The 24th CineLink Industry Days took place at 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival, where projects in different formats and stages of development from Southeast Europe and the MENA region were presented.
The Family Zone on Franca Lehara Street in Sarajevo is a central hub during the 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival, where visitors can enjoy entertainment, music, and sports activities throughout the day.
In Dina Duma’s SKATEBOARDING IS NOT FOR GIRLS, skateboarding becomes one of the last things that make young Adela feel like she still belongs to herself.
A sensitive documentary about the metamorphosis of a boy named Yorgos, whose world of insects becomes an important link between his lonely childhood and growing up. The film BUGBOY will be screened in Competition Programme – Documentary Film .
YOU DON’T BELONG HERE explores the intimate, yet fragile relationship between a father and son, masculinity, and parental expectations. A film will be screened in Competition Programme – Narrative Feature Film.
What starts as an ordinary school trip turns into a psychological drama when a boy named Zoza speaks out about his best friend's suicide and brutal bullying, only to become the victim of a cruel betrayal himself.
I was so happy to discover this Festival and I'm happy to see how the Sarajevo Film Festival has shaped itself over the past years: it's a special cinematic identity, said Farhadi.
The film ALL WE HAVE IS US follows the five-year struggle of activists from Chile and Serbia against the Rio Tinto lithium mine, showing the personal cost of environmental resistance.
A retired Georgian film star embarks on a cathartic journey of self-transformation after accepting a bizarre and unsympathetic supporting role in a young director's debut feature.
On a snowy Zagreb night in 1983, a stranger inexplicably turns up at Zorka Vasiljević’s flat claiming he has arrived from the future using a time machine.
It is a pleasure to be here and witness the outcome of the cooperation between the Green Club and the Sarajevo Film Festival. Back when we established this partnership, we could not have imagined how important it would become in raising awareness among such young people.
Five years after winning the Heart of Sarajevo Award with her debut film “Scary Mother”, Georgian director Ana Urushadze returned to the Sarajevo Film Festival. Her new film SUPPORTING ROLE will have its regional premiere tonight in the Competition Programme – Narrative Feature Film, after winning an award at the International Film Festival in Rotterdam.
A Masterclass with Emily Watson, one of the most distinguished British actresses of her generation, was held at the Bosnian Cultural Center in Sarajevo. The conversation was moderated by British producer Andy Paterson, a longtime collaborator of Watson’s, and the conversation was an opportunity to talk about growing up, theatre, family, and acting.
Director Morteza Atabakija brings to Sarajevo a warm, witty, and beautifully shot story about how women’s emancipation in a small Turkish village began with a shooting competition. A film 32 METERS will be screened at Competition Programme – Documentary Film.
This year’s main CineLink documentary activities were concentrated on 16 and 17 August. At their center was Docu Rough Cut Boutique, a long-standing program jointly developed by CineLink Industry Days and the Balkan Documentary Center, which brought five feature-length documentaries at the advanced editing stage to Sarajevo.
Nine years after winning the Heart of Sarajevo with her debut film SCARY MOTHER Georgian director Ana Urushadze returns with an odyssey about a famous actor whose audition for a supporting role sparks an introspective journey. A film will be screened at Competition Programme – Narrative Feature Film.
Deciding to make a film about her aunt Gordana, the funniest person she knows, director Bojana Novaković had no idea that she would open a story about sexual violence, addiction, and family traumas. A film FORBIDEN AUNT will be screend at Competition Programme – Documentary Film.
The Festival audience can explore a rich retrospective of Farhadi's work, including his latest film PARALLEL STORIES, as part of the Tribute to programme at this year's Sarajevo Film Festival.
At a gala screening held tonight at the National Theater Sarajevo, the 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival welcomed director Lance Hammer ahead of screening his award-winning film QUEEN AT SEA.
After receiving a prestigious award at the Coca-Cola Open-Air Cinema, the Hollywood actor saw his wish fulfilled: his film Welcome to Sarajevo was screened on 35mm film, just as it was at the Festival in 1997.
The 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival hosted an event dedicated to the second edition of the Adriatic Film Awards (AFA), which will gather film and television creators and professionals from across the region from October 23 to 25 in Porto Montenegro.
During his masterclass at the 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival, the acclaimed actor reflected on his early life, the impact of Cheers, and the good times he has enjoyed in Sarajevo.
Three documentary films addressing important political and social themes through personal stories were presented at the Docu Press Corner. Directors and producers from Moldova, Slovenia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina shared their experiences and challenges during the filmmaking process with the audience.
Last night at the Coca-Cola Open Air Cinema, Sarajevo audiences had the opportunity to watch the film NO GOOD MEN. The screening was attended by actor and co-writer Anwar Hashimi, who also took part in today’s "Grand Coffee with..." discussion at Festival Square.
After its premiere in her home country, Kosovo director Blerta Basholli's DUA came to Sarajevo audiences as part of the Competition Programme of the 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival. The film is set in Pristina in the late 1990s, as war approaches, and thirteen-year-old Dua tries to find her place among her peers and in her own body.
THE BALKAN COWBOY is a deeply personal, emotional and investigative journey into the past. By reconstructing someone else’s life, it also becomes a way of reflecting on your own. A film was screned at Competition Programme – Documentary Film.
At 32. Sarajevo Film Festival documentary lovers and animal lovers alike will have the chance to see the world premiere of BEAR WITH ME, the first feature-length documentary by Bulgarian filmmaker Martin Genovski. The film tells the moving story of Maxy, a wild animal trainer who spent much of her life working in circuses. It explores the extraordinary bond between her and her furry companions.
After living in Croatia, Bosnia, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands, the director set out - armed with humor and self-irony - on a search for the roots of her own non-belonging. A film FRAGMENTS OF BELONGING will be screened at Competition Programme – Documentary Film.
In DUA, director Blerta Basholli tells an intimate coming-of-age story inspired by her own memories of growing up in Kosovo during the 90s, proving that even in the darkest of times people still search for hope, friendship, and joy. A film will be screened at Competition Programme – Narrative Feature Film.
Following the award ceremony, Michael Winterbottom's 1997 film WELCOME TO SARAJEVO, in which Harrelson plays one of the leading roles, will be screened.
The film NO GOOD MEN does not show Afghanistan only through war and tragedy. Instead, it brings a touching story about people who try to build ordinary lives through humor and warmth.
Woody Harrelson, who will be awarded the Honorary Heart of Sarajevo at the 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival in recognition of his exceptional contribution to the art of cinema and his exceptional acting career, has arrived in Sarajevo.
Documentary films in the Docu Press Corner programme bring emotional stories ranging from nostalgic journeys and pop-culture symbols to confronting a painful past.
Following its world premiere in the "Un Certain Regard" section of the Cannes Film Festival, where it won the award of the same name, the film EVERYTIME by Austrian director Sandra Wollner will have its regional premiere tonight as part of the Competition Programme – Narrative Feature Film at the 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival. On this occasion, a press conference with the film crew was held today at the National Theatre.
Equipped with cameras, microphones, curiosity and knowledge, a director and a psychotherapist headed to prison. For eighteen months, every Thursday they spent time with those convicted of serious crimes – murderers, smugglers, drug dealers, robbers... The film WHEN I GET OUT will be screened at Competition Programme – Documentary Film
To find a subject for her film, director Raisa Răzmeriță did not have to look far: in her own native village she already knew a woman, Elena, beneath whose cheerful and infectious energy lay a much deeper story. The film ELECTING MS SANTA will be screened at Competition Programme – Documentary Film.
Kosara Mitić’s debut feature delivers a poignant portrait of adolescence through the story of a school trip, confronting us with a collective failure of society. The crew of 17 emphasizes the urgent need to address sexual education and the systemic neglect of of youth across the region.
In a film EVERYTIME by Sandra Wollner, which will be screened in Competition Programme – Narrative Feature Film, a grieving mother embarks on a long-postponed vacation in the aftermath of a tragedy, exploring the unexpected relationships that emerge from shared grief.
Inspired by a true event that shook the region, 17 tells the story of Sara, her trauma, and the strength she has to find to cope with the aftermath. The film will be screened at Competition Programme – Narrative Feature Film of 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival.
Convinced that there are no good men left in Afghanistan, Naru fights for custody of her son after her divorce, but her perspective shifts when a journalist offers her an unexpected opportunity.
Andrej, a seasoned criminal investigator, faces a shocking revelation when he encounters his estranged brother, Kristian, as a domestic violence perpetrator.
Confined in the worn-down family house, the members of the family are forced to confront long-suppressed tensions and difficult choices, while one of them will have to make the ultimate sacrifice.
THE BELOVED is a deeply emotional film about a father and daughter, but also about filmmaking, power, trust and the sometimes dangerous line between life and art
After the emotional collapse that follows her mother’s death, Maruša builds an online bond with Alja, a nurse living in a small coastal town in Germany.
In Small Things, two sisters return to their family home on an isolated Croatian island, where, over the course of a single weekend under the same roof, old conflicts, responsibilities, and tensions rise to the surface.
A small crew of Serbian adventurers set off on a 10,000-kilometre journey from New York to Los Angeles, and over the course of 50 days they managed to experience more adventures in an old Yugo than most people do in a lifetime. Directors Filip Grujić and Aleksa Borković talk about journey and film YUGO GOES TO AMERICA, wich will be screened at Competition Programme – Documentary Film of 32. Sarajevo Film Festival.
After its world premiere at the 73rd Pula Film Festival, SMALL THINGS by director Zvonimir Jurić will have its international premiere tonight as part of the Competition Programme – Narrative Feature Film.
What is it like when good people burn in hell? The protagonists of the documentary film GOOD PEOPLE by Milcho Manchevski offer an answer. The film will be screened in Competition Programme – Documentary Film of 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival.
Director Damir Markovina dedicated his new film, WE SHALL LIVE TOGETHER which has screened in the Competition Programme – Documentary Film of 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival, to his father, Roko, anti-nationalist at heart – a rare example of someone committed to his ideals.
Urša Menart’s new film digs into the troubled early adulthood of two young women, exploring everything that could be wrong with them, only to unfold into a tender story about loneliness and friendship.
Director Urša Menart talks about the film EVERYTHING THAT'S WRONG WITH YOU which explores genuine intimacy and a sense of belonging can be found through online friendships. The film is being screend at the 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival in the Competition Program – Narrative Feature Film.
The Programmer of the Competition Programme – Student Short Film present selection of 11 films, with as many as six world premieres and a strong female perspective, which brings forth bold visions from young authors.
The prestigious Honorary Heart of Sarajevo was presented to Emily Watson, celebrating an extraordinary career highlighted by her iconic, award-winning performance in Lars von Trier's BREAKING THE WAVES.
In the film Shame and Money, Visar Morina explores poverty, pride, and the struggle to keep your dignity when the world keeps beating you down. The film will open the Competition Programme – Narrative Feature Film of the 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival tonight at the National Theatre Sarajevo
What is the situation on the Ukrainian front? Director Helena Maksyom offers a first-hand account in the film Don’t Ask Me If I Killed that once again proves that the horrors of war are more terrifying than anything you could imagine. How the film, which is being screened in the Competition Programme – Documentary Film of the 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival came about, we will find out from a conversation with the director.
Visar Morina’s new film explores class divides in Kosovo through the story of a rural family. Economic insecurity, pride, and shame lie at the heart of the movie, which opens the Competition Programme – Narrative Feature Film.
Directors Biljana Tutorov and Petar Glomazić talk about the filming process of To Hold a Mountain, arriving at Sinjavina and entering the intimate world of the protagonists.
Diego Luna, one of the most recognisable Mexican actors, directors and producers of his generation, is attending the 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival, where he will receive the Honorary Heart of Sarajevo tonight for his outstanding contribution to cinema.
Tonight, the prestigious Honorary Heart of Sarajevo will be presented to Emily Watson, celebrating an extraordinary career highlighted by her iconic, award-winning performance in Lars von Trier's BREAKING THE WAVES.
Film "The Widower" by Hari Šečić will be screened tonight at the UNIQA Open Air Cinema Stari Grad, as part of the Open Air Premiere programme selection.
The 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival was opened with a with a solemn ceremony at the National Theatre Sarajevo and the screening of Fatherland the new film by Oscar® winning Polish director Paweł Pawlikowski.
Mathilde Henrot and Alessandro Raja on balancing the Kinoscope programme, splited into two subprogrammes (Kinoscope and Kinoscope Surreal), which this year bring the most daring creations from world festivals.
Programmer Elma Tataragić reveals details about the films from the Competition Programmes – Narrative Feature and Short Film and emphasizes that the selected titles bring a rich panorama of contemporary regional film.
The award is given to a film that explores the role of young people in shaping societies and democracies, their experiences and aspirations, and the issues that concern them most.
Our city has become a place where films produced in our region make their first stop before embarking on the international festival circuit. This is the cumulative result of more than three decades of building trust with the directors who bring their films to our festival.
In cooperation with the Slovenian Cinematheque, a restored version of the Bosnian-Herzegovinian film classic "Woman with a Landscape" by Ivica Matić was screened at the Coca-Cola Open Air Cinema.
This year’s edition focuses on in-game cinematic directing, world-building, IP adaptation, vertical video and microdrama as well as AI-driven workflows
This unique cross-section award is presented to a first-time filmmaker whose work demonstrates a strong authorial voice and contributes to gender balance in cinema.
Talents Sarajevo 2026 brings together 50 young directors, producers, actors and other film professionals for six days of workshops, masterclasses, conversations, project development and meetings with leading figures from the international film industry.
The nine films bring together not only different themes, but also a wide range of aesthetic approaches – from animation and “montage of attractions” to precise interviews and inspired re-enactments.
All films share a common thread: they tell stories of people trying to live with loss, find a sense of belonging, build or preserve their identity, come to terms with themselves, or become a new version of who they are.
The 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival presents the Kinoscope and Kinoscope Surreal programmes, which once again bring a selection of films marked by distinctive auteur visions, bold cinematic language, and stories that push the boundaries of the familiar.
This program celebrates Béla Tarr's contribution to world cinema, but also to generations of authors who, through their own films, continue to carry the spirit of curiosity, rigour and cinematic freedom that found a home in Sarajevo.
This year’s CineLink Talks at the Sarajevo Film Festival feature four discussions on how storytelling and supporting systems are changing the audiovisual industry.
At the 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival, Michael Winterbottom's 1997 film Welcome to Sarajevo, which premiered at Cannes and was also screened at the 3rd Sarajevo Film Festival later that year, will be shown.
Get a 20% discount on online ticket purchases (via Festival website and mobile app) with Mastercard. The offer is valid for all Mastercard cardholders.
Because All We Have Is Us is not just a film about resistance. It reminds us that film art itself can be an act of resistance: Juárez and Donoso open up space for voices that are often not heard in global discussions about development and the green transition.
"We look forward to seeing new Swiss-Balkan coproductions emerge from these collaborations and, in the near future, premiere at the Sarajevo Film Festival.”, said Marcel Müller
“It's been many years since I've wanted to go to Sarajevo, so many colleagues have spoken beautifully about the festival and their personal experience there. I feel honored with the recognition of my work,” stated Luna.
Sarajevo Film Festival – CineLink Industry Days is proud to present this year's Spotlight on Czech Republic, organized in partnership with the Czech Audiovisual Fund.
A total of 51 films are in competition for the Heart of Sarajevo awards in the Competition Programmes of the 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival, while one film will be screened out of competition.
"My films, especially the last three which are steeped in history, have a very good home there. I'm very happy to be back and very thrilled that it's the opening film of the festival”, said Pawlikowski.
The Jury of the Competition Programme – Feature Film at the 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival will consist of Emily Watson (president), Igor Bezinović, Sara Klimoska, Matthijs Wouter Knol, and Athina Rachel Tsangari.
“It is difficult to overstate Asghar Farhadi’s significance to world cinema. His remarkable body of work reminds us that the most profound dramas are often concealed within everyday life. His films do not offer easy answers; instead, they invite us to look more closely, listen more carefully and engage with life’s complexities,” said Jovan Marjanović, Director of the Sarajevo Film Festival.
CineLink Industry Days continues to grow, thanks to the dedication of its partners and the trust of a film community committed to building the future of cinema together!
"The Sarajevo Film Festival is the most important cultural event in the country, and hosting the Opening Ceremony, in the city that shaped me, in front of the people who love me, is one of the greatest professional recognitions I could receive." said Čutuna.
As the leading cinema chain in Southeast Europe, Cineplexx is a natural partner for an award that honours the audience’s choice while supporting the theatrical life of regional films beyond the Festival.
CineLink Industry Days of the Sarajevo Film Festival announces a new partnership with NEXT STEP STUDIO by Cannes’ Semaine de la Critique, which joins the 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival as an Industry Partner.
The final selections comprise 16 feature film projects and 8 drama series projects, with women directing or co-directing 9 of the Co-Production Market titles.
The seven selected projects were officially announced at Slano Film Days 2026, in the presence of a professional audience of filmmakers, producers, and festival representatives.
The winners of the AFA Awards will be announced at a gala ceremony to be held in October in Porto Montenegro in Tivat, Montenegro, which is the main partner of the event.
This year’s CineLink workshop for projects in development will take place from 16 to 20 June in collaboration with Slano Film Days, bringing together filmmakers, producers and mentors in a unique environment dedicated to creative development and professional networking.
"Twenty years after her last visit to Sarajevo, we are truly delighted to welcome Emily Watson back to the festival", said Jovan Marjanović, Director of the Sarajevo Film Festival
Festival days are a unique opportunity for establishing and strengthening contacts and unforgettable socializing with numerous film professionals and audiences.
Representing 14 of the 20 eligible countries, the participants were chosen from a competitive pool of 632 applicants, with Greece, Romania, and Türkiye contributing the highest number of applicants
The 2026 edition welcomes six promising producers who will take part in a curated programme of professional development, strategic mentoring, and peer exchange
The selection brings a balanced range of perspectives across generational and gender lines, spanning diverse cultural contexts from the Balkans to Madagascar and North Korea
Eligible for submission are rights holders of feature and documentary films, as well as high-end television series (including drama series and sitcoms)
We invite filmmakers from Southeast Europe, Ukraine, North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia to submit their fiction and documentary projects by May 15, 2026
Our team is very eager to see your upcoming documentaries and offer tailor-made training to five projects from the region of South-East Europe and the Caucasus
Tarr was also a great friend of the Sarajevo Film Festival: in 2006, the Festival dedicated its “Tribute to” programme to him. He was the recipient of the Honorary Heart of Sarajevo at the 19th Sarajevo Film Festival (2013), and in 2014 he served as President of the Jury
The programme, titled Female Filmmakers Support Programme (FFSP), aims to support and empower women in film from the six Southeast European countries in which UNIQA operates
Sarajevo Film Festival and CineLink Industry Days are pleased to announce the Call for Entries for the CineLink Co-Production Market 2026. The deadline for project submissions is February 10, 2026.
Sarajevo Film Festival and CineLink Industry Days are pleased to announce the Call for Entries for CineLink Drama 2026. The deadline for project submissions is 15 February 2026.
The nominations have been announced for this year’s Adria Film and TV Awards, which will take place on October 25 in Porto Montenegro. These awards build on the tradition of the Heart of Sarajevo Awards for TV series, expanding them with a new concept that also includes film achievements.
After eight days of the Festival, the audience selected the best achievements. The UniCredit Audience Award for Best Feature Film at the 31st Sarajevo Film Festival went to “DJ Ahmet” directed by Georgi M. Unkovski.
Taking its name from Divija, the Slavic goddess of nature, this documentary stands apart from all others about the war in Ukraine - the director turns his lens to nature, to the beautiful living world that silently endures the devastation of war and, with quiet defiance, slowly restores itself.
The avant-garde art collective OHO, founded in 1965 and active until 1971, is one of the most fascinating phenomena not only on the art scene in Slovenia and the former Yugoslavia but also across Central and Eastern Europe. In OHO Film, director Damjan Kozole ensures that it does not fade into obscurity, showing how the perspectives of this unique group remain relevant and applicable to contemporary times
The legacy of the prematurely deceased Danijel Dozet is an immense collection of film footage - analog and digital, unmarked, undated, unsorted, and never viewed. In the hands of his daughter, director Dalija Dozet, this material in the film My Dad’s Lessons opened windows into a world of which she herself had been a part.
In recognition of his exceptional contribution to the art of film, actor Willem Dafoe was awarded the Honorary Heart of Sarajevo at the 31st Sarajevo Film Festival last night.
Azerbaijani director Imam Hasanov brings to Sarajevo the story of Mamed Dadashev, a football coach in a rural Azerbaijani village who dreams of forming a women’s football team—something almost impossible in a world where girls are expected to marry as soon as possible rather than spend their days training.
Director Tarik Hodžić talks about his film Bosnian Knight, which at first appears to be a collection of documentary footage showcasing the beauty of Bosnia, but gradually transforms into a true investigative documentary.
Speaking about his film on Haustor, one of the most influential bands in the region, director Arsen Oremović says it is neither a biography, nor a story about an album, nor about the band reuniting after 40 years, but rather a journey through the magic of everyday life.
The film CAT’S CRY by Sanja Živković will be screened tonight at 20:45 PM at the UNIQA Open Air Cinema Stari Grad in selection Open Air Premiere of the 31st Sarajevo Film Festival.
The film LEAVE ONE DAY by Amélie Bonnin was screened tonight at the Coca-Cola Open Air Cinema. The film opened the Festival de Cannes in 2025, and at the 31st Sarajevo Film Festival it will be screened in the Open Air Programme.
The 23rd CineLink Industry Days took place at 31st Sarajevo Film Festival, where projects in different formats and stages of development from Southeast Europe and the MENA region were presented.
In recognition of his outstanding contribution to the art of film, actor Willem Dafoe was presented with the Honorary Heart of Sarajevo Award at the 31st Sarajevo Film Festival.
As part of the 31st Sarajevo Film Festival, and in collaboration with UNIQA Insurance, an exhibition tennis match was held on Franc Lehár Street in the heart of Sarajevo, featuring the legendary tennis player and Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanišević.
In the film „Yugo Florida“, director Vladimir Tagić tells the story of a son who decides to care for his estranged and unbearable father during the final weeks of his life. The film will be screened tonight at National Theatre Sarajevo.
