The Banja Luka International Film Festival held a nice reception during Berlinale on February 13 at the HomeBase Lounge (Postdamer Platz)

Banja Luka International Film Festival will take place in the city of Banja Luka (Bosnia and Herzegovina) from 2nd to 9th of May, 2008. Approximately forty European and films from countries from all around the world will be shown.

Even though there is the Academy of Arts in Banja Luka where film and theater artists gain their knowledge, the city itself did not have many important film events since the war (1992 - 1995). The Academy has produced numerous remarkable artists, especially actors. Dozens of student films have been shot in its production. Some of them participated at the student film festivals and won awards. BLIFF will open the door for the film spirit which will inspire the becoming as well as the development of film industry. That way both Banja Luka and Western Bosnia will become the parts of the European and world film integration.

BLIFF's competitive program includes three categories: latest international achievements, all-evening screenings of documentary films and international student films.

Non-competitive program includes films in four categories: Film and Laughter (classic and contemporary film comedies), Women Directors (the whole screenings income will be donated to the fight against breast cancer), Russian Film (in the honor of the 100 years of Russian film) and Peace and Tolerance (films promoting peace, human rights, tolerance, coexistence etc.)

The most important part of the festival will be educational/professional program that includes workshops and seminars: Script writing and development, Writing film projects by the European criteria, Basic principles and the possibilities of co production, Promotion and distribution of finished film and Film workshops for children. Workshops and seminars are intended for film workers, film students, journalists, children and all the citizens that are interested in this kind of education. Workshop lecturers will be established film workers from Europe.

The Festival got, among others, significant support from the Film Academy Prague (FAMU), Czech Republic; British Council, Bosnia and Herzegovina; Faculty of Drama, Serbia; Institute of Documentary Film, Czech Republic; National Film and Television School, United Kingdom etc.

Where is Banja Luka? It is located in the northwest part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the valley of river Vrbas. Southern part of the city is surrounded by mountains and northern part opens up towards Central Europe trough the wide Pannonian Basin. Banja Luka is economic, cultural and university center of Republic of Srpska, one of the two entities in BiH (http://www.banjaluka.rs.ba/_e/). It is the city with the most beautiful women in Balkans and with the urban myth stating that seven times more women than men live in it. Statistic data do not support this belief, but the impression one can get by walking down its streets does support it. Good food, the old Roman fortress Kastel, mountain river rafting, kind hosts and excellent partying represent the most attractive marks of Banja Luka.

(http://www.banjaluka-airport.com/). It is connected to the neighboring countries with the main road M16 (that is the part of the European road E661) and trough their highways with Central, Western and Eastern Europe. Border with Croatia is 50 kilometers (31 miles) to the north from the city and Zagreb is 180 kilometers (11m miles) northwest from Banja Luka.

BLIFF will mediate in connecting and cooperating of BiH film production with foreign countries. It will provide conditions for promotion of the domestic films at the world market and will help film workers in their professional improvement.

A very good communication and interaction between BLIFF and Sarajevo Film Festival will help the reinforcement of the cultural and intellectual bonds at the whole Bosnia and Herzegovina territory, which will contribute to the faster and more efficient joining the European integration.

A numerous guests from the country and abroad are expected at the Festival.