Filming the other

The project consisted of producing a series of documentary films showing several culturally diverse identities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It involved 13 young filmmakers (aged 18-30 years old) who were encouraged to explore and present the identity of ‘the other’ rather than their own cultural identity. In the first instance, they followed seminars which professionalised them in this domain, followed by the production of their own documentary films. Paying particular attention to gender equality, the project took care to involve as many men and women young filmmakers in the project.

The project aimed to promote and raise the level of public awareness regarding cultural diversity through a significant media coverage displayed in each stage of the project. The young filmmakers involved in the project had the opportunity to express their views on cultural diversity, explore their potential for creativity as well as to be part of a filmmaker’s network.

 

As a result, four short documentaries were screened in the international film festival of Banja Luka held on February 2015. The finalists - Bojan Josić from Brcko, Mirza Skenderagic from Sarajevo, Anja Kavić from Banja Luka and Lamie Sabic from Sarajevo - submitted entries on the subject of cultural diversity, which is the main focus of the project.

 

The idea behind ‘Filming the Other’ was to explore stereotypes and 'boxes' which we use to define ourselves, how and why they might be perceived as threats and why the Other is so frightening. As observed by the artist iO Tillett Wright, “film allows us to examine a lion's whiskers without the threat of it tearing us apart, therefore, it could be a great medium for presenting the unfamiliar Other without having to fear that we need to defend ourselves from it in any way”.