Voices of children through art and film at the Sarajevo Film Festival

At the Sarajevo Film Festival, on August 19 and 20, the spotlight illuminated not only the movie screen but also the stories and dreams of unaccompanied children.

On August 19, at the National Theatre, special attention was drawn to the dress worn by actress Alena Džebo, president of the Association of Filmmakers of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The dress was created by designer Lejla Hodžić in collaboration with children from the JRS Reception Center for unaccompanied minors and vulnerable children. The process of creation was more than fashion design – it was a space of shared learning, creativity, and encounter, involving guardians, a translator, a psychologist, and Alena Džebo herself through drama pedagogy. The result was a dress that grew into a symbol of belonging, inclusion, and children’s imagination, but also a message that art and fashion can build bridges between worlds.

The very next day, on August 20, within the BH Film Program at Cineplexx Sarajevo, the premiere of the documentary House with a Heart by director Sabahet Džafica and producer Borislav Banjac took place. The film brings intimate stories of unaccompanied minors accommodated in the JRS Reception Center, among whom some of the protagonists came of age during the filming, leaving a powerful mark both on the film and on the lives of the people around them. The audience followed their testimonies with great attention, and after the screening, long rounds of applause and words of support confirmed that the voices of unaccompanied children profoundly touch many hearts.

These events are important because they show that unaccompanied children are not only beneficiaries of the protection system but active participants in creating a better and fairer society. Their stories, translated into art and film, remind us of the universal values of solidarity, community, and creativity. Every such encounter contributes to better understanding and opens the space for society to see and recognize the strength, talents, and voices of children, making them visible where they are often forgotten.

Through the Sarajevo Film Festival, these stories step outside the framework of the center and become visible to a wider public. The festival audience, composed of local and international guests, film professionals, and citizens, had the opportunity to witness not only artistic expression but also the real lives of children fighting for their future. In this way, art and film become a bridge between the experiences of unaccompanied children and the community that receives them, strengthening empathy and understanding.