As at every Sarajevo Film Festival, the Association of Filmmakers in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina presents awards both for the best Bosnian-Herzegovinian student films and the Ivica Matić Award to the most deserving filmmakers of the previous calendar year.
The jury for the Student Competition Program – BH Film consisted of Bosnian director Isidora Ratković, Bosnian director Ado Hasanović, and Slovenian screenwriter and director Matevž Luzar.
They decided on three awards: Best Student Film, the Jury Special Award, and the Jury Special Mention.
AWARDS IN THE BH STUDENT COMPETITION PROGRAM
“ This short film impresses with its compact form, delivering a complete and emotionally resonant story within a limited time. Its visual storytelling is evocative, using imagery and animation not as ornament, but as a natural extension of the narrative. The sound design enriches the atmosphere, deepening the emotional impact and reinforcing the film’s rhythm. At its heart, it addresses the theme of coexistence, which is especially important in today’s world — a vision brought to life in a short animated film.“
BEST BH STUDENT FILM is awarded to SNIMA, directed by Fedor Marić.
“In this short film, through carefully composed framing and skillfully written dialogue, the young director conveys the atmosphere of loneliness, alienation, and isolation of the main character within the context of the society that surrounds him. The film’s focus is clear and consistent, and the director’s vision is subtly executed.”
JURY SPECIAL AWARD is awarded to A PIGEON, directed by Vuk Popović.
“This film stands out for its sincere and almost naïve dedication to the journalistic calling, juxtaposing the ideals of youth with the rigid system and mechanisms of manipulation that shape their reality. It is precisely this contrasting dynamic that gives the film its particular strength and emotional value. We especially highlight the strong and convincing performance of the lead actor, Kerim Čutuna, which elevated the entire work to a higher level.”
JURY SPECIAL MENTION is awarded to ILLUMINATION, directed by Mina Vavan.
THE IVICA MATIĆ AWARD
The commission for the Ivica Matić Award in 2024 consisted of actress Dženita Imamović Omerović, director Una Gunjak, and editor Tomislav Topić.
The Ivica Matić Award 2024 is presented to Ishak Jalimam.
Ishak Jalimam, a producer and assistant at the Academy of Performing Arts in Sarajevo, is the founder and president of the production company Realstage. He received the Young Producer Award at the Sofia Film Festival in 2020. This year he is recognized for his outstanding contribution through the films THE SKY ABOVE ZENICA and GYM, which were screened at prestigious international festivals and awarded in categories of environmental awareness, human rights, and audience choice.
The Ivica Matić Award for Contribution to Bosnian-Herzegovinian Cinema is awarded to Zijad Mehić, who dedicated his entire professional life to Bosnian film, television, and the education of young people. A graduate in editing from the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade, he worked on key projects for Television Sarajevo and as an editor at the Olympic Games in Moscow, Sarajevo, and Seoul. He taught at the Academy of Performing Arts in Sarajevo from 1989 and served as dean from 2005 to 2013, while in 2020 he was named professor emeritus. His work encompasses numerous significant television and film projects as both editor and producer.
THE AMIRA LEKIĆ AWARD
The Association of Filmmakers of Bosnia and Herzegovina established the Amira Lekić Award last year in memory of producer Amira Lekić, who left a profound mark on Bosnian and Herzegovinian and regional cinema, as well as on all who knew and worked with her.
This award is given exclusively to a young female filmmaker, up to 35 years of age, who is just beginning her professional career in film and television production. It is awarded annually to one person who has shown strong potential in her early professional work. The Board of the Association appoints a mentor from among film professionals, who then nominates the laureate for that year. Last year’s mentor was Jovan Marjanović, and the award went to young producer Kristina Jeličanin.
The Board of the Association has chosen this year’s mentor, who will announce the 2025 laureate in December.
The mentor for the Amira Lekić Award 2025 is producer Adis Đapo.
