The Sarajevo Film Festival has announced 51 films competing for its Heart of Sarajevo Awards, with the lineup spanning narrative features, documentary features and shorts, narrative shorts and student shorts. The announcement matters as a marker of the strength and diversity of contemporary Southeast European cinema, with the festival's creative director framing the event as one that returns films to public life rather than simply making them accessible. The selection includes Sandra Wollner's "Everytime" among the narrative features vying for top honours.

Of the 51 selected films, 21 will have their world premiere at the festival, while one title will screen out of competition; organisers reviewed 1,215 submissions to reach the final lineup. The festival's jury includes European Film Academy director Matthijs Wouter Knol and producer Athina Rachel Tsangari, alongside British actress Emily Watson, who will also receive the Honorary Heart of Sarajevo along with Iranian director Asghar Farhadi. The 32nd edition of the festival runs from 14 to 21 August.