The festival shows films from all around the world, with a special focus on movies made in southeastern Europe — a part of the world with a rich tradition of powerful storytelling and creative filmmaking. There are categories for feature films, documentary films, and short films, as well as special screenings for children and families.
The most famous venue is the open-air cinema set up in the old city centre of Sarajevo. On warm August nights, thousands of people sit on seats arranged in a big square, with the ancient buildings of Baščaršija all around them and the stars overhead. Watching a film in this setting is quite different from sitting in a dark cinema — if something funny happens in the film, you can hear everyone in the square laughing together.
Young filmmakers — including university students — compete in a special category called the Student Film Competition. Winning an award at Sarajevo is a big deal; many directors who have shown films there have gone on to become famous all around the world.
The festival also includes outdoor events, concerts, and street performances that take over the whole city. Cafés stay open late, and locals mix with visitors from all over Europe. For nine days, Sarajevo feels like the film capital of the world.