Adel Ksiksi, Head of AJD Industry Days, posted a reassurance July 17 that AJD Industry Days “is not cancelled” despite the recent closure of Al Jazeera Balkans and the AJB DOC Film Festival, both based in Sarajevo. “We will be in touch very soon with details of the new location and dates,” Ksiksi underlined in a statement to BDE.
The 4th Industry Days event was due to run 13-15 September. AJB DOC Film Festival was originally scheduled for 12-16 September.
Ksiksi’s statement reads in full:
“We’re reaching out with an important update regarding the upcoming edition of AJD Industry Days. Due to the unexpected closure of the AJB DOC Film Festival and the winding down of our network’s branch office in Bosnia, we will no longer be holding the event in Sarajevo as originally planned.
“We sincerely apologize for this change. Please rest assured that the event is not cancelled, and we will be in touch very soon with details of the new location and dates.
“We understand this news may come as a surprise, and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience it may cause. While this development is outside our control, we want to reassure you that our team is working actively to deliver the same high-quality experience, in a format that honors the spirit and objectives of the event.
“We deeply value your time and hope that you will be able to join us with the new plans. Thank you for your patience and understanding, and for your continued support during this transition.”
With headquarters in Sarajevo, Al Jazeera Balkans was launched in November 2011 to broadcast throughout the former Yugoslavia. Additional offices were located in Belgrade, Zagreb, Podgorica, Skopje, Ljubljana, and Pristina. AJB was the network’s first channel to broadcast programming in the region’s languages.
Al Jazeera Balkans gained much recognition for its documentary content, investigative reporting, and coverage of regional issues. Since 2018, it has also been known for organizing the international documentary film festival AJB DOC. While no official reason has been given for the shutdown, several sources suggest it was a business decision made in Doha, and likely driven by financial considerations.
The announcement of the Al Jazeera Balkans closure was made July 12 2025 at the end of a news broadcast. “This was the last news program for Al Jazeera Balkans. Thank you for nearly fourteen years of your trust,” said anchor Dalija Hasanbegovic.
“We tried to be an island of professionalism in a sea of chaos. Thank you for believing in us,” she added.
Updates to follow.
