Sarajevo Film Festival Marks 30th Anniversary with VHS Classics
The Sarajevo Film Festival is set to celebrate its 30th anniversary by revisiting its humble beginnings in the midst of the Bosnian War. The festival, which has become one of the most important cultural events in the Balkans, can trace its roots back to the underground Cinema Apollo, a makeshift theater that defied the war’s normal abnormal reality.
In 1993, during the height of the siege of Sarajevo, Elma Tataragić, then a 16-year-old resident of the city, sought a reprieve from the horrors of war. Despite her parents’ pleas for her safety, Tataragić embarked on a perilous journey to the Cinema Apollo, located in downtown Sarajevo. The cinema, operating in the basement of the Sarajevo Academy of Performing Arts, offered a brief escape with its screenings of films.
The Cinema Apollo’s screenings quickly gained popularity, with the theater relying on generators for power and VHS tapes donated by friends or smuggled in. Tataragić vividly recalls the films she watched, including Bodyguard starring Whitney Houston, as well as a week dedicated to French New Wave cinema. For those precious two hours, she could immerse herself in another world, away from the daily atrocities happening outside.
As word spread about the underground cinema, the international film community stepped in to support the Cinema Apollo. Festivals like Edinburgh and Locarno contributed titles from their line-ups, ensuring a continuous supply of new movies. Consequently, the underground cinema operated uninterrupted from 1993 to 1995, going on to transform into the Sarajevo Film Festival while the siege was still ongoing.
In a fitting tribute to its origins, the Sarajevo Film Festival is planning a special program for its 2023 edition, featuring a selection of movies that were once screened on VHS tapes at the Cinema Apollo. Films like David Lynch’s Wild at Heart, Paul Verhoeven’s Basic Instinct, and Ridley Scott’s Thelma & Louise will take audiences on a nostalgic trip back in time.
This anniversary celebration serves as a testament to the resilience of Sarajevo and its enduring love for cinema. It highlights the transformative power of art even in the most difficult of circumstances. For Elma Tataragić, who defied her parents’ concerns to attend that first screening in 1993, the Cinema Apollo and the subsequent Sarajevo Film Festival played a pivotal role in shaping her future. Now, as the Head of the festival’s competition selection, she continues to contribute to the growth and success of one of the region’s most esteemed cultural events.
As Sarajevo gears up for the 30th anniversary of its beloved film festival, it is a timely reminder of the integral role culture and art play in healing and uniting communities. It is a celebration of the human spirit’s ability to find solace and inspiration even in the darkest of times. The 2023 edition of the Sarajevo Film Festival promises to be a nostalgic journey for cinephiles and a testament to the indomitable spirit of Sarajevo and its rich cinematic heritage.
