The Telemach Youth Film Festival Sarajevo (OFF) proudly positions itself as a pioneer among festivals when it comes to green initiatives, sustainability, and environmental responsibility. Aware of the increasingly apparent climate changes and the threats that global pollution poses to our health and living spaces, OFF is not only keeping pace but actively setting the standards for environmental action and social responsibility among festivals in the region.
In 2024, Telemach OFF took a major step forward by introducing the first festival recycling machines with a deposit and refund system. These machines allow visitors to directly participate in recycling and responsible packaging disposal, while also earning benefits within the festival and from its partners. This innovation, unique in the festival landscape of Bosnia and Herzegovina, symbolizes our commitment to practical solutions for waste reduction, resource conservation, and raising public awareness about the importance of recycling.
As an additional measure, OFF banned the use of single-use plastic cups and introduced a reusable cup system for the entire duration of the festival. In previous years, we identified the use of single-use plastic cups as a major issue. This move not only significantly reduces waste but also encourages festivalgoers to adopt healthier and more eco-conscious habits.
OFF has also implemented a range of activities aimed at recycling waste and treating it as a renewable resource. All our partners and suppliers are required to adhere to the same principles and sustainability standards. This mutual responsibility ensures that a sustainable approach is embedded throughout all stages of festival planning and execution.
As early as 2023, OFF decided to stop printing festival catalogs, significantly reducing paper consumption and costs—proving that short-term investments in green policies bring long-term savings. Instead, all program content and schedules are available through digital channels, further minimizing the festival’s environmental footprint.
Our visitors come for the films, the art, and the unforgettable atmosphere—but we believe that no fun should come at the expense of nature. Through various educational workshops, presentations, and activities, OFF actively promotes environmental awareness and motivates all generations to be part of positive change.
In addition, the Telemach Youth Film Festival Sarajevo actively works on fostering healthy, green, and eco-friendly habits within local communities across Bosnia and Herzegovina. One of our initiatives includes advocating at all levels of government in Bosnia and Herzegovina for the introduction of guidelines for implementing eco-policies in publicly funded projects, requiring organizers to commit to unified waste-reduction measures and the use of waste as a renewable resource in production.
For OFF, ecology is not just a trend—it is a duty. Every step we take is made with the intention of leaving our city, nature, and future generations in a better state than we found them.
For the past two years, the Youth Film Festival Sarajevo has been implementing strategies adopted by the EU and fully supports the Federal Ministry of Environment and Tourism in their efforts to pass the Waste Management Law.
The Telemach OFF Festival doesn’t want to be just a film festival—we want to be a movement for sustainability, a platform for change, and an inspiration for other events in the region.
So let every day be Earth Day—because we don’t have another one.
