About Third annual Bosnian-Herzegovinian Film Festival™ 2006
May 19-21, 2006

On May 19, 2006, the Third Annual Bosnian Herzegovinian Film Festival was launched at the Anthology Film Archives Theatre in New York with the screenings of several short films and one feature, including two films that quickly became audience favorites: the feature “Go West” about a gay interethnic couple caught in the Bosnian war, and the short “I See You, My Friend,” a heartwarming story about two visually impaired friends in Sarajevo. Both won the audience awards.

In addition, the film lineup included several notable and internationally recognized features, such as the two debuts by young Danijela Majstorovic dealing with the under-explored themes of the exploitation of women in the Bosnian post-war reality; and the genre-defying“Totally Personal” by Nedzad Begovic, Bosnia’s candidate for the Oscars in 2006. For the first time, the festival included in its selection several short animated films.

The Festival was visited by Uliks Fehmiu, one of the protagonists of the feature “Well Tempered Corpses” by the suddenly departed prominent Bosnian-Herzegovinian filmmaker, Benjamin Filipovic.

In total, the Festival featured 24 films that were viewed by some 400 guests. For participating film and director information see the 2006 program.

BHFF 2006 Audience quotes
“The two shorts and two documentaries I saw were all very different, but all gave me a glimpse of the quality of art that comes out of Bosnia. I appreciated both the drama and the comedy, and I think that I was not only entertained, but also educated. The BHFF was the first exposure I have had to anything Bosnian outside of news commentaries about religion, politics and violence, and in that sense, was long overdue. I would definitely attend next year.” – Diana Dopfel

“Festival Bosankohercegovackog filma je bio pravo otkrovenje! Konacno nešto što ima veze sa Balkanom šta mogu da podelim sa prijateljima Amerikancima. Izbor filmova je bio takav da je Festival mogao da zadovolji sva ocekivanja i kriterijume. I humor, i ozbiljna kritika, i stanje stvari sa terena i specifican sentiment...Ocigledno ima istine u odgovoru na pitanje šta uradi Bosanac kad mu se gleda dobar film? Jeste, snimi ga....” - Marija Šajkaš


BHFF 2006 Guests' quotes
“Da nije ovoga festivala, ne bi ni mene bilo u ovom filmu ("Dobro Ustimani Mrtvaci"). Ja sam se na vasem prvom filmskom festivalu upoznao sa Benjaminom Filipovicem." - Uliks Fehmiu, “Well Tempered Corpses”


“BHFF NYC is one of my favorite film festivals, because it is a showcase of great talent, a great community of friends, and a cultural event all in one. I hope to remain a part of this festival in years to come." - Gates Gooding

Press coverage:
New York Times
AM New York
"Avaz" daily Bosnian newspaper in Sarajevo
"Sabah" the newspaper of the Bosnian diaspora in the United States
Voice of America Bosnian Language Radio Service
Europa Magazine
Bosnjaci.net
Slavs of NewYork.com
Bosnia Express.com
Info BAR.ba
One World.net (bosnian)
Sarajevo-x.com
See CULT.org

Sponsors:
Sarajevo Graduate School of Business (SGSB)
Raccoon, Inc.
Harriman Institute, School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University
Blackheath Financial
Cevabdzinica Sarajevo
Bosnian-American Association
Balkan Radio 387.

Media partners included:
Voice of Bosnia and Herzegovina
BH Radio 1
Balkan Radio 387
Sabah
Europa Magazine
Bosnjaci.net
Peta Strana Svijeta.