Powered by: Watch. Think. Act. – Youth for Human Rights implemented and funded by:
This publication was produced within the “Dialogue for the Future 3 – DFF3” project, implemented by UNDP, UNICEF, and UNESCO, in cooperation with the United Nations Resident Coordinator, and in partnership with the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The project is funded by the United Nations Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund (PBF).
The content of this publication, as well as the findings presented herein, are the sole responsibility of the Sarajevo Film Festival and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund (PBF), the United Nations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), or the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Human Rights Day 2025
Each year, the Sarajevo Film Festival reaffirms its commitment to human rights, exploring how art, creativity, and dialogue can inspire change—even in the most challenging circumstances. In 2025, the Festival proudly presents Amber Fares’s exceptional documentary Coexistence, My Ass! as the centerpiece of its 17th Human Rights Day programme.
The film illuminates how an artist can carve pathways toward understanding, empathy, and hope amidst conflict. At its heart is Noam Shuster Eliassi, a stand-up comedian whose provocative and imaginative work challenges simplistic narratives of coexistence while confronting the complex realities of occupation, identity, and resistance. Her humour opens doors, her creativity sparks dialogue, and her courage inspires action.
Yet Coexistence, My Ass! is only one part of a broader landscape of films drawn from the Festival’s regular sections, each engaging with human rights in its own way. Together, they form a rich mosaic of stories that encourage reflection, dialogue, and meaningful action. Participants of Watch. Think. Act. – Youth for Human Rights will journey through this cinematic constellation, exploring diverse perspectives and discovering how art can illuminate both the challenges and possibilities of change.
Through Shuster Eliassi’s work—and through the voices and visions shared across the programme—we are reminded that even in the face of division, creativity opens doors to empathy and connection. Art becomes a tool to question prejudice, amplify marginalized voices, and imagine futures rooted in justice and dignity.
The Sarajevo Film Festival continues to mark Human Rights Day with Watch. Think. Act., bringing together young people from across Bosnia and Herzegovina—including often overlooked communities—to experience the transformative power of cinema, dialogue, and collaboration. Inspired by Coexistence, My Ass! and the wider selection of films, participants explore how humour, creativity, and collective action can illuminate paths toward understanding, solidarity, and social change.
Watch. Think. Act. celebrates the belief that young voices, empowered through reflection and engagement, can help shape a future grounded in empathy, justice, and courage. Through dialogue and action, young people discover that change is possible, that solidarity can be built, and that the future can be crafted with hope and vision.
And with some great films along the way.
Nebojša Jovanović
Watch. Think. Act. - Youth for Human Rights
From 15 to 22 August 2025, the Sarajevo Film Festival, in partnership with UNESCO, through the Dialogue for the Future 3 project, supported by the United Nations Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund (PBF), invites young people from across Bosnia and Herzegovina to join Watch. Think. Act. – Youth for Human Rights. This longstanding Human Rights Day tradition returns with fresh energy, highlighting voices from communities beyond major urban centres and creating space for reflection, dialogue, and action.
Over seven days in Sarajevo, participants aged 18 to 25 will explore human rights through the powerful lens of cinema. Carefully selected films from the Competition Program, Kinoscope, and other Festival sections open windows into diverse stories and experiences. In line with DFF3’s mission to foster social cohesion, these conversations go beyond the screen, connecting young people from different backgrounds and perspectives.
Beyond the cinema, participants will engage in interactive workshops, visits to cultural institutions, and joint activities with the Festival’s youth program focused on dialogue and reflection. How do we recognize injustice in our communities? How can we respond to inequality or discrimination when we encounter it? What role can art, dialogue, or creative expression play in shaping the world we live in?
As a specialized agency of the United Nations, UNESCO is committed to advancing human rights, promoting freedom of expression, and safeguarding cultural diversity as essential foundations for
peaceful and inclusive societies. Through initiatives like Watch. Think. Act., within the framework of DFF3, UNESCO works to empower young people as active citizens - equipped with knowledge, empathy, and creativity to challenge injustice, foster mutual understanding, and contribute to building a culture of peace.
At its core, Watch. Think. Act. is about empowerment and responsibility. It shows how young people can step forward to question, reflect, and engage. It demonstrates how art can ignite conversation, challenge assumptions, and inspire action. By connecting participants with peers and professionals from across the country, and by drawing on DFF3’s focus on inclusive dialogue, the program nurtures empathy, critical thinking, and the courage to speak out for justice.
This year, voices from across Bosnia and Herzegovina will converge, forming a network of young changemakers ready to shape the present and the future. How do we ensure that our actions today build the world we hope to see tomorrow? Watch. Think. Act. invites young people not just to watch, but to think deeply, to question boldly, and to act with intention, creativity, and courage.
Dialogue for the Future 3 (DFF3) is jointly implemented by UNDP, UNICEF, and UNESCO, on behalf of the United Nations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in partnership with the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The project is funded by the United Nations Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund (PBF).
Film Programme
FRIDAY, AUGUST 15
21:00
UNIQA Open Air Cinema Stari Grad / Screening
PAVILJON Open Air
Director: Dino Mustafić
Country: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, North Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro
SATURDAY, AUGUST 16
12:00
Meeting Point Cinema / Screening
HAPPYEND Kinoscope
Director: Neo Sora
Country: Japan, United States
21:00
Cineplexx 5 / Screening
PRISON BEAUTY CONTEST BH Film
Director: Srđan Šarenac
Country: Serbia, Brazil, Bosnia and Herzegovina
SUNDAY, AUGUST 17
10:00
Bosnian Cultural Centre / Masterclass
PAOLO SORRENTINO MASTERCLASS
15:30
Cineplexx 1 / Screening
DREAMERS: PEOPLE OF THE LIGHT
Competition Documentaries
Director: Imam Hasanov
Country: Azerbaijan
19:00
Cineplexx 7 / Screening
NORTH SOUTH MAN WOMAN
Dealing with the Past
Directors: Morten Traavik, Sun Kim
Country: Norway, Latvia, Republic of Korea (South Korea)
MONDAY, AUGUST 18
15:00
Meeting Point Cinema / Screening THE HAND OF GOD
Tribute to Paolo Sorrentino
Director: Paolo Sorrentino
Country: Italy, United States
21:00
BH Telecom Open Air Cinema Centar / Screening
OTTER
Competition Feature Film
Directors: Srđan Vuletić
Country: Montenegro, Italy, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo
TUESDAY, AUGUST 19
12:00
Cineplexx 7 / Screening
COEXISTANCE, MY ASS!
Special Human Rights Day Screening
Directors: Amber Fares
Country: United States, France
22:00
National Theatre / Screening MAN OF THE HOUSE
Competition Features / Out of Competition
Director: Andamion Murataj
Country: Albania, Italy, Austria, Croatia, Kosovo, North Macedonia
THURSDAY, AUGUST 21
17:00
Youth Theatre / Screening
BRIDES TeenArena
Director: Nadia Fall
Country: United Kingdom
18:00
Cineplexx 8 / Screening RED SLIDE
Competition Documentaries
Director: Nebojša Slijepčević
Country: Croatia
18:00
Cineplexx 8 / Screening THE MAN’S LAND
Competition Documentaries
Director: Mariam Bakacho Khatchvani
Country: Georgia, Hungary
*Please secure your ticket at the Box Office
Hosting Watch. Think. Act.
Programme Designer
LEJLA GAČANICA
Lejla is a Human Rights Officer with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina. A PhD candidate in law, she brings over 18 years of experience as a legal expert and researcher in the fields of transitional justice and human rights. She has authored numerous scholarly articles, analytical reports, and research papers in these areas. Lejla collaborate with Sarajevo Film Festival on design and leading youth programs Dealing with the Past and Human Rights from its founding.
Facilitator
DANIELA PREMUDA
Human rights lawyer and activist, specializing in the rights of women, LGBTQ+ persons, and refugees. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in International & European Law from The Hague (cum laude) and a Master’s in Public International Law (Human Rights track) from Utrecht University, where she was awarded the Bright Minds Fellowship. Daniela has professional experience in the legal sector and NGO coordination, and she actively participates in numerous human rights and animal rights organizations, including Youth Initiative for Human Rights, BiH Pride, and Zagreb Pride. Committed to social activism, she contributes through legal analysis, public debates, and volunteer work, striving to advance equality, justice, and awareness of gender and queer issues in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Venue
EUROPE HOUSE
Europe House is a long-term communications project of the Delegation of the European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina, superseding the EU Info Centre in BiH, with its central office in Sarajevo (Europe House) and a network of Europe House Info Points across Bosnia and Herzegovina. As a project, Europe House provides relevant information on programmes, projects, institutions and policies of the European Union, as well as on relations between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Union. Europe House network activities include organisation of informative and inspiring events across BiH, with the aim of promoting European values in BiH.
Guest Experts
IRMA BEJDIĆ
Economist, author, and PhD candidate, renowned for her inspiring journey of recovery and perseverance. Severely injured in a 2011 accident, she overcame immense odds to complete two master’s degrees and publish her memoir “Irma i ja”, named Best First Book at the Sarajevo Book Fair. Today, as a PhD candidate in Applied Econometrics at the University of Innsbruck, Irma continues to inspire with her unbroken spirit, passion for learning, and artistry as a pianist, skier, and athlete.
NERMIN HAMZAGIĆ
Nermin Hamzagić is a Bosnian filmmaker and director known for his contributions to contemporary cinema in Bosnia and Herzegovina. His work often explores social and political issues, reflecting the complexities of life in the post-war Balkans. Hamzagić’s films have been screened at various international film festivals, earning him recognition for his distinctive storytelling and cinematic style. He is also involved in the Sarajevo Film Academy, where he contributes to theeducation and mentorship of emerging filmmakers in the region. Hamzagić’s films are noted for their focus on human rights, social justice, and the lived experiences of marginalized communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. His work is a significant part of the contemporary Bosnian film scene, offering a powerful commentary on the challenges and resilience of the society.
ADEMIR KENOVIĆ
Film director, producer, and professor, educated in Sarajevo and at Denison University (USA). He gained international recognition with Ovo malo duše (A Little Bit of Soul), which opened the Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes in 1991, and with Kuduz (1989). His most celebrated film, The Perfect Circle (1997), set during the siege of Sarajevo, won the Prix François Chalais at Cannes and numerous international awards. During the war, as part of the Sarajevo Group of Authors (SAGA), he created documentaries that brought the reality of the siege to the world. In the post-war years, he produced acclaimed Bosnian films such as Fuse (2003), Summer in the Golden Valley (2003), and Days and Hours (2004), cementing his role as a key figure in the revival of Bosnian cinema.
AIDA KALENDER
Cultural manager, journalist, and activist, educated in the Netherlands and the UK. She began her career as a music journalist and producer at Sarajevo’s Radio Zid in the 1990s, and was one of the founders and organisers of Futura, an influential post-war cultural festival (1998–2002) that brought together music, contemporary art, and social activism. As head of the NGO Akcija, she conceived and led the civic campaign “I am the Museum”, which successfully reopened the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina after years of closure, earning the prestigious Europe Nostra award. Since 2015, she has directed Bosnia’s Creative Europe Desk, helping channel over €4 million into the country’s cultural and audiovisual sectors through education, mentoring, and advocacy. She regularly lectures on cultural policy and activism, sharing her experience with the next generation of cultural professionals.
JASNA KOVAČEVIĆ
Professor of management and organization, researcher, and activist, specializing in leadership, organizational behavior, and educational leadership. She holds a PhD from the University of Sarajevo, where she also teaches and mentors students. Jasna has authored and co-authored over 28 academic publications, including work on transformational leadership and social skills. She is actively engaged in promoting gender equality and inclusive education, participating in projects that enhance the role of women in higher
education across the Balkans. Her work bridges research and practice, fostering socially responsible organizations and shaping future leaders in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
DINO MUSTAFIĆ
Theatre and film director, educator, and cultural leader, recognized for his innovative approach to both stage and screen. He graduated from the Academy of Performing Arts in Sarajevo (Directing) and the Faculty of Philosophy (Comparative Literature). Mustafić has directed over 90 theatre productions, ranging from classic works by Sartre and Shakespeare to contemporary plays by Martin McDonagh and others, staged across the Balkans and internationally. His production of Helver’s Night with Kamerni Theatre 55 holds the record as Bosnia and Herzegovina’s most internationally awarded play. In film, Mustafić gained international acclaim with Remake (2003), a feature which premiered at Rotterdam and won awards in Munich, San Francisco, and Berlin. A key figure in post-war Bosnian theatre, Mustafić led the MESS International Theatre Festival from its revival in 1997 until 2016, founding the MESS Theatre Stage and MESS Dance Company. He served as Artistic Director of Drama at the Sarajevo National Theatre (2003–2005) and has been its Managing Director since 2021.
PAVLE MARKOVIĆ
Montenegrin young actor currently studying Acting at the Academy of Performing Arts in Sarajevo. He is known for his roles in the films Otter and Gym, as well as the TV projects A Life’s Worth, Samonikli, Komar, and Frust (2022). In addition to acting, Pavle is skilled in dance, martial arts, sword fighting, horseback riding, skateboarding, and guitar. He actively contributes to film and television productions in the region, gaining recognition for his dynamic and energetic approach to a wide range of roles.
Cultural Heritage
MUSEUM
OF LITERATURE AND PERFORMING ARTS OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
Established in Sarajevo, this museum is dedicated to preserving, documenting, and showcasing the literary and theatrical heritage of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Its collections include manuscripts, personal archives, photographs, and stage designs of prominent writers, playwrights, and actors.
Serving as both a research hub and a cultural space, the museum organizes exhibitions, educational programs, and events that highlight the country’s rich artistic and literary traditions. It plays a vital role in celebrating and safeguarding Bosnia and Herzegovina’s creative legacy, inspiring new generations of artists, scholars, and audiences.
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
Founded in 1888, the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina is the country’s oldest and most significant cultural and scientific institution. Home to extensive collections in archaeology, ethnology, natural history, and art, it preserves and showcases the rich cultural and historical heritage of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The museum has been a center for research, education, and public engagement for over a century, hosting exhibitions, educational programs, and cultural events. Following a prolonged closure, it was successfully reopened thanks to civic initiatives, highlighting its role as a symbol of resilience, knowledge, and shared national identity. As a guardian of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s cultural heritage, the museum continues to inspire appreciation for the country’s diverse history and traditions.
Coexistence, My Ass!
United States, France, 2025, Colour, 95 min, English, Farsi, Arabic, Hebrew
Director: Amber Fares
Screenplay: Amber Fares, Rachel Leah Jones
Noam Shuster Eliassi grew up as the literal poster child for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process before making a hard pivot to stand-up comedy and political satire. But, as the region sinks deeper into devastating violence, she must meet the moment by challenging her audiences with hard truths that are no laughing matter
Brides
United Kingdom, 2025, Colour, 93 min, English, Turkish
Director: Nadia Fall
Screenplay: Suhayla El-Bushra
Teenage best friends Doe and Muna are going on the trip of a lifetime. Quiet, watchful Doe hasn’t travelled since she arrived in the UK at the age of three as a refugee from Somalia. Badass Muna, of Pakistani heritage, is the dominant force of the pair, leading Doe through airport security. The girls are giddy; excited about their adventure. They are not going on holiday but to Istanbul, to be met by a stranger who will take them to the border to start a new life in Syria.
Dreamers: People of the Light
Azerbaijan, 2025, Colour, 86 min, Azerbaijani
Director: Imam Hasanov
Screenplay: Imam Hasanov
In Sheki, a remote town in Azerbaijan, former footballer Mamed dreams of organising the country’s first all-girls’ football team—a bold idea in a deeply traditional community for which early marriage is the norm. The unwavering support of his wife Svetlana notwithstanding, at first Mamed’s vision seems impossible. It’s made all the stranger by the presence of two visiting space travellers, who appear keen to become involved. As local girls start their training, they face mounting resistance from a society not quite ready to embrace change. But with each practice and every game, a quiet revolution grows.
Happyend
Japan, United States, 2024, Colour, 113 min, Japanese
Director: Neo Sora
Screenplay: Neo Sora
In a near-future Tokyo, where the threat of a catastrophic earthquake pervades daily life, two rabblerousing best friends are about to graduate from high school. One night, they pull a prank on their principal, which leads to a surveillance system being installed in the school. Stuck between the oppressive security system and a darkening national political situation, the two respond in contrasting ways, leading them to confront differences they never had to face before.
Fran has chosen to live a celibate life as a man, following the tradition of the Albanian Virgins. Now, if she is to become a mother to her motherless niece, Fran must make a difficult choice: maintaining her status of “manhood” or giving it up and reconnecting with the maternal feelings she has long suppressed. When the time comes to move forward in life, it is her niece’s choice that forces Fran to confront her deepest fears when she must decide whether to act on her desire to keep the young girl close or to give her wings.
North South Man Woman
Norway, Latvia, Republic of Korea (South Korea), 2025, Colour, 93 min, Korean
Director: Morten Traavik, Sun Kim
Screenplay: Morten Traavik, Sun Kim
An old Korean proverb says the most beautiful women are in the North, and the most handsome men are in the South. What happens when you try to bring them together? Filmmakers Morten Traavik and Sun Kim journey across the Korean divide to follow Yujin Han, a sharp, charismatic entrepreneur who was born in North Korea and is the founder of LoveStorya, a matchmaking agency with a radical mission: pairing North Korean refugee women with South Korean men.
Otter
Montenegro, Italy, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, 2025, Colour, 88 min, Montenegrin
Director: Srđan Vuletić
Screenplay: Stefan Bošković
Hana is a shy sixteen-year-old girl, secretly in love with a schoolmate from the local duo Luka & Balsha known from social media. The next morning Hana loses her father. While the family argues about what a “proper” funeral looks like, Hana faces her mother’s inability to resist the demands of men. Disappointed and confused, Hana runs away to the lake. There a new disappointment awaits her. Hana very quickly realizes that Balsha is not just a boy with whom she shares mutual feelings. An emotional mess arises, outbursts of jealousy, hidden violence in the triangle with Luka and Balsha. Hana is offered a choice whether to stay silent about what happened or to finally take a stand.
Prison Beauty Contest
Serbia, Brazil, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, 2024, Color, 80 min, Portuguese
Director: Srđan Šarenac
Screenplay: Srđan Šarenac
Inside a Brazilian women’s prison, a daring beauty contest becomes an act of rebellion and a reclaiming of one’s identity, as three inmates — Joyce, Angel, and Sueli — defy the uniformity of prison life in search of dignity, identity, and hope.
Red Slide
Croatia, 2025, Colour, 27 min, Croatian
Director: Nebojša Slijepčević
Screenplay: Nebojša Slijepčević
Two groups of citizens clash over the redesign of a children’s playground. Is this a struggle for territorial control or ideological supremacy? Who are the true locals, and who are the foreign agents?
The Hand of God
Italy, United States, 2021, Colour, 130 min, Italian
Director: Paolo Sorrentino
Screenplay: Paolo Sorrentino
It’s the 1980s and seventeen-year old Fabietto Schisa might be an awkward Italian teen struggling to find his place, but he finds joy in an amazing family who love life, relish mischief, and take deep pleasure in meddling in one another’s complicated relationships. Then comes a pair of events that alter everything. One is the triumphant arrival in Naples of a god-like athletic legend: high-flying football idol Maradona, who has Fabietto—and the whole scrappy city—feeling a pride that once seemed impossible. The other is an inconceivable accident that will rip the bottom of Fabietto’s world out from under him—and set his future in motion.
The Men’s Land
Georgia, Hungary, 2025, Colour, 15 min, Svan
Director: Mariam Bakacho Khatchvani
Screenplay: Mariam Bakacho Khatchvani
In the mountains of Georgia, Ushguli custom dictates that, in the absence of a son, a family’s land must be handed down to the next male relative who will perpetuate the family name. THE MEN’S LAND follows the journey of an aspiring singer as she fights for her property in the face of dated local rules and traditions, her song becoming a bulwark against humiliation.
The Pavilion
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, North Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, 2025, Colour, 100 min, Bosnian
Režija / Director: Dino Mustafić
Scenarij / Screenplay: Viktor Ivančić,
After years of abuse and humiliation, residents of the Pavilion, a home for the elderly, start a rebellion. Armed by illegal means, they capture the home, take its staff hostage and clash with authorities. Their desperate battle turns into a political and media spectacle and their old age turns into their advantage: they have nothing to lose and are ready to fight to the bitter end. A new order is established in the Pavilion, guided by the thirst for revenge and accumulated rage, and negotiating with the rebels becomes impossible.
