SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!
The second edition of the international cultural and artistic Female Art Rising Festival was held from April 25 to 29. Once again, the festival brought together established female and male artists, cultural professionals, and activists in Sarajevo for several days to share their experiences and knowledge with the Festival audience.
The honor of opening the second FAR was given to director Mark Cousins, who addressed the audience at Meeting Point Cinema through a video message. His 14-episode film series Women Make Film (awarded by the European Film Academy for innovative storytelling) was screened for the first time in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the festival. This remarkable cinematic work, which celebrates the importance of women’s authorship in film, was included in our program thanks to the support of the British Council in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The festival’s opening ceremony also attended by Amila Karavdić, Head of Cultural Engagement at the Britsih Council Bosnia and Herzegovina, who emphasized in her speech the significance of our festival as a unique platform for promoting gender equality across various artistic practices in BiH and beyond.
In addition to the film programme, audience had the opportunity to attend talks at the Museum of Literature and Performing Arts of BiH, with writers Rumena Bužarovska (North Macedonia), Lana Bastašić (BiH), Adisa Bašić (BiH), Nikolina Todorović (BiH), Marija Ratković (Serbia); dramaturge Doruntina Basha (Kosovo); producer Neal Raimi (North Macedonia); researchers in the fields of social justice, gender policy, and activism Selma Zulić Šiljak (BiH) and Ana Pejović (Serbia); and Syrian human rights activist Doaa Al Zamel, whose presence in Sarajevo was a great honor for us to host.
In collaboration with SPKD Prosvjeta, we also presented the play No One Has Ever Asked Us, which tells the stories of people forced to flee their homes due to war and political oppression, embarking on a harsh journey toward fortress Europe. The play was created by students from the class of Professor Jasna Đuričić (Academy of Arts Novi Sad): Sergej Petrović, Relja Štiglić, Stefan Simić, Dunja Mikić, Tamara Nikolić, Sanja Banićević, Nevena Erić, Kuzman Krstović, and Vasilije Pačariz.
Festival remained committed to its educational mission. Young artists had the opportunity to participate in masterclass sessions with successful young designer Ena Dujmović (BiH); Vladimir Gojun (Croatia), one of the region’s leading editors of fiction, documentary, and experimental films and TV series; and Emina Pašić (BiH), an expert in project management and donor relations.
We launched the Female Art Rising festival with a strong belief that art and life are inseparably connected, and that by supporting and highlighting women’s equality in the arts, we are truly contributing to a better, fairer, and more just world — and that is how we strive to continue in the future.
See you next year!
FAR Team
SAVE THE DATE
2. FAR April 25 - 29 2025
Friends of the Festival
Jasna Đuričić, actress
Emphasizing the importance of women in art and questioning their role and place, unfortunately, is never enough. Women's contributions in the world of art are still being neglected or minimized, so talking about the position of women in art is a moral obligation and a path towards building a better and fairer society. This kind of festival will certainly make women's art more visible, contribute to overcoming stereotypes related to female artists, help and encourage many young women from the world of art, but also wider. I am unusually happy and proud to be a friend of this and such festival. Thank you!
Aida Čerkez, journalist
FAR festival is an opportunity to transfer the knowledge, wisdom and experience, acquired over the decades, to the young generation, because progress is only possible through the transmission of knowledge. We need more opportunities to transfer knowledge to the youth in order to stop continuously starting over. Even if it came to disagreements and debates between the old and the young. And that is a positive thing, because only from a controlled conflict can progress be borne. Never from dogmatism.
Lejla Kalamujić, writer
The open call that FAR festival initiated for young artists and artistic collectives is a great thing. My literary life began with an open call. If it wasn't for that call, I don't know how I would (or if I would at all) enter the literary scene. It should be important to all of us that young artists get such a chance. After all, if the doors are closed for them, they will be closed for the young audience as well.
Jelena Kordić Kuret, actress
Festival Female Art Rising (FAR) is fantastically thought through and, in addition to the primary idea of raising awareness about the position of women in art and society in general, it is also a great platform for all young people who want to show their art but don't have a support system to do so. FAR, among other things, has a task of creating a space and a creative atmosphere for young people, in which they will be free to express themselves through their art. For every young person who isn't sufficiently affirmed in their profession, this support is a huge tailwind for all of their future art creations. The educational segment of the festival is also an extremely important part of the program, because it will give young authors the opportunity to learn from renowned artists who have, with their own creations, fought and still fight for all of us to live in a better society. When you have an inspiration at the beginning of your career, it stays with you for the rest of your life.
I am extremely grateful to be a friend of the FAR festival and I hope it will have a long life and become an inspiration to others.
Jasminko Halilović, founder and director of War Childhood Museum
I am certain that FAR will bring new colours and quality to Bosnian-Herzegovinian cultural scene and that soon it will become part of the life of the city. I am especially glad that a part of the festival is dedicated to young people who will have the opportunity to learn from established authors and artists. Knowing the work of the organizers of the festival, I have no doubt that young people, as well as the rest of the audience will, with the establishment of this festival, get great opportunities and contents.
Leonardo Šarić, opera soloist
Female authorship deserves a platform like Female Art Rising. Be in Sarajevo in September. Be with FAR!
Jasmila Žbanić, director, screenwriter and producer
For the toxic patriarchal society, we live in, this festival is an important enabling event for illuminating focal points through art, creating new possibilities for change and forming a space of freedom for female artistry. It is extremely important that established artists connect with the new generation of young people because they have a lot to learn from each other.
Alban Ukaj, actor
I believe that FAR festival is the most significant event in the past decade in our region. I am convinced that the most prominent accomplishments in the world and art in the past few years have been achieved by women. Freed from national romanticism and frequently oblivious macho pathetic stories, they managed to bring something much more original and intimate in the world of cinematography, theatre, literature, conceptual art, painting, music... I consider FAR one of the biggest holidays in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Female Art Rising Festival proudly presents its participants
Female Art Rising festival, taking place from 17th to 21st September, will gather established names from all spheres of art, journalism, literature and activism, from B&H, the region and the world, to present their work, participate in conversations, masterclass sessions and discussions, and to share their professional knowledge and experiences with the audience, and emphasize the importance of confronting stereotypes and promoting inclusion.
FAR festival is pleased to announce the participation of actress Jasna Đuričić, playwright and screenwriter Asja Krsmanović, writers Lana Bastašić, Lejle Kalajumić and Lamije Begagić, costume designer Lejla Hodžić, journalist and editor Aida Čerkez, theatre directors Selma Spahić and Jovana Tomić, film director Kaltrina Krasniqi, screenwriter and playwright Doruntina Basha, actor Alban Ukaj, author, producer and researcher Hana Ćurak, education expert Nedim Krajišnik, casting director Timka Grin, photographer Kiana Hayeri, lawyer Mirna Milanović – Lalić, stage designer Sanda Popovac, musician Belma Alić , Tamara Arsovski, Alma Dizdar, Aida Deljkić, and director, actress and author, Lee Delong.
The festival will also present the creations of young authors and artists the entire Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The final program of FAR will soon be published on the official website of the festival.