United Nations in Bosnia and Herzegovina and AJB DOC Partnership

The United Nations project “Women Lead the Way Towards Peace and Security in Bosnia and Herzegovina” (WPS), jointly implemented by UN Women, IOM, and UNFPA, is proud to announce its partnership with the Al Jazeera Balkans Documentary Film Festival (AJB DOC) that will take place from 13 to 17 September 2024, in Sarajevo.

The WPS project, part of a five-year investment by the United Nations Secretary-General's Peacebuilding Fund (PBF), is dedicated to advancing the “Women, Peace, and Security” agenda, with the focus on strengthening the role of women in fostering peace, trust, and social cohesion in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

As part of this collaboration, the WPS project will support training in smartphone documentary film production for students of film, performing arts, producers, journalists, and creatives from across the region. The three-day workshop, running from 14 to 16 September, will provide young filmmakers with expert guidance on creating compelling short documentaries using smartphones.

AJB DOC Festival has long recognized the global trend towards smartphone filmmaking and has, for several years, organized training programs for young filmmakers in the region. This year’s partnership with the United Nations in Bosnia and Herzegovina will focus on themes central to understanding and overcoming the challenges faced by women. Participants will not only sharpen their technical skills but also transform their creative visions into powerful stories that highlight the real-life struggles and triumphs of women in society.

Following the training, participants will have the opportunity to develop their own documentary ideas and film it with smartphones. The best idea, selected by the training facilitator and festival organizers, will be awarded a prize sponsored by Samsung, along with mentoring support for the production process. The winning documentary will be screened at next year’s AJB DOC in the SmartDoc selection, showcasing young filmmakers who use new technology.

The collaboration between the United Nations in Bosnia and Herzegovina and AJB DOC through the WPS project marks the beginning of a three-year partnership aimed at supporting and inspiring young creatives to promote peace and security through gender-sensitive storytelling.