SARAJEVO, Aug 12 (NNN-XINHUA) – The Sarajevo Film Festival (SFF) expects further cooperation with the Chinese movie industry, a senior organiser said, ahead of the 27th edition of the SFF.
The festival developed into a major cultural event in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and South-East Europe, Jovan Marjanovic, on behalf of Mirsad Purivatra, the SFF’s founder and director, told Xinhua in a recent interview.
“After last-year’s lockdown and our online edition, this is the first live edition during the pandemic,” said Marjanovic, adding that, COVID-19 has narrowed the SFF’s focus.
No Chinese movies were presented this year as the pandemic has made it more difficult for the SFF to select movies, Marjanovic said.
“We have a long history of showing Chinese movies, including some most recognised authors, such as Jia Zhangke, who was a guest in our ‘Tribute to’ section in 2009. His movies were played in our largest open-air cinema Metalac,” the organiser said.
Furthermore, Marjanovic said that the SFF is very interested in further advancing its cooperation with the Chinese movie industry and Chinese authors.
“Some twenty years ago we established our CineLink Industry Days platform, aiming to help all movie professionals to find partners for the production and distribution of their movies,” said Marjanovic.
The platform has helped regional films be presented to Chinese audience, and promote more Chinese films to the world, he added.
“Due to the growth of the Chinese market for artistic films, I believe there is a growing interest on both sides to strengthen cooperation between the Chinese film industry and film industries in this region,” he said.
The Sarajevo Film Festival, founded in 1995, during the Bosnian War, has become the largest event of its kind in the Balkan region.– NNN-XINHUA
