ANNUAL BOSNIAN-HERZEGOVINIAN FILM FESTIVAL
The Bosnian-Herzegovinian Film Festival (BHFF) is an exciting showcase for contemporary Bosnian-Herzegovinian cinematography, and films with Bosnia and Herzegovina as their theme. Each year, BHFF brings a colorful tableau of Bosnian and Herzegovinian stories to diverse New York City audiences. Over the years it has grown from a simple film revue event to a New York City institution; its audience includes people with Bosnian heritage, people from other Balkan expatriate communities, as well as a wide cross-section of all New Yorkers who cherish international and independent film productions.
BHFF films explore the multifaceted character of Bosnia-Herzegovina, including portrayals of its beauty, hospitality, rich arts, history, and culture, as well as analyses of contemporary challenges faced by its people. The festival also strives to promote film arts and film production in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and to explore well as the country’s film arts background and history.
In addition to its rich and powerful film programming, BHFF also explores the less visible aspects of the filmmaking process in a series of special events, including filmmaker Q&As, panel discussions, and social events. By providing a platform for audience members to interact with filmmakers, BHFF brings forth the beauty of and challenges within filmmaking, and contributes to a better understanding and appreciation of film arts and the power of visual storytelling.
Audience and Constituency
The Bosnian-Herzegovinian community has had a presence in the United States for more than a hundred years. While official reports from the 2010 census indicate that there are 122,529 Bosnian-Americans in the United States, it is estimated that today there are some 350,000 Bosnian-Americans of full or partial Bosnian descent living in the country. The BHFF embodies a crucial link to Bosnia and Herzegovina for the tri-state diaspora. The festival has been consistently praised for its quality of films, and for the level of cultural exposure it provides. The BHFF helps bring together not only the Bosnian-American and other Balkan communities, but also film and Balkan culture enthusiasts.