20th Annual Bosnian-Herzegovinian Film Festival

This year is not just another edition of the festival but a significant milestone in the journey of promoting the diversity and depth of Bosnian-Herzegovinian storytelling through cinema. The festival not only serves as a pivotal cultural connection for the Bosnian and regional diaspora in New York City, but also opens a window to Bosnian and regional culture for a global audience. From its inception as a film revue event, the BHFF has blossomed into a celebrated New York City institution, earning acclaim from filmmakers, cultural institutions, critics and film aficionados.

In this special 20th anniversary edition, they plan to showcase between 15 and 20 productions, continuing the tradition of screening an eclectic mix of feature, documentary, short, and animated films. These films are either crafted by Bosnian-Herzegovinian talents or delve into themes surrounding Bosnia-Herzegovina. The festival will also feature a series of interactive events, encouraging critical dialogue between the Balkan region’s filmmakers and the diverse New York City audience.

Film Categories

• The following categories will be considered:
  • feature films, short films, documentary films, and animated films.

Formats and Quality Standards

• Only films of a professional audio/video and technical quality suitable for public presentation will be taken into consideration. Entrants are advised not to send original prints or tapes. All films must be subtitled in English if produced in a language other than English and must be labeled appropriately. Entries that do not meet these standards will not be taken into consideration.
• Acceptable formats for entry and consideration purposes only:
  • Video File
  • Online Streaming Video
  • Acceptable formats for public screening:
  • Digital Cinema Package (DCP)
  • Quicktime video file (4K or 2K), using ProRes 422 codec

Eligibility Criteria

• Films Eligible for Consideration by BHFF:
  • Films directed or co-directed by a Bosnian-Herzegovinian film director either residing or stemming from Bosnia and Herzegovina, or
  • Films produced or co-produced (as either a majority or minority co-production) by a Bosnian-Herzegovinian film production company based in Bosnia and Herzegovina, or
  • Films by any filmmakers, directors or production companies that have Bosnia and Herzegovina as the film’s subject or that relate closely to Bosnian-Herzegovinian socio-economic, cultural and historical issues, and
  • Films complying with at least one point above and produced in 2021, 2022 or 2023
• Films not Eligible for Consideration by BHFF:
  • Films that don’t comply with any of the above categories
  • Films produced for non-theatrical presentation such as TV films, series, or online videos.
  • Films that are publically available for viewing on online video hosting sites (such as YouTube, Vimeo or similar) without password or private link protection.
  • Films that have completed a theatrical and film festival circuit presentation and are available on TV or for purchase online in the U.S.
  • Films produced in 2020 or older

Terms and Conditions

• Submission of the relevant film material to the BHFF™ automatically implies compliance with the existing rules and regulations of the festival.
• Entrant is responsible for all film material shipping expenses.
• BHFF handles all submitted material with necessary precaution; however, BHFF is exempted from all the liabilities pertaining to handling and shipping of the material as well as for wear and tear due to normal use.
• All submissions, if accepted for a final selection, constitute a limited permission for BHFF to publicly present the film under its operational guidelines.  By submitting the film the applicant waives all public screening fees.
• BHFF has the right to keep all films submitted as a part of its library collection. However, films formats sent for final screening will be returned per request after the screening, provided that the filmmaker covers the shipping and handling costs.

For more information, visit BHFF.