Sarajevo Film Festival Director Jovan Marjanovic Talks “Vibrant” Lineup, Uptick In Female Directors & Developing Long-Term, “Meaningful” Relationships With Filmmakers
Sarajevo Film Festival will open its 32nd edition on 14 August with Paweł Pawlikowski’s Fatherland and close on 21 August with a restored version of Danis Tanović’s No Man’s Land. Director Jovan Marjanović said the programme highlights Southeast European cinema while linking established international filmmakers with regional talent, and argued that Fatherland’s historical and family themes should resonate in Sarajevo.
The festival’s four competition sections will present 51 films, including 21 world premieres, six international premieres, one European premiere and 23 regional premieres. Marjanović highlighted near gender parity among competing filmmakers, including films by Urša Menart and Dina Duma, and said many entries explore individuals struggling within changing societies, alongside family trauma and more forward-looking, genre-blending work.
In short
- Sarajevo Film Festival opens with Pawlikowski’s Fatherland on 14 August.
- Competition programme includes 51 films and 21 world premieres.
- Director cites strong gender balance and socially focused regional cinema.
Explained simply
The Sarajevo Film Festival is an annual film event held in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capital, bringing together films and filmmakers from Southeast Europe and further afield. Its programme includes competitions where films are shown to audiences and considered for awards.
Jovan Marjanović is the festival’s director, responsible for shaping its programme and building links with filmmakers. The festival gives regional directors a platform alongside established international names, and its selection can offer a view of the stories and styles emerging from Southeast European cinema.
The programme also reflects wider changes in filmmaking, including the growing presence of women directors and films that mix genres or explore family and social change. These choices matter to viewers and the film industry because festivals can help new work reach audiences, critics and potential partners.
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