14th August, Red Carpet Night, Sarajevo International Film Festival 2026

And it will be the first of many over the next ten days. I popped into town for a coffee at 11am. It was buzzing. The cafe bars and outdoor seating areas were full. Expection spilled out and over the personalities, visitors, locals, tourists, all who were chatting and enjoying the sunshine. But then the sharing of culture through art, literature, film, music, food and fashion brings people together. I am stating the obvious but I don't mind. Could we all mention a 'Creative Europe' everyday in those terms.

I had planned to pick up a blank canvas or two and spend a few hours painting, but it wasn't to be, yet, anyway. I couldn't find a shop that sold them. There must be no profit to be made from blank canvases outside of the school terms. However I picked up a jotter and some pastels yesterday so I might get something down.

Though I have had connections to the city for many a year, this is my first visit. It's a very human city. I didn't know what to expect. There's a wonderful sense of relaxed stillness where I'm staying but yet within a 5 minute walk I can enjoy participating in a bubbling cauldron of wellness, unity and fun. It wasn't always like that, the people here still remember the siege of the city of Sarajevo from April 5, 1992, to February 29, 1996, during the Bosnian War, which followed the dissolution of Yugoslavia.

There's BBC documentary available over on youtube and I linked it here.