Sarajevo Film Festival: A beacon for Balkan cinema and TV
A growing hub for Southeast European talent
For over two decades, the Sarajevo Film Festival’s CineLink Industry Days has evolved into a premier event for the film and TV industry in the Balkan region. This mid-summer gathering, scheduled for August 17-22 this year, has become an essential stop for industry professionals seeking fresh cinematic voices from Southeast Europe and beyond.
A strategic calendar slot
Positioned right after the Locarno Film Festival and just before Venice and Toronto, Sarajevo occupies a unique and strategic slot in the festival calendar. Maša Marković, the festival’s head of industry, describes it as “not too big, but not small at all,” creating a sense of being the place to be for filmmakers, distributors, and industry tastemakers.
A curated approach to industry engagement
Marković attributes the event’s success to its “curational approach,” ensuring that the selection of projects for the CineLink Co-Production Market and the lineup of invited guests allow for meaningful interactions. “It’s the place where you can dedicate your time to people and projects that matter,” she says.
New changes and a fresh vibe
This year, the festival introduces several changes, including a move from the historic Hotel Europe to the ultramodern Swissotel in downtown Sarajevo. This shift is part of a broader plan to revamp the event, including the construction of a new open-air cinema and the creation of an outdoor event hub, Festival Garden.
Embracing Sarajevo’s commercial center
The new venues aim to bring more visibility to the industry by hosting events in the city’s commercial center. “We are constructing a new open-air cinema there as well,” Marković notes. “It felt like a logical step to embrace this quarter as ours and to bring the industry to the heart of Sarajevo.”
A new leadership and dynamic
This year also marks a leadership change with Ishak Jalimam taking over as the new head of CineLink. Jalimam, a veteran producer, brings a fresh perspective and dynamic to the market. “He has the approach to sense what you need as a producer and how the market needs to react,” says Marković.
A diverse lineup of projects
Jalimam oversees the selection of projects for both the co-production market and the works-in-progress strand. This year’s lineup includes notable alumni like Philip Sotnychenko with his Ukraine war drama “Times New Roman,” and Mina Mileva and Vesela Kazakova with their third fiction feature, “Mather/Papan.” Homegrown talent Aida Begić will pitch her latest feature, “Air in a Bottle.”
Celebrating regional talent
The co-production market will feature 13 projects in development, while the works-in-progress selection includes new features from filmmakers like Alisa Kovalenko, Adrian Sitaru, and Ralitza Petrova. These projects highlight the festival’s commitment to nurturing regional talent and providing a platform for their work.
Prestigious awards and recognition
Among the prizes up for grabs is the Eurimages Co-Production Development Award worth €20,000, the CineLink Impact Award offering €20,000 in consultation services, and the CineLink Female Voices Award, which has doubled its prize money to €20,000 this year.
Engaging discussions and masterclasses
The CineLink Talks program features a packed slate of masterclasses, debates, and panel discussions with key industry players. Topics include the growing influence of A.I. on film production, sustainable filmmaking, and turning popular I.P. from Southeast Europe into global phenomena.
A focus on responsibility and inclusivity
Marković emphasizes that “responsibility” is the focal point of this year’s event, with efforts to create a safer and more inclusive environment. This aligns with the broader aim to make both CineLink and the Sarajevo Film Festival a welcoming space for all.
A community of filmmakers
The festival has developed a loyal and passionate community of filmmakers, many of whom have grown with the event. For newcomers and established talents alike, Sarajevo feels like home. “The balance we strike is essential, so that we can serve both newcomers and very established filmmakers from across the region,” says Marković.
The Sarajevo Film Festival runs from August 16-23, promising a vibrant celebration of cinema and a nurturing ground for future talents.
For more information on the featured films and series, check out their trailers and details:
Stay tuned for more updates and insights from the world of cinema and TV.