Sarajevo, 19 August 2025_The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Sarajevo Film Festival (SFF), have joined forces under the project Leveraging the potential of diaspora to advance EU accession and labour mobility in the Western Balkans, funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), to highlight how the experiences, skills, and perspectives of the Bosnian diaspora can inspire creativity, strengthen social cohesion, and contribute to sustainable development in the Western Balkans.
As part of the 31st Sarajevo Film Festival — the largest cinema event in South-Eastern Europe — and its Talents Sarajevo programme for emerging filmmakers from the region, the Caucasus, Türkiye, and Hungary, IOM co-hosted a public talk, “Diaspora Perspectives – Filming as Caring: Success, Identity, and Mental Health in Migration.”
The session brought together acclaimed Swedish-Bosnian Director Goran Kapetanović and producer Lejla Bešić, both members of the Bosnian diaspora, whose personal and professional journeys reflect the resilience, adaptability, and creativity fostered through migration. The event combined dialogue, mentorship, and networking to inspire the next generation of storytellers, bringing diaspora voices to the forefront and showing how experiences gained abroad can strengthen creativity, resilience, and inclusive development in Bosnia and Herzegovina and across the region.
The discussion explored themes such as identity, belonging, emotional resilience, and the transformative role of storytelling in building more inclusive societies. Drawing from their own life experiences, the speakers shared how navigating life between cultures has shaped their work, deepened their connection to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and informed the way they portray migration both on screen and in public life.
“Members of the diaspora are not only cultural ambassadors abroad, they are an extraordinary source of knowledge, skills, and innovation for their country of origin,” said Michael J.F. O’Mahony, IOM Chief of Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a.i.. “By creating spaces for meaningful exchange between diaspora professionals and young talent in Bosnia and Herzegovina and across the region, we are building bridges that foster both creativity and tangible contributions to social and economic progress.”
Since the early 2000s, emigration from Bosnia and Herzegovina has steadily accelerated, with more than one in five people born in the Western Balkans now living abroad. While this trend poses challenges to long-term socio-economic development, it also presents unique opportunities: diaspora members are often highly educated and skilled, and many are eager to share their expertise to benefit their home communities.
“At the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, we believe that diaspora stories are living narratives that shape who we are. In the Western Balkans our perspective focuses on the opportunities of brain circulation: ideas, skills, and creativity moving in both directions, strengthening countries of origin as well as the communities where diaspora members live” stated Letizia Fischioni, AICS Tirana Deputy Head of Office.
Director Goran Kapetanović highlighted in his speech: “By embedding diaspora voices in a leading cultural platform such as the Sarajevo Film Festival, the event underscores that migration is not only a driver of personal journeys, but also a catalyst for collective progress. Storytelling, particularly through film, can challenge perceptions, encourage empathy, and open the door to new forms of collaboration between Bosnia and Herzegovina and its global diaspora”.
Her Excellency Sarah Eti Castellani, Ambassador of Italy to Sarajevo, attended the event and said: “Italy strongly believes that the voices of the diaspora play a crucial role in shaping the cultural, social, and economic fabric of our global society. As people move across borders, they carry with them their knowledge, traditions, and perspectives, enriching the communities they join and building bridges between countries. This is particularly true for the Western Balkans, where migration has long been a powerful force influencing both local development and transnational ties. Connections between Italy and Bosnia and Herzegovina exemplify this dynamic, with communities contributing to cultural exchange, economic cooperation, and long-standing human relationships”.
