Sarajevo Film Festival 2011
2011-08-03By Haris Memija for Southeast European Times in Sarajevo
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Email this to a friendBosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) hosted the 17th Sarajevo Film Festival (SFF)
from July 22nd to 30th.
The opening reception at the Konak residence has become a tradition over
the years.
Organisers and participants say the festival has become a main event for
both filmmakers and film lovers.
About 100,000 film buffs from around the region and the world attend the
festival every year.
Audiences enjoyed over 200 movies in four outside cinemas. The Open Air
Programme offered film lovers an unforgettable experience.
Cinema City, a new multiplex movie theatre in Sarajevo, hosted the
documentary programme.
More than 700 journalists from around the world covered the
event.
Film producer and SFF Director Mirsad Purivatra helped launch the festival
in 1995. Now, the SFF is one of the main meeting venues for regional producers
and authors.
"Our public is mainly from BiH, but we also attract large numbers of
international film professionals who find the Sarajevo Film Festival a unique
point for networking and learning about the possibilities this region has to
offer," the festival organisers said.
The festival aims to promote Southeast European artists and improve film
production in the region. Filmmakers compete in Feature, Short and Documentary
film categories.
Renowned Serbian actor Bogdan Diklic has won several SFF awards.
Bosnian actress Zana Marjanovic was in several movies presented at the
festival.
According to festival organisers, the SFF presents important and innovative
films from around the world.
The BiH Film programme showcased films from the country, produced in the
past year.
"A Cell Phone Movie" won 1st prize in the Documentary Programme. Director
Nedzad Begovic, producer Gordan Memija and music editor Adnan Zilić [from right
to left] presented the movie.
Director Pjer Zalica (left) presented the movie "Plavi orkestar" (The Blue
Orchestra) with musician Sasa Losic. The film was named one of the best of the
festival.
Purivatra [left] presented the "Sarajevo Heart", to Emil Tedeschi,
president of Atlantic Group.
Slovenian actress Nika Manevski participated in the programme for teens,
which aims to recruit new talents for the film industry.
The Children's Programme is the most visited event at the festival.
SFF organisers and supporters say that art and culture can foster reconciliation in the post-war region.
