Bosnian-Herzegovinian Film Festival

The Bosnian-Herzegovinian Film Festival (BHFF) is an annual event founded in 2003 and held in New York and since 2007 showcased at the Tribeca Cinemas Theatres. This Festival showcases the best of the Bosnian cinematography and also provides a platform for the international exposure for emerging Bosnian filmmakers. It showcases the best of the resurgent film production in Bosnia since the recent war, bringing the simplicity, soulfulness and the perennial dark humor of the Bosnian film to the American audiences. In addition to showcasing the Bosnian production films the festival also includes in their program films by other producers and directors that deal with historical, socio-political and cultural issues of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Bosnian-Herzegovinian Film Festival is organized by not-for-profit organizations the Voice of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Inc. and the Academy of Bosnia and Herzegovina,Inc.

History

On October 24, 2003, director Benjamin Filipović, a winner of the Grand Prix of Europe for Best Short Film and a former President of the Association of Filmmakers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, officially opened the first festival at the Two Boots Pioneer Theatre in East Village, one of New York’s cultural hubs . In its founding year the festival showcased 5 film titles.

The festival also highlighted "Aftermath," a photography exhibit by artist Sara Terry. Among other guests of the first BHFF was the lead female role of Kuduz, actress Snežana Bogdanović.

Following its debut, the BHFF€ moved to larger premises at the Anthology Film Archives, still maintaining its presence in the East Village. Film director Džemal Šabić opened the second annual Bosnian-Herzegovinian Film Festival on April 29, 2005. There were 10 film titles screened at the second BHFF.

Among festival guests were young Bosnian-Herzegovinian filmmakers and artists Sabina Vajraca, Aida Sehovic and Nebojsa Seric Shoba, as well as the director of the Sarajevo Film Festival, Mirsad Purivatra, and the former Bosnian-Herzegovinian Ambassador to the United Nations, Dr. Mirza Kusljugic.

This critical second annual event of Bosnian-Herzegovinian film set the pace for the future BHFF, making the festival much awaited tradition among its audience.

Winners

Since 2006 the festival also presents Audience Award, The BHFF Golden Apple for the Best Short or Feature Film and Audience Award for the Best Documentary Film.

*Best Feature Film
**2007 "Grbavica" - Jasmila Žbanić
**2006 "Go West" - Ahmed Imamovic

*Best Documentary Film
**2007 "Carnival" - Alen Drljević
**2006 "I See You My Friend" - Cazim Dervisevic

tatistics

To date, BHFF has screened total of 51 films viewed by over 2000 guests.

First BHFF

*Remake- Dino Mustafić
*Summer in the Golden Valley – Srđan Vuletić
*North Went Mad – Aida Begić
*10 Minutes – Ahmed Imamović
*Kuduz – Ademir Kenović

econd BHFF

*Days and Hours – Pjer Žalica
*Perfect Circle – Ademir Kenović
*Do you remember Dolly Bel – Emir Kusturica
*Cor(n)e(r) of the Matter – Džemal Sabić
*Back to Bosnia – Sabina Vajrača and Alison Hanson
*Crime and Punishment – Maria F. Warsinski
*Why are You not here – Aida Šehović and Gates Gooding
*Hop, skip and jump – Srdjan Vuletić
*A trip to the Moon – Srdjan Vuletić
*42 ½ - Slobodan Leman

Third BHFF

* Paycheck – Alen Drljevic
* Survived 'n Lived Through One More Day - Alma Becirovic
* I See You My Friend - Cazim Dervisevic
* If I wasn't Muslim – Damir Niksic
* Go West - Ahmed Imamovic
* Not So Humble Pie – Bojana Zezelj and Dejan Kovacevic
* Asim Free Man – Rusmir Agacevic
* Boy From a War Movie – Semsudin Gegic
* Well Tempered Corpses – Benjamin Filipovic
* On Wednesdays - Alma Becirovic
* Totally Personal - Nedzad Begovic
* Frame For the Picture of My Homeland – Elmir Jukic
* Srebrenica 2005 – Aida Sehovic and Gates Gooding
* Justice Unseen – Aldin Arnautovic and Refik Hodzic
* Counterpoint for Her – Danijela Majstorovic
* The Dream Job – Danijela Majstorovic
* Borderline Lovers – Miroslav Mandic

Noteworthy Guests and Participants

*Benjamin Filipović
*Džemal Sabić
*Mirsad Purivatra

External links

* [http://www.bhffnyc.org BHFF Official Website]