Sarajevo Film Festival and Cinelink Books: Books Screaming for Film Adaptation!
Welcome to the world where books don’t just get read—they scream to be turned into movies! The Sarajevo Film Festival (SFF), happening from August 15 to 22, is shaking things up again with its Cinelink Books program. This isn’t your average literary selection—it’s a cinematic bomb connecting the publishing and audiovisual sectors of the former Yugoslavia.
Seven books, seven potential blockbuster hits!
This year, SFF picked seven works with huge potential to become the next big film hits. Among them are “Balada ubici ubici ubici” by Dalibor Pejić (Geopoetika, Serbia), “Bejturan ruža” by Aleksandar Hemon (Buybook, Bosnia and Herzegovina), “Bespotreban čovjek” by Edin Salčinović (Vrijeme, BiH), “Onda opet, početka” by Filip Grujić (Booka, Serbia), “Pitanje anatomije” by Marina Vujčić (Fraktura, Croatia), “Samo jedna” by Petra Prtajin (Ljevak, Croatia), and “Zvezdana šuma” by Jaska Petrović (Kreativni centar, Serbia).
Did you know Jaska Petrović’s works have already been turned into two films? And Filip Grujić won this year’s Sterijino pozorje with his play “Jezik kopačke”. Quality is clearly sky-high!
Collaboration already bearing fruit
The year has just started, and we already have concrete results! Croatian production company Antitalent bought the rights to the book “Meduze žive zauvek dok ih ne uhvate” by Nađa Petrović (Geopoetika, Serbia). This isn’t a coincidence—it’s proof that Cinelink Books is successfully fulfilling its mission to highlight the potential of regional literature and ease the transition from page to screen.
How does it work?
Selected books will be presented at a special session during the Cinelink Industry Days program at the 31st SFF, where established producers from the region and the world will see them. This is a golden opportunity for regional authors and publishers to connect with film professionals and give their works the deserved chance for film adaptation.
Why does it matter?
In a world where films and series increasingly rely on literary sources, this program is pure gold. It not only promotes regional culture and literature but also opens doors for new film projects that can captivate audiences worldwide.
Conclusion: Books that must not stay just on paper!
The Sarajevo Film Festival and Cinelink Books show that literature and film can and must go hand in hand. The seven selected works prove the region has plenty to offer, and it’s time to turn these books into film hits. If you love a good story, keep an eye on this festival—maybe the next big movie you watch will come from one of these books.
So, dear readers, what do you think? Which of these books deserves to become a film? Or maybe you have your own suggestions? Drop a comment, spark a debate, and remember—the best stories always deserve the screen!
