Sarajevo Film Festival’s Sole Director Jovan Marjanović Says the 32nd Edition Will Prioritize Emotional Screenings and Bridge-Building

Jovan Marjanović, the sole director of the Sarajevo Film Festival, said the event’s upcoming 32nd edition is being designed to carry forward what he described as the festival’s “legacy of war” while also using cinema to “build bridges” between communities. In a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter published on August 14, Marjanović said the festival’s programming choices are rooted in the history surrounding Sarajevo, and that this year’s slate includes screenings he expects will be “very emotional.”

Marjanović is in his fifth year serving as the festival’s sole director, a role he described as giving him direct responsibility for shaping the festival’s public face and artistic direction. He tied that continuity to the festival’s identity, characterizing Sarajevo Film Festival as more than a rotating showcase, and instead as a recurring cultural meeting point that reflects the city’s experiences and the region’s ongoing rebuilding.

Ahead of the 32nd installment, Marjanović indicated that some of the festival’s most closely watched programs will center on audiences’ emotional connection to the stories being presented. While he did not provide additional specifics in the interview summary, he framed the upcoming screenings as part of a deliberate approach to ensure the festival’s selection resonates beyond entertainment, reaching toward collective memory and communal reflection.

The director’s comments also placed emphasis on how the festival intends to function as a connector rather than a divider. In describing the festival’s mission, he pointed to film’s capacity to bring people into shared viewing experiences, including audiences who may approach the same subject matter from different backgrounds shaped by history.

Marjanović’s remarks come as the festival continues to position its identity around Sarajevo’s wartime legacy and the post-war effort to rebuild social ties through culture. In this framing, the festival’s programming is portrayed as both reflective and forward-looking, pairing recognition of difficult history with a stated commitment to bridge-building through the medium of film.

With the 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival approaching, Marjanović said the selection and scheduling choices for this year’s edition are intended to underscore that connection. Organizers and attendees will be watching for which screenings are singled out as the most emotionally charged as well as how the broader theme of connecting communities is carried across the festival’s lineup.