Rijad Gvozden

When Santa Was a Communist

December 2023. To spread holiday cheer, a theatre company is touring small towns of post-war Bosnia with a play about Santa Claus. While children are enchanted by the play, the appearance of Santa Claus rekindles old disputes among the adults.

Gym

Riki works for a struggling catering company. Ado, his misogynistic colleague and brother-in-law, wants to fix the business by beating up Melisa, a former co-worker who is a top cake-maker, to force her to work with them again. All the rest of the employees dismiss Ado's plan as stupid and senseless. However, Ado is a stubborn savage, and his colleagues know he won't give up unless he is stopped. Riki is divided between a sense of justice, and the norms through which we tolerate family and friends no matter what they do.

Back Up

A man, old, decrepit, terrified, in a house with his friend Goran. Outside he wanders aimlessly, seeing enemies in both neighbours and foreigners. Ena, a journalist, arrives in the village, to film a story on heritage guardians. Through her camera lens she discovers a strange Man, secretly watching. His „hiding place“ has been exposed. Ilness and reality clash. In the house a threat appears, a wartime lover, with the message that the devil has come to collect his due. A stormy night and fateful encounters. To run or to fight and face it all? And return?

The Butterfly Effect

A story that will show you through a multitude of unpredictable, humorous, but also stressful situations how diversity works. when they have the same goal.

Quo Vadis, Aida?

Bosnia, July 1995. Aida is a translator for the UN in the small town of Srebrenica. When the Serbian army takes over the town, her family is among the thousands of citizens looking for shelter in the UN camp. As an insider to the negotiations Aida has access to crucial information that she needs to interpret. What is at the horizon for her family and people – rescue or death? Which move should she take?

Counterpoint

In a small registry office of a local government department, there is nothing new under the neon lights. The manager of the office and his employees shuffle through the routine. One employee decides to break the status quo.

Rooster

It is the International Women's Day. Today, a Police Inspector Danijel will finally show his affection to his colleague Stella. Today, a victim of domestic violence Milica will finally report her abuser. However, the inevitable encounter between the two of them will ruin their plans - while trying to resolve Milica's life drama, Daniel's own life drama takes place without him taking part. What can bring down the walls of these two lonely worlds? How much can we put up with, just to feel loved?

128

Short film, post-war drama.

Catalina

Colombian girl, who studies law in France, arrives to Sarajevo in order to write a study about the War Crimes Tribunal. Unexpectedly she finds herself in the center of the intimate tragedy of her new friend, a native woman.

Death in Sarajevo

Sarajevo on 28 of June, 2014. At the Hotel Europa, the best hotel in town, the manager Omer prepares to welcome a delegation of diplomatic VIPs. On the centenary of the assassination that is considered to have led to World War I, an appeal for peace and understanding is supposed to start from here. But the hotel staff have other worries: having not been paid for months, they are planning to go on strike. Hatidza from the hotel laundry is elected strike leader even though her daughter Lamija, who works in reception, is firmly against industrial action. Meanwhile, in the sealed-off presidential suite, a guest from France rehearses a speech. Elsewhere, a television reporter conducts interviews about war and its consequences. Was Gavrilo Princip, the 1914 assassin, a criminal or a national hero? What long shadow does his deed cast into the present?

Sabina K.

Sabina, a divorced mother of two small children, falls in love with an old friend from the Bosnian war. The two plan to marry, but things go terribly wrong.

Nine Positions of Loneliness

Nine characters gathered around their own bog, live their virtual lives, fostering the illusion that they are somebody else.

Countdown

One room. One man. One decision. Not by many words, but by pure emotion, the movie Countdown gradually, but completely overwhelms the viewer, leading one into a very intimate world of a young man, where an intense battle between his desire for life and an unbearable sense of guilt takes place.

Politics and Other Crimes

Thomas Geer is an American journalist who comes to Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, to make an objective report on political events and conflicts. The main actor in his report is a high-ranking official who is responsible for making an identity law. Thomas reveals too much information through his investigation on the aforementioned politicians, and revealing things that might change direction on the radical moves.

Something Sweet

Ena, a 10 year old girl, who lives with her young mother and grandmother, has a constant urge to eat something sweet, and she never actually gets to eat some, by the end of the day ending up having a different “culinary”experience with her friend Ado who is in the eve of moving to Frankfurt.

The Scent of Rain in the Balkans

Trials and tribulations of a Jewish family from Sarajevo during turbulent times between 1914 and 1945. Based on TV series of the same title.

Bodily Function

Adnan is driving a grocery van on his way to sell produce at the market. While he is waiting for a friend's phone call, he suspects his loyalty.

Baggage

Being away for many years, Amir returns to Bosnia and Herzegovina in order to take custody of his parent's remains. They were murdered during the war but their bodies haven't been recovered so far. Amir also decides to visit the place of his birth. There, besides a ruined house, he also finds a forgotten friend and those who know about him more than he knows about himself.