This recognition represents a significant international success for the film and its authors, confirming the strong presence of contemporary Bosnian-Herzegovinian cinema on the international stage and opening up space for further festival and distribution affirmation of the work.
This year's edition of BHFF was held at the SVA Theater and gathered numerous prominent authors and artists, including Rade Šerbedžija, Aleksandar Hemon, Lidija Zelović, Bojan Stojčić, Aida Šehović, Biliana Grozdanova, and Chris Leslie, as well as representatives of the film industry and the Bosnian-Herzegovinian diaspora.
Founded in 2003, the festival is the longest-running international event dedicated to Bosnian-Herzegovinian cinema abroad and one of the key platforms for promoting film authors and the culture of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the United States. A special award was also given to the film's lead actor, Rade Šerbedžija, for his contribution to the art of Bosnian-Herzegovinian cinema. He also presented the film "Pavilion" in New York to the festival audience.
The film "Pavilion" features: Rade Šerbedžija, Zijah Sokolović, Miralem Zubčević, Ksenija Pajić, Jasna Diklić, Branka Petrić, Meto Jovanovski, Vladimir Jurc Lali, Kaća Dorić, Muhamed Bahonjić, Ivo Barišić, Ermin Bravo, Alban Ukaj, Nikša Butijer, Vedrana Božinović, Mirjana Karanović, Ermin Sijamija, Aleksandar Seksan, Snežana Vidović, Selma Mehanović, Zlatan Školjić, Adis Mehanović, Siniša Vidović, Faketa Salihbegović-Avdagić, Ivica Šarić, Mugdim Avdagić, Sabina Kulenović, and Ana Novaković.
The film "Pavilion," based on a screenplay by Viktor Ivančić and Emir Imamović Pirke, is a black comedy about a group of residents of the nursing home "Pavilion" who, after years of abuse and humiliation, decide to stage an armed rebellion. Armed with illegal weapons, they take over the home, take the staff hostage, and enter into a conflict with the authorities.
The film "Pavilion" premiered at the opening of the 31st Sarajevo Film Festival and was produced as a co-production between Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia.