The Youth Film Festival Sarajevo (OFF) has been an important cultural event for years, promoting young filmmakers, gathering international professionals, and creating a space for exchange, education, and creative production. Born out of a civic initiative, OFF is not a public institution but an independent cultural project that survives thanks to enthusiasm, partnerships, sponsors, and the persistent work of young people.
Like many festivals and cultural initiatives in Bosnia and Herzegovina, OFF faces chronic challenges in financing, from the uncertainty of public calls and procedures to dependence on sponsors, as well as domestic and international funds that often experience delays in implementation. Unfortunately, these factors sometimes lead to delays in payments to participants and partners, which is not a reflection of irresponsibility, but rather part of the broader picture of cultural production in the country.
The festival has gone through similar phases in the past but, despite everything, has continued to fulfill its obligations and strengthen its capacities, program content, and international credibility. Since 2015, when it was taken over with existing debts, OFF has grown into the second-largest film festival in Bosnia and Herzegovina by scale and significance, with more than 700 engaged young professionals, nearly a thousand films screened, numerous educational programs, and co-production initiatives supported by renowned European partners.
The festival expresses its gratitude to the media that have followed and promoted its development over the years. We believe in media freedom and the importance of criticism, but we appeal for complex situations to be reported responsibly and in full. Surface-level and sensational reporting in recent weeks, as well as the dissemination of inaccurate information about awards, has resulted in the loss of some planned funds and the withdrawal of long-term partners. In an environment where culture is already marginalized, any loss of support has serious consequences for the future of the festival and the broader cultural community.
“As the director of the Youth Film Festival Sarajevo, I feel responsible for providing a clear context for the current situation. OFF is not a public institution; it is a non-profit organization. We depend on public calls, sponsors, and the dedication of people who have been investing themselves in this project for years. We are aware that some participants have experienced delays in payments, and we are sorry for that. It has never been due to neglect, but rather because of challenges dictated by an unstable cultural financing system. Our obligations remain a priority and will be fulfilled. I thank all the partners and media who understand and support us, and I invite everyone to work together on strengthening the cultural sector and creating space where festivals like this can grow and contribute to the promotion of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” said the festival director, Kenan Musić, on this occasion.
OFF remains committed to its mission: to turn Sarajevo into the film center of the region during July, to provide a springboard for young authors as it has done so far, and to make cultural exchange and education accessible to everyone. Despite the current challenges, the 17th edition of the Festival will take place as planned from July 18 to 25, 2025, with more than 80 films, 200 guests, and a series of programs that confirm that culture lives on despite everything.
