prize for Documentary Film: In Hell With Ivo, by Kristina Nikolova • Special Mention: I Believe the Portrait Saved Me, by Alban Muja • Heart of Sarajevo for Best Short Film: Winter in March, by Natalia Mirzoyan • Special Mention: Eraserhead in a Knitted Shopping Bag, by Lili Koss • Heart of Sarajevo for Best Short Documentary Film: ''The Men's Land'', by Mariam KhatchvaniHeart of Sarajevo Award for Best Student Film: Tarik, by Adem Tutić • Special Award for Promoting Gender Equality: God Will Not Help by Hana Jušić • Special Environmental Awareness Award: • Special Youth Perspectives Award: DJ Ahmet by Georgi M. Unkovski • CineLink Female Voices award: Rain Country, Zeynep Köprülü Partner's Awards Partner's Awards for the festival: • European Film Academy Short Film Candidate: Things Hidden Since the Foundation of the World, by Kevin Walker, Irene Zahariadis • CICAE (International Confederation of Art Cinemas) Award: White Snail, Elsa Kremser and Levin Peter • Cineuropa Prize: DJ Ahmet by Georgi M. Unkovski • Ivica Matić Award: • Ishak Jalimam, Producer of the films The Sky Above Zenica and Gym • The award for overall contribution to Bosnian and Herzegovinian film: Zijad Mehić • UniCredit Audience Award: DJ Ahmet by Georgi M. Unkovski • The UniCredit Audience Award for Best Documentary Film: The Track, Ryan Sidhoo Special awards Honorary Heart of SarajevoPaolo Sorrentino, Italian film director, screenwriter, and writer. • Ray Winstone, English television, stage, and film actor • Willem Dafoe, American actor. Known for his prolific career portraying diverse roles in both mainstream and arthouse films. ==References==
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