Record Slovenian attendance at the 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival

The 32nd Sarajevo International Film Festival recorded a record number of Slovenian entries this year, marking a significant milestone in the country's cinematic presence on the international stage. The festival, which took place in August 2026, welcomed over 1,200 submissions from around the world, with approximately 50 selected for screening. Among these, a notable number were Slovenian films, reflecting a growing interest in the nation’s filmmaking industry. The festival opened with a special preview of the digitally restored version of Žena s krajolikom (Woman with a Landscape), directed by Ivo Matić. Originally filmed in the mid-1970s, the film was finally released in 1989 due to the early death of its director at just 28 years old. This restoration project was led by Karpo Godina, who served as both director of photography and co-creator of the film. The screening highlighted the ongoing efforts of Slovenia’s National Film Archive to preserve and revive classic works. This year’s competitive program featured a diverse range of films, with women directors playing a prominent role. Of the nine films selected for the main competition section, six were directed by female filmmakers. Elma Tataragić, the selector for the feature-length narrative films, described the lineup as offering “a rich panorama of contemporary regional cinematography,” spanning intimate family dramas and coming-of-age stories to socially conscious realism and formally bold authorial works. She emphasized that the inclusion of female-directed films reflects not only artistic diversity but also the increasing influence of women in shaping the future of regional cinema. Among the highlights of the festival was the world premiere of Vse, kar je narobe s tabo, a new feature film directed and written by Urša Menart. The film explores themes of friendship, emotional displacement, and longing for closeness in an era of virtual connection. In addition to Menart’s work, four Slovenian minority co-productions were included in the competition: 17 by Macedonian director Kosa Mitić, Male stvari by Croatian director Zvonimir Juric, Skejtanje ni za punce by Macedonian director Dine Dume, and Sramota in denar by Serbian director Visar Miline. These films underscore the collaborative nature of regional filmmaking and the shared cultural narratives that transcend national borders. The documentary section also saw the world premiere of Ko pridem ven by Method Pevč, while the co-production Planina by directors Biljana Tutorov and Petra Glomazić received its international debut. In the Open Air Premiere segment, audiences will have the opportunity to see Izgubljeni sin by director Darko Štantec, alongside Skriti ljudje by Miha Hočevar and Virus patološke dobrote by Predrag Ličin, with Slovenian producer Aleš Pavlin involved in the latter. These selections demonstrate the breadth of Slovenian contributions to the festival’s programming. In addition to feature films, the festival showcased several shorts and youth-oriented projects. The Slovenian entry Kozmonavti by Lea Černica and the minority co-production Nihče ni nič rekel by Serbian director Tamara Todorović made their world debuts. The young audience will also have the chance to watch Gajin svet, Sledi mi by director Petra Bratuš, part of the Teen Arena program. Meanwhile, the series Trezor, produced by RTV Slovenia and Antitalent, directed by Matevž Luzar, offers another glimpse into Slovenian storytelling. As the festival continues, it remains clear that Slovenia has played a pivotal role in this year’s edition, contributing not only in quantity but also in quality. With a record number of entries and a wide variety of genres and styles represented, the Slovenian contingent has left a lasting impression on the Sarajevo Film Festival.