The Competition Programme – Documentary Film programme of Sarajevo FF 2026 comprises 22 films from 305 submissions, of which 13 are feature-length and eight are short documentaries. There is, additionally, one feature-length documentary screening Out of Competition. Nine of the films are world premieres, four are international premieres, and eight are regional premieres.
Programmer Rada Šešić comments: “This year’s selection showcases the impressive vitality and creativity of contemporary documentary filmmaking from the region. Intimate in scale yet unmistakably political, these films reveal the resilience of individuals and communities determined to resist silence and challenge entrenched systems of power.”
“More than half of the selected films are directed and produced by women, reflecting a growing shift towards reclaiming stories, perspectives, and spaces that have long remained under men’s domain,” Šešić adds. “Moving fluidly between documentary and fiction, animation, archival footage, and poetic storytelling, the filmmakers craft distinctive cinematic languages that reimagine reality with originality, emotional depth, and moments of wit. Together, the selection offers compelling, urgent, and deeply human perspectives on the world we live in today.”
Films will compete for the Oscar® qualifying Heart of Sarajevo Award for Best Documentary Feature Film, valued at €4,000, and sponsored by the Government of Switzerland; and the Heart of Sarajevo Award for Best Documentary Short, which includes a cash prize of €2,000. A Special Jury Prize will also be awarded (€2,500).
COMPETITION PROGRAMME – DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
- BEAR WITH ME, Martin Genovski (Bulgaria, 2026, 84 min.) – World Premiere
- GOOD PEOPLE / DOBRI LUGJE, Milcho Manchevski,(North Macedonia, 2026, 86 min.) – World Premiere
- THE BALKAN COWBOY, Dragana Jurišić , (Croatia, Ireland, 2026, 93 min.) – World Premiere
- THE FORBIDDEN AUNT / ZABRANJENA TETKA, Bojana Novaković (Serbia, Australia, 2026, 82 min.) – World Premiere
- WE SHALL LIVE TOGETHER / ŽIVJEĆEMO ZAJEDNO, Damir Markovina,(Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2026, 75 min.) – World Premiere
- DON’T ASK ME IF I KILLED, Helena Maksyom (Romania, Netherlands, Germany, Ukraine, 2026, 103 min.) – International Premiere
- FRAGMENTS OF BELONGING / TRAGOVI PRIPADANJA, Tatjana Božić (Croatia, Netherlands, Germany, 2026, 80 min.) – International Premiere
- WHEN I GET OUT / KO PRIDEM VEN, Metod Pevec (Slovenia, 2026, 106 min.) – International Premiere
- 32 METERS, Morteza Atabaki (Türkiye, Iran, Qatar, 2025, 83 min.) – Regional Premiere
- BUGBOY, Lucas Paleocrassas (Greece, France, Denmark, 2026, 87 min.) – Regional Premiere
- ELECTING MS SANTA, Raisa Răzmeriță (Moldova, Romania, 2025, 95 min.) – Regional Premiere
- FOR LIFE / ÖMÜR BOYU, Ahmet Seven (Türkiye, 2026, 89 min.) – Regional Premiere
- TO HOLD A MOUNTAIN / PLANINA, Biljana Tutorov, Petar Glomazić (Serbia, France, Montenegro, Slovenia, Croatia, 2026, 105 min.) – Regional Premiere
COMPETITION PROGRAMME – DOCUMENTARY SHORTS
- BRO RAM / RAM BHAI, Branko Schmidt (Croatia, 2026, 14 min.) – World Premiere
- FAHRUDIN, Alen Drljević (Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2026, 20 min.) – World Premiere
- OF LIGHT GHOSTS / VON LICHTERGEISTERN, Isabella Fellinger (Austria, 2026, 27 min.) – World Premiere
- THE CAPTAIN AND THE CASPIAN SEA / KAPITAN VƏ XƏZƏR DƏNİZİ, Turkan Huseyin (Azerbaijan, 2026, 30 min.) – World Premiere
- DEAR ORCHID, Hana Selena Sokolović (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, Netherlands, 2026, 18 min.) – International Premiere
- ASPARAGUS BEAR / MEDO U ŠPAROGAMA, Ivan Grgur (Croatia, 2025, 18 min.) – Regional Premiere
- HOLY DEFIANCE / TIHA MISA, Karla Jelić (Croatia, 2026, 15 min.) – Regional Premiere
- THE FERRY FLOWS / PAROM PLYVE, Zhora Papoian (Ukraine, United Kingdom, 2026, 18 min.) – Regional Premiere
OUT OF COMPETITION
YUGO GOES TO AMERICA / YUGO IDE U AMERIKU, Filip Grujić, Aleksa Borković (Serbia, Croatia, 2026, 87 min.) – National Premiere
