The 31st Sarajevo Film Festival took place between 15 and 22 August 2025 in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Black comedy film The Pavilion, by Bosnian filmmaker Dino Mustafić, opened the festival. A total of 227 films from 65 countries were shown in 22 festival programmes, out of which 50 films competed for the Heart of Sarajevo awards across four competition categories: feature, documentary, short, and student films. The selection included 15 world premieres, six international, 28 regional, and two national premieres.
Ukrainian filmmaker Sergei Loznitsa served as jury president of Competition Program - Feature Film. Paolo Sorrentino, film director, screenwriter, and writer was the recipient of the Honorary Heart of Sarajevo Award for "outstanding contribution to the art of cinema". A retrospective of his films was featured as part of the festival’s "Tribute To" program. Actors Stellan Skarsgård, Ray Winstone and Willem Dafoe, were also awarded the Honorary Heart Award.
The festival closed on 22 August 2025 with the awards ceremony. Wind, Talk to Me by the Serbian director Stefan Đorđević won the Heart of Sarajevo award for best feature film.
Highlights "Watch. Think. Act. - Youth for Human Rights"
As part of this edition, in collaboration with UNESCO and the Dialogue for the Future 3 project, the festival will present the program "Watch. Think. Act. – Youth for Human Rights". Young people aged 18 to 25, through films, discussions, collaborative activities, and visits to key locations, will gain insight into the core principles of human rights, learn to identify and uphold them in daily life, and connect with like-minded peers committed to driving social change.
Special Youth Perspectives Award: From this edition newly introduced 'Special Youth Perspectives Award' with the participation of the Council of Europe will be presented. As per the Council: And it will be presented to a
Poster The poster designed by Jons Vukorep has the word 'SARAJEVO' written in the shape of a heart, representing a symbol of both the city and the award itself.
Spotlight on Sweden
This year’s Festival includes a "Spotlight on Sweden" initiative aimed at increasing collaboration between the Balkans and Sweden through co-production efforts and industry exchange.
Spotlight on Poland
The festival presented Spotlight on Poland, in partnership with the Polish Film Institute in this year's festival. It highlighted the strength of Poland’s co-production potential and the innovative frameworks, tools, and production companies.
Sarajevo Film Festival Partner Presents
In Sarajevo Film Festival Partner Presents programme the films from Doha Film Institute and the films aligning with Qatar National Vision 2030 were presented.
"Tribute To" program A retrospective of Ilya Khrzhanovsky, a Russian-born film director, screenwriter, film producer and member of the European Film Academy, was presented in "Tribute To" program.
Masterclasses
Paolo Sorrentino – Italian director and screenwriter on 17 August Michel Franco – Mexican filmmaker on 18 August Ray Winstone – English television, stage, and film actor on 19 August Ilya Khrzhanovsky – Russian-born film director, screenwriter, film producer and member of the European Film Academy on 20 August Willem Dafoe – American actor on 21 August
Opening ceremony
The opening ceremony was held with the red carpet laid down in the front of the Sarajevo National Theatre, hosted by Max Alija Ludwig, Charlotte Izmira Cavčić and Bosanian actress Lidija Kordić.
Jury
Competition Programme – Feature Film The jury of the Competition Programme – Feature Film includes 4 members and Ukraine’s Sergei Loznitsa as jury president.
Sergei Loznitsa, a Ukrainian director of Belarusian origin known for his documentary as well as dramatic films. (Jury President) Dragan Mićanović, a Serbian actor from Loznica Emanuel Pârvu, a Romanian actor and filmmaker Ena Sendijarević, a Bosnian-Dutch filmmaker and screenwriter known for her distinctive blend Tricia Tuttle, an American festival programmer, film journalist, and curator.
Sarajevo Film Festival's Special Award for Gender Equality
, Swedish film and television producer Ivan Marinović, multi-award-winning director, screenwriter and producer from Montenegro Norika Sefa, Kosovan film director, writer and editor,
CineLink Female Voices award
Aida Begić, Bosnian film director and screenwriter. Nataša Bučar, Director of the Slovenian Film Centre Dita Rietuma, Doctor of Arts, a film historian, critic and director of the National Film Centre of Latvia
Official selection
Fifty films will compete for the Heart of Sarajevo awards at the festival in the four competition sections.
Pre-opening and opening films
A special pre-festival screening of a digital version of the 1955 Yugoslavian film Hanka directed by Slavko Vorkapić was held on 14 August 2025.
The opening film The Pavilion is a Bosnian dark comedy film directed by Dino Mustafić. The film is about elderly residents of a nursing home, who frustrated by years of abuse, arm themselves and rise up against the staff, resulting in a tense confrontation with law enforcement.
English title Original title Director(s) Production countryPre-opening filmHanka (1955) Slavko Vorkapić YugoslaviaOpening film The Pavilion Paviljon Dino Mustafić Bosnia and Herzegovina
Competition Programme - Feature Film In the 'Competition Programme - Feature Film:, nine films will compete.
English title Original title Director(s) Production countryDJ Ahmet Georgi M. Unkovski North Macedonia, Czech Republic, Serbia, Croatia Fantasy Kukla Kesherovic Slovenia, North Macedonia God Will Not Help Bog Neće Pomoći Hana Jušić Croatia, Italy, Romania, Greece, France, Slovenia Otter Vidra Srđan Vuletić Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy, Croatia, KosovoSorella di Clausura Romania, Serbia, Italy, Spain Stars of Little Importance Minden Csillag Renátó Olasz HungaryYugo Florida Vladimir Tagić Serbia, Bulgaria, France, Croatia, MontenegroWhite Snail Elsa Kremser and Levin Peter Austria, Germany Wind, Talk to Me Vetre, Pričaj Sa Mnom Stefan Đorđević Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia
Competition programme - Documentary Film
There are 20 films in the Competition Programme – Documentary Film.
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%; margin-bottom:5px" ! English title ! Original title ! Director(s) ! Production country |- | colspan=2|9-Month Contract | Ketevan Vashagashvili | Georgia, Bulgaria, Germany |- | Bosnian Knight | Bosanski Vitez | Tarik Hodžić | Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia |- | colspan=2|Cuba & Alaska | Yegor Troyanovsky | Ukraine, France, Belgium |- | colspan=2|Divia | Dmytro Hreshko | Ukraine, Poland, The Netherlands, USA |- | Dreamers: People Of The Light | Xəyalpərəstlər: Işığın Uşaqları | Imam Hasanov | Azerbaijan |- | Everytime You Leave, You Are Born Again | Svaki Put Kad Odeš, Ponovo Se Rađaš | Mladen Bundalo | Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belgium |- | I Believe the Portrait Saved Me | Mua Besoj Më Shpëtoj Portreti | Alban Muja | Kosovo*, The Netherlands |- | colspan=2|In Hell With Ivo | Kristina Nikolova | Bulgaria, USA |- | I Saw a 'Suno| Suno Dikhlem | Katalin Bársony | Hungary, Belgium |- | Kite | Chartaetos | Thanos Psichogios | Greece |- | Letters | Pisma | Aysel Küçüksu | Bulgaria |-style="background:#eedd82";" | The Men's Land | Kacebis Mitsa | Mariam Khatchvani | Georgia, Hungary |- | Militantropos | | Yelizaveta Smith, Alina Gorlova, Simon Mozgoviy | Ukraine, Austria, France |- | My Dad’s Lessons | Lekcije Mog Tate | Dalija Dozet | Croatia |-style="background:#FFDEAD;" | Our Time Will Come | Unsere Zeit Wird Kommen | Ivette Löcker | Austria |- | Red Slide | Crveni Tobogan | Nebojša Slijepčević | Croatia |- | colspan=2|Steel Hotel Song | Bojan Stojčić | Bosnia and Herzegovina |- | Third World | Treći Svijet | Arsen Oremović | Croatia |- | colspan=2|Slet 1988 | Marta Popivoda | Serbia, Germany, France |- | colspan=2|Tata | Lina Vdovîi, Radu Ciorniciuc | Romania, Germany, The Netherlands
Competition Programme - Short Film In this category ten films will compete for the award.
English title Original title Director(s) Production country Berna's Eyes Sytë E Bernës Ermal Gërdovci Kosovo, North Macedonia Desert, She Ierimos Ioanna Digenaki Greece Procedure Prosedür Rabia Özmen TürkiyeAlișveriș Vasile Todinca RomaniaEraserhead In A Knitted Shopping Bag Lili Koss Bulgaria Hysterical Fit of Laughter Histerični Napad Smeha Matija Gluščević, Dušan Zorić Serbia, CroatiaIndex Radu Muntean RomaniaThe Spectacle Bálint Kenyeres Hungary, France Upon Sunrise Kad Svane Stefan Ivančić Serbia, Spain, Slovenia, Croatia Winter in March Lumi Saadab Meid Natalia Mirzoyan Armenia, Estonia, France, Belgium
Competition Programme - Student Film There are 11 films in the Competition Programme - Student Film.
English title Original title Director(s) Production country After Class Dupā Ore Marius Papară RomaniaFound & Lost Reza Rasouli AustriaHome, a Space Between Us Effi Rabsilber GreeceRahlo Jozo Schmuch CroatiaTarik Adem Tutić Serbia Curfew Komendantska Hodyna Yelyzaveta Toptyhina Ukraine Backstroke Sırtüstü Asya Günen Türkiye Living Stones Élő Kövek Jakob Ladányi Jancsó Hungary Milk And Cookies Fursecuri Și Lapte Andrei-Tache Codreanu Romania Peninsula Poluotok David Gašo CroatiaWish You Were Ear Mirjana Balogh Hungary
Out of Competition English title Original title Director(s) Production countryOHO Film Damjan Kozole Slovenia, CroatiaMan of the House Andamion Murataj Albania, Italy, Austria, Croatia, Kosovo, North Macedonia
In Focus English title Original title Director(s) Production country Desire Lines Linije Želje Dane Komljen Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Netherlands, Croatia, Germany How Come It's All Green Out Here? Kako je ovde tako zeleno? Nikola Ležaić Serbia, Croatia, Bulgaria Kontinental '25 Radu Jude Romania, Brazil, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Luxembourg Little Trouble Girls Kaj ti je deklica Urška Djukić Slovenia, Italy, Croatia, SerbiaPaleontology lesson Sergei Loznitsa Netherlands Two ProsecutorsSergei LoznitsaLatvia, France, Germany, Netherlands, Romania, Lithuania Restitution or the Dream and Reality of the Old Guard Слобода или барбаризам Želimir Žilnik Serbia, Slovenia
Open Air Programme
Open Air Program, consisting of two sections, Open Air and Open Air Premiere, line up as follows: Open Air English title Original title Director(s) Production countryThe Birthday Party Miguel Ángel Jiménez Greece, Spain, Netherlands, United KingdomBrides Nadia Fall United Kingdom Case 137 Dominik MollFranceDreams Michel Franco Mexico, United States The Great Beauty (2013) La grande bellezza Paolo Sorrentino Italy, France Leave One Day Amélie BonninFrance The Pavilion (opening film) Paviljon Dino Mustafić Bosnia and Herzegovina Sentimental Value Joachim TrierNorway, France, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, United KingdomOpen Air Premiere English title Original title Director(s) Production country Bosnian Knight Bosanski Vitez Tarik Hodžić Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia Cat's Cry Mačji krik Sanja Živković Serbia, Canada, Croatia Radio Rambo Amadeus Dušan Varda SerbiaSurviving Earth Thea Gajić United Kingdom The Lost Dream Team Izgubljeni Dream Team Jure Pavlović Croatia, Serbia, Italy, SloveniaThe Track Ryan Sidhoo Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina Whites Wash at Ninety Belo Se Pere Na Devetdeset Marko Naberšnik Slovenia, Italy, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia
Special Screening - DFI Presents
Arab films at the festival:
English title Original title Director(s) Production countryWith Hasan in Gaza Kamal Aljafari Palestine, Germany, France, Qatar Once Upon a Time in Gaza Tarzan and Arab Nasser France, Palestine, Germany, Portugal, Qatar, JordanDead Dog Sarah Francis Lebanon
Dealing with the Past