Festival seeks to cooperate with China

SARAJEVO — Ahead of the ongoing Sarajevo Film Festival, a senior organizer says the festival expects further cooperation with the Chinese movie industry.

The film festival has developed into a major cultural event in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and southeast Europe, says Jovan Marjanovic, speaking on behalf of Mirsad Purivatra, the festival’s founder and director.

“After last year’s lockdown and our online edition, this is the first live edition during the pandemic,” says Marjanovic, adding that COVID-19 has narrowed the festival’s focus.

No Chinese movies are presented this year as the pandemic has made it more difficult for the festival to select movies, Marjanovic says.

We have a long history of showing Chinese movies, including some of the most recognized filmmakers...”

Jovan Marjanovic, organizer of the Sarajevo Film Festival

“We have a long history of showing Chinese movies, including some of the most recognized filmmakers, such as Jia Zhangke, who was a guest in our ‘tribute to’ section in 2009. His movies were played in our largest open-air cinema, Metalac,” the organizer says.

Furthermore, Marjanovic says the festival is interested in advancing its cooperation with the Chinese movie industry.

“Some 20 years ago, we established our CineLink Industry Days platform, aiming to help all movie professionals to find partners for the production and distribution of their movies,” says Marjanovic.

The platform has helped films from the region (Balkans) to be presented to the Chinese audience, and promote more Chinese films to the world, he adds.

“Due to the growth of the Chinese market for artistic films, I believe there is a growing interest on both sides to strengthen the cooperation between the Chinese film industry and film industries in this region,” he says.

The Sarajevo Film Festival, founded in 1995, has become the largest event of its kind in the Balkans region.