Sarajevo – Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretary General Amer Kapetanović set the tone of the discussion titled “What Do We Ask of the Next Generation? Film, Democracy and Regional Competitiveness”, held during the Second Regional Conference on Youth Cultural Cooperation, organised by the RCC’s EU-funded Western Balkans Youth Lab (WBYL) in cooperation with the Sarajevo Film Festival (SFF).

“Creative industries matter to our economies, and they matter to regional competitiveness. Across South East Europe, they contribute roughly three to five per cent of GDP and around three and a half per cent of employment, comparable to European averages. This is not a marginal sector. It already has a real economic impact, and that is what makes it important for regional cooperation. This is particularly relevant for a region where youth unemployment still stands at around 25 to 30 per cent. Film and the wider creative industries can give young people careers built on their own skills and ideas, but only if those careers are viable. That is why we do not treat culture as decoration,” said RCC Secretary General Amer Kapetanović during his opening keynote remarks.

Ahead of the panel, Luigi Soreca, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina, also delivered introductory remarks and gave an EU perspective. ”If we expect young filmmakers to defend democratic values and challenge established narratives, we must also create the conditions that allow them to do so. That means providing real opportunities-from skills and funding to regional mobility-so young people are not just invited to listen to decisions, but have the power to help design their European future. Through programmes like Creative Europe and Erasmus+, the EU remains committed to investing in the next generation,” said Soreca.

The panel discussion brought together representatives of European and regional institutions and film sector including Tobias Flessenkemper, Head of the Youth Department at the Council of Europe; Maja Vukić, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Croatian Audiovisual Centre (HAVC); Tamara Todorović, Film Director; and Čarna Vučinić, Producer and Founder of Naked, and was moderated by Stefan Prohorov, Expert for International Relations at Bulgarian Film Centre.

The event brought together young artists from art academies of the Western Balkans, participants of the SFF’s Talents Sarajevo and emerging filmmakers who contributed with their own perspectives on the issues raised, reflecting on the opportunities and challenges facing the next generation of creative professionals and emphasizing the importance of giving young people an active role in shaping the future of the creative sector. The discussion highlighted the growing expectations placed on the next generation of filmmakers, while underscoring the need for institutions to make space for young people not only as beneficiaries, but as partners.

The session was held within the Second Regional Conference on Youth Cultural Cooperation, where 25 young artists and emerging filmmakers from across the region had the opportunity to be part of the Sarajevo Film Festival programme, present their work, learn directly from internationally renowned filmmakers and actors, exchange experiences with peers and industry professionals, and take part in selected Sarajevo Film Festival and Talents Sarajevo activities throughout the Festival week. 

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More on the Second Cultural Conference Regional Cooperation Council | Young Filmmakers from Western Balkans Six Take Centre Stage at Sarajevo Film Festival

The Western Balkans Youth Lab 2 (WBYL2) is an EU-funded project implemented by the Regional Cooperation Council that promotes sustained and structured regional dialogue between young people and policy-makers.

The Regional Cooperation Council works to advance regional cooperation, connectivity and European integration across South East Europe, with a strong focus on creating opportunities for young people. Through initiatives such as the EU-funded Western Balkans Youth Lab, RCC supports youth participation, regional exchange and the development of skills and networks that can help young people play a more active role in shaping the region’s future.

The Sarajevo Film Festival is one of the Europe’s most established and internationally recognised film festivals, bringing together filmmakers, industry professionals, emerging talent and audiences from across Europe and beyond. Alongside its film programme, the Festival has become an important platform for professional exchange, new voices and the development of the regional film sector.