The seventh edition of the Al Jazeera Balkans Documentary Film Festival (AJB DOC) will take place from 13th to 17th September in Sarajevo, showcasing a selection of 24 documentaries. This year’s festival, themed «JUSTICE?», aims to spotlight global injustices, with a particular focus on the plight of Palestinians. Films with this theme include Holy Redemption, Israelism, Tantura, Where Olive Trees Weep, and new films like Al-Shifa Hospital: The Crimes They Tried to Bury and The Evidence.
From nearly 300 submissions, the festival has curated 24 documentaries, organized into four main categories: Competition Programme, AJB Screening, Last Minute Cinema, and SmartDoc, alongside four special screenings. Notably, the festival will feature nine international premieres, twelve regional premieres, and five Bosnian and Herzegovinian premieres.
The festival’s program also includes a strong regional presence, with eight films from Bosnia and Herzegovina, including two in the Competition Programme: Forgive Us Our Debts by Sergej Kreso and Prison Beauty Contest by Srđan Šarenac.
An international jury of five members, including acclaimed filmmakers and journalists, will decide the best film in the Competition Programme. All films in this category will also compete for the AJB Programme Award, with an Audience Award available to all festival films.
The festival will also offer a three-day training workshop on Smartphone Documentary Film Production, targeting young filmmakers in the region. In parallel, the 3rd AJD Industry Days will convene over 80 industry decision-makers, providing a significant platform for documentary projects from around the world.
Find the complete programme for the 2024 AJB DOC Film Festival – HERE
