Sarajevo Film Festival

21st edition of the Sarajevo Film Festival

This international cultural event, held for the first time in 1995 at the height of the siege of the Bosnian capital, seeks to support and further regional cinema and authors. It was held from 14 to 22 August 2015.

Short and full-length films by young directors from Eastern and Southern Europe are screened at the Festival, together with independent productions. The festival is a professional platform for the seventh art in a region where the Council of Europe is very active. The issues addressed by the contending works quite often tie in with the values upheld by the Organisation. Many are furthermore co-financed by the Council of Europe's Eurimages support fund for European cinema.

The Council of Europe reiterates its support to the Sarajevo Film Festival and will organise various events besides screenings.

The “Heart of Sarajevo for the Best Feature Film” award, which is sponsored by the Council of Europe, went to the film “Mustang”, directed by Deniz Gamze Ergüven from Turkey.

Five young actresses who act in the film - Güneş Şensoy, Doga Doğuşlu, Tuğba Sunguroğlu, Elit İşcan and Ilayda Akdoğan – were jointly awarded the “Heart of Sarajevo for Best Actress”.

Date: 14 August (9.30 - 19.00)
Venue: Sarajevo

On the occasion of the opening of the Film Festival of Sarajevo, a high-level conference on Women in today's European film industry wil be organised under the auspices of the Chairmanship of Bosnia and Herzegovina of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers.

Date: 20 August (14.30 - 17.30)
Venue: Festival Square

Date: 21 August (11.00 - 18.00)
Venue: Café Meeting Point      

The Living Library is an innovative method designed to promote dialogue, reduce prejudices and encourage understanding. The Living Library works exactly like a normal library – readers come and borrow a ‘book’ for a limited period of time. There is only one difference: the Books in the Living Library are human beings, and the Books and readers enter into a personal dialogue.

The Books in the Living Library are people representing groups frequently confronted with prejudices and stereotypes, and who are often victims of discrimination, prejudice or social exclusion.