The Sarajevo Film Festival received another recognition from the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences: the American Academy recognized the Sarajevo Film Festival as an exceptional world festival and awarded it the title of a “qualifying film festival”. This means that the winning films in the selected categories will be able to qualify for the Academy’s Oscar award nomination.

After being included in the list of prestigious world festivals in 2019, whose winners in the short film categories automatically qualify to be considered for the Oscar nomination, the winners of the Heart of Sarajevo for the best feature-length documentary film now also have that privilege.

The American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has introduced the category “qualifying film festivals” to highlight films that have been awarded at relevant world festivals. According to the decision of the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the winners of the Heart of Sarajevo for Best Documentary Film, Heart of Sarajevo for Best Short Film, and the winner of the Candidacy for the European Film Academy Award in the category of Best Short Film automatically qualify for the Oscar nomination.

This recognizes the excellence of award winners at the Sarajevo Film Festival and, if they meet the other Academy rules, they qualify for Oscar consideration.

Submissions for the programmes of the 31st Sarajevo Film Festival are open until May 25, 2025. The submission rules and application form can be found on the Sarajevo Film Festival website, www.sff.ba.

The 31st Sarajevo Film Festival will be held from 15 to 22 August 2025.