The third edition of the international Silver Frame Film Festival officially opened on 16 July, and will run until 19 July, bringing four days of film, educational, and cultural programmes to Srebrenica and Bratunac. Through the power of cinema, the festival continues its mission of connecting people, communities, and generations.

The festival opened with the French feature film Arco, a moving story that explores whether hope can shape the future. Presented as the opening film of the 2026 edition, Arco is screened in partnership with the French Institute in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Among the distinguished guests at the opening ceremony was Alena Džebo, President of the Association of Film Workers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who highlighted the importance of the festival in bringing young people together and celebrating life through cinema.

“This festival is important because it brings young people together, celebrates life, and brings new energy and hope to the people of Srebrenica and Bratunac.“

The audience was also welcomed by Loé Lagrange, Director of the French Institute in Bosnia and Herzegovina, attending the festival for the first time. She expressed her enthusiasm about the Institute’s first partnership with the Silver Frame Film Festival and praised the festival’s unique spirit of openness and dialogue.

“It is a great pleasure to open the third edition of the Silver Frame Film Festival. This is the first time that the French Institute has partnered with the festival, and I believe Silver Frame is a place for meeting, dialogue, and exchange. There is no VIP area here, only openness, equality, and togetherness. Arco, which recently received one of France’s highest film honours, is a wonderful choice for opening this year’s festival. Through the story of friendship, it reminds us that cinema is much more than an art form; it creates space for conversation, and culture creates space for dialogue. I look forward to continuing this partnership in the years to come.“

The opening ceremony was also attended by Simone Voigt, Director of the Goethe-Institut Bosnia and Herzegovina, who reflected on the festival’s special atmosphere and the importance of solidarity.

“Being here is very emotional. Planning and supporting this festival holds a special significance. It is a festival of friendship and solidarity. We don’t need a red carpet because all of our friends are already here. Thank you for creating such a meaningful space.“

Following the opening ceremony, audiences also enjoyed a screening of the animated film Strašila by Bosnian filmmaker Berin Tuzlić, who addressed the audience before the screening.

“Strašila (scarecrows) has received several awards and has also been published as a graphic novel. The film explores the idea of media scarecrows, those that frighten us, while other forms of media can also protect and guide us. I am delighted to see that this festival continues to bring together so many friends. Thank you for the invitation.“

Over the next four days, the festival will present a diverse programme of feature and short film screenings, international competition selections, workshops, masterclasses, and conversations with filmmakers. Events will take place at the Srebrenica Cultural Centre, the Bratunac Cultural Centre, the EMMAUS Cinema Room, the EMMAUS Open Air Cinema, as well as at several outdoor locations along the Drina River. 

A special highlight of this year’s festival is the launch of the first edition of the Silver Frame Doc Academy, an international documentary filmmaking programme that brings together emerging filmmakers from across Europe. Working alongside experienced international mentors, participants will develop and produce four documentary films inspired by the people, stories, and everyday life of Srebrenica and Bratunac. 

Marta Massa, Artistic Coordinator of the Doc Academy programme, emphasized that one of the festival’s main goals is to bring together young filmmakers from different countries and offer them the opportunity to experience Srebrenica and Bratunac from a new perspective.

“The Doc Academy is about creating opportunities for students from different international backgrounds, allowing them to grow both creatively and personally. At the heart of the residency is the idea of building a community that transcends borders, connecting people from Srebrenica with participants from Malta, Hungary, and beyond through collaboration, learning, and documentary filmmaking.”

Participant Kyle Fenech from the MCAST Institute for the Creative Arts in Malta described the programme as a transformative experience.

“This has been an incredible experience, completely new and different. Having the opportunity to share it with young people from different countries and learn from one another is truly special. Through this programme, I have met people and discovered stories that I would never have encountered in my everyday life, which has given me an entirely new perspective. I am sincerely grateful for this opportunity.”

The festival also continues with the Silver Frame Green Film Residency, dedicated to ecology, sustainability, and supporting emerging filmmakers as they develop projects in close collaboration with the local community.

This year’s film programme includes an international short film competition, a student film selection, the Green Short Film programme, and the Shorts Spotlight selection, alongside feature film screenings presented in cooperation with numerous international partners, including the Embassy of Italy in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Doxumentale Berlin, the Goethe-Institut Bosnia and Herzegovina, the French Institute in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, the Trieste Film Festival, the MedFilm Festival Rome, and the Sarajevo Film Festival.

Beyond the screenings, the festival offers acting workshops, educational programmes for young people, masterclasses, the Travelling to France programme, camping evenings, and informal discussions with filmmakers, creating opportunities for exchange between film professionals, emerging artists, and audiences from Bosnia and Herzegovina and across Europe.

Through cinema, the Silver Frame Film Festival continues its mission of fostering dialogue, international cooperation, and cultural exchange while promoting Srebrenica and Bratunac as places of creativity, resilience, and new perspectives.

The festival is organised by the Admon Film Association in cooperation with the International Solidarity Forum EMMAUS, local institutions, and numerous national and international partners.

  E-mail: silverframepress@gmail.com