Fwd: BHFF 2009 Update

[Academy of Bosnia and Herzegovina]

----- Forwarded message from contact at academybh.org -----
     Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 23:04:43 -0400
     From: contact at academybh.org
Reply-To: contact at academybh.org
  Subject: BHFF 2009 Update


Dear all:

Thank you so much to everyone who attended the Sixth Annual
Bosnian-Herzegovinian Film Festival (BHFF) - a tremendous success.

We screened 13 films, eight of which had their U.S. premieres at BHFF,
including features "Tractor, Love and Rock 'n' Roll" and "Nightguards,"
animation "Man Still Goes to the Moon," short films "Razor," "Agape"
and "1/2," and documentaries "Believers" and "If You Are Watching
This, Mum."  A number have been praised at other film festivals around
the globe.

On May 15 the festival was opened by Ambassador Ivan Barbalic, the
Permanent Representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the United
Nations.  Trained in European integration issues, Mr. Barbalic
previously served in a variety of positions in international
organizations, educational institutions and government.  He said a few
words about the value of BHFF and Bosnian films and shared his own
experiences in the United States.

The festival was also attended by filmmakers Igor Borovac, whose film
"Turn Back South" was screened on May 15, as well as Namik Kabil,
director of two films shown at this year's BHFF - "Believers" and
"Nightguards."  After the screening of "Nightguards," a film that
reflects on post-war Sarajevo through the microcosm of two watchmen
discussing their worries through the night, Namik joined us for a Q&A
session and provided us with more insights into these two films, his
residency at Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville, and his
upcoming projects.

Following the Q&A, the awards ceremony was held.  Eleven films were
nominated and over 400 votes were cast for the audience awards.  The
Audience Award for the Best Short or Feature Film went to ?AgapE? by
Slobodan Maksimovi? and the Audience Award for the Best Documentary
Film went to "Diagnosis S.B.H." by Enes Zlatar. "AgapE" is a short
film that tells the story of a nun whose life is transformed with the
arrival of broadband internet into her convent.  "Diagnosis S.B.H."
features interviews with musicians from Bosnia and Herzegovina and
explores the issues surrounding language and identity.
Congratulations to the winners, who will be receiving "Golden Apple"
awards hand-crafted by an accomplished Bosnian-American artist, Aida
Sehovic!

The evening and the festival ended with a closing party featuring DJ
Tomo, who came all the way from Frankfurt.  His energetic mix of
ex-Yugo classics, Bosnian ethno and gypsy music contributed to much
joy and dancing among a very diverse crowd.

And that's not all!  We wanted to let you know about a few upcoming
events that you might find of interest:

*	May 26 at 7:30 p.m. at Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville -
the screening of "Nightguards."  June 9 at 7:15 p.m. ? the screening
of "Interrogation," also by Kabil.  Both will be followed by the
director Q&A.  For more information, go to
http://www.burnsfilmcenter.org/films/film-series/detail/15002#16619.

*	June 13 at 4 p.m. and June 14 at 7 p.m. in Walter Reade Theater in
NYC - New York premiere of "Snow" at Human Rights Watch Festival.
This feature by Aida Begic depicts the drama of life in a post-war
Bosnian village, Slavno.  Villagers? families have been killed and the
bodies never found.  To go on living with their loved ones missing,
the women have created a very special world?one in which the absent
are nevertheless present.  Two businessmen unexpectedly visit Slavno
with an offer to buy the village.  The screening is presented in
association with BHFF and the Reconciliation and Culture Cooperative
Network (RACCOON). To order tickets, please visit:
http://filmlinc.com/wrt/onsale/hrw09.

Thanks again for all your help and support and we hope you enjoyed the
festival! BHFF is a year-long endeavour and was a culmination of great
efforts and energy invested in this project.  It would have been
impossible without the hard work of BHFF team and volunteers and
support of participating filmmakers, distributors, sponsors and
individual donors, media partners, and helpful staff from Tribeca
Cinemas.

We are already beginning work for the next festival, tentatively
scheduled for May 2010 - so stay tuned for more information, sign up
for our mailing list and join our Facebook groups.

Cheers,

BHFF team





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