The past six days at the 30th Sarajevo Film Festival provided a unique and unforgettable experience for young people from across BiH. The Human Rights Day program, organized as part of the Sarajevo Film Festival in partnership with the Institute for Youth Development KULT and the Young European Ambassadors Network (YEA), gave participants the chance to engage directly with human rights issues through film screenings and thought-provoking discussions.
“I had a great time!“, “Wonderful experience, lots of learning and amazing people!“, “A great experience that I would love to have again!” are just some of the impressions that young people shared after completing the program. For the third consecutive year, the Human Rights Day program has united young activists from across Bosnia and Herzegovina, offering them a platform to discuss human rights and explore the impact of art in addressing critical social issues.
This special program emphasized the importance of film, art and culture as tools for creating a space to discuss sensitive topics. Over the course of the six-day program, participants watched some of the most impactful films that tackled critical issues related to human rights violations. The films included “Milk” by director Stephanie Kolk, “Diaries from Lebanon” by director Myriam El Hajj, and “GAIA” by Nermin Hamzagić and Enis Čišić.
“The Sky Above Zenica”, a film that delighted the audience, was shown as part of the 16th Human Rights Day, with the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in BiH. The film, directed by Nanna Frank Møller and Zlatko Pranjić, follows activists from Zenica as they strive to reveal the true environmental impact of the local ironworks, despite backing from authorities and European investors. The film screening provoked strong reactions and was followed by a panel discussion on the topic “Investing in Tomorrow: Who Owns the Future?” moderated by journalist and director Robert Zuber.
In addition to film screenings, the program included a series of dynamic panels and workshops. Through topics such as statelessness in the panel “Being Invisible. Living in the Shadow of Statelessness”, organized in cooperation with UNHCR, participants learned about the problems faced by stateless persons. The panel “Human Rights in Times of Uncertainty” focused on the challenges for human rights in the era of populism and authoritarian governments, while the panel “The F word(s): Feminism, Femicide, Freedom”, organized in partnership with UN Women, opened a discussion on feminism, femicide and freedom. Participants also discussed rebuilding trust and security after conflict at the panel “In the Aftermath of Conflict – Rebuilding Trust and Security.”
Young people had the opportunity to participate in the Memory Walk with historian Nicolas Molla, visit the BiH History Museum and explore the exhibitions Yughost and Pleonexia II – Stolen Future in Europe House.
The 30th Sarajevo Film Festival proved to be more than just a film event—it served as a platform for the young generation seeking to drive social change through active engagement. This year, the Human Rights Day program once again proved that art can be a powerful tool in raising awareness in society and motivating young people to become active citizens.
The six-day festival provided young people from across Bosnia and Herzegovina with a rare chance to engage with experienced filmmakers, share ideas, and work together on creating a more just and inclusive society for everyone. The positive feedback from participants highlights that this program has become a key segment of the Sarajevo Film Festival, demonstrating its importance in promoting change and raising awareness about human rights.
Photo credit: Europe House, Sarajevo Film Festival
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