The Telemach Youth Film Festival Sarajevo presents an average of 90 films from over 15 countries around the world every year. The focus is on the short film competition program through the OFF Shorts and OFF Generation Shorts sections, while the competition feature films are presented through the OFF Generation Features section.
OFF Shorts is the main selection of the Sarajevo Youth Film Festival, showcasing a program of short fiction films with a special focus on regional filmmakers. This selection highlights young film professionals, featuring their short films produced independently or within their film schools. The program is entirely dedicated to promoting emerging film professionals, offering them a platform to present their work.
Additionally, OFF Shorts serves as a foundation selection for the educational exchange program OFF Youth Experience, whose participants form the Festival’s youth jury.
OFF Generation Shorts is the Sarajevo Youth Film Festival’s competitive short film selection, intended for young professionals and former film school students up to the age of 36. This selection places a strong emphasis on thematically relevant films for young audiences, tackling contemporary societal challenges, generational issues, and the need for change.
OFF Generation Features is the main competition selection for feature films at the Youth Film Festival Sarajevo. This program brings together films that address relevant social themes, with a particular focus on youth development in today’s world.
A secondary but equally important mission of the OFF Generation Features selection is audience education—encouraging a critical approach to film, highlighting specific elements of cinematic artistry, and fostering a deeper understanding of cinema as both an artistic and social medium.
CineBloom is a selection dedicated to young filmmakers presenting their first feature films. Unlike OFF Generation Features, which includes established filmmakers and films from renowned festivals, CineBloom serves as a platform for debut directors, providing a space where the new generation of filmmakers can find their first audience.
Within this selection, the CineBloom Critique Award is presented—a film critics’ award recognizing the best debut work for its contribution and innovation in cinema. The award is valued at €3,000, offering crucial support to emerging filmmakers at the start of their careers.
OFF Retrospective is a Festival program that showcases digitally restored film classics, featuring domestic, regional, and international productions from previous decades, allowing them to be reintroduced to young audiences.
OFF Screen is a selection of feature films focusing on works that, regardless of their screening history or premiere timing, have the power to profoundly impact audiences, evoke emotions, and inspire reflection.
This selection includes films that transcend fleeting trends, delivering stories that remain relevant and reinforce important universal messages about youth and their values.
OFF Youth Experience is the Festival’s educational exchange program, aiming to bring together young filmmakers and aspiring creators from the region. Over eight days, participants will have the opportunity to watch films, exchange opinions, and connect with peers from across the region.
Participation in this program not only enhances film knowledge but also offers the most engaged and active attendees the chance to take part in exchanges at regional partner festivals.
OFF Pro Film Market is the Festival’s industry program, focusing on the development of film and TV content, co-productions, and the discovery and education of young talents across all branches of the industry.
Through this program, the Festival positions itself as a unique hub for young filmmakers from across Europe, offering them the opportunity to present their projects—whether in development or completed—and to connect and collaborate with top film professionals from around the world.