The Sarajevo Film Festival and the Council of Europe are introducing the Special Youth Perspectives Award, which will be presented for the first time at the 31st Sarajevo Film Festival this year. This newly created Award aims to highlight the perspectives and approaches of young people to meeting current challenges as well as the expectations of future generations.

The cross-section award will be given to the film portraying young people’s role in shaping societies and democracies, as well as their experiences and aspirations, and issues that matter the most to them.

The value of the award is EUR 7 500, and it will be presented annually, for the initial period of next three years.

Young people are shaping European societies of the 21st century in an exponentially growing digital, significantly changing demographic situation, and in rapidly degrading natural environment. Living through transitions themselves as individuals and as a social group, young people are disproportionately affected by today’s problems and crises.

Millions of young people across Europe and in its neighbouring regions are suffering from the consequences of war, conflict, and ecological disasters. Nevertheless, young people are often at the centre of developing alternative ways to promote equality and inclusion, to overcome conflict, antagonisms and social polarisation, to empower everyone, regardless of background, to realise their human rights.

Tobias Flessenkemper, Head of the Youth Department of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg stated: “As we work to broaden the space for youth perspectives in our Organisation and member States, we defend the freedom of artistic expression and the importance of audiovisual arts in being reference and platform for young people at the same time. Films are shaping democratic values in culturally diverse societies.“

“The transformative potential of cinema is often reflected by showcasing fresh and new perspectives. With the youth perspectives award we wish to encourage more engagement with the questions of being young today, and how people born in this century will shape it”, added Flessenkemper.

Jovan Marjanović, Director of the Sarajevo Film Festival, stated: "Through a series of initiatives, programmes, and activities, the Sarajevo Film Festival supports young people in their creative endeavours. With the Special Youth Perspectives Award, introduced this year by the Sarajevo Film Festival and the Council of Europe, we highlight films that reflect the reality and thoughts of today’s youth – the challenges they face, their fears and hopes – bringing them closer to the audience and emphasizing the key role young people play in shaping the future."

Bojana Urumova, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Sarajevo said: “The Sarajevo Film Festival, one of the largest cultural events in the Balkans, turned 30 years old last year. In 2025, we are marking 30 years of peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Through the new Special Youth Perspectives Award, the Council of Europe is returning to a strong partnership with this beloved festival. By helping young cinematic storytellers reach a wider audience, we hope to do our part towards surmounting divisions and building bridges, a vital task at this time of global challenges.”

This initiative is a continuation of the longstanding co-operation between the Council of Europe and the Sarajevo Film Festival, using film as a platform to promote human rights, democracy and rule of law. Furthermore, it contributes to the Council of Europe youth sector’s strategic priority on living together in peaceful and inclusive societies, and efforts to support young people active for peace and reconciliation.

The 31st Sarajevo Film Festival will take place from August 15 to 22, 2025.