At this year’s Sarajevo Film Festival, a transformative initiative called Sister Sister is set to take center stage, spearheaded by North Macedonia’s Teona Mitevska, known for her film “Mother,” and acclaimed French director Céline Sciamma, recognized for “Portrait of a Lady on Fire.” This groundbreaking effort seeks to redefine the representation and role of women in the film and television industries, embracing a “bold, punk and revolutionary” vision aimed at fostering inclusivity and sustainability within the audiovisual landscape.
A Vision for Sisterhood in Film
The Sister Sister initiative aims to cultivate a sense of sisterhood among women in various film and television professions. At the festival, a think tank will bring together female filmmakers, producers, writers, and academics from the former Yugoslavia, allowing them to explore the future of women’s authorship in regional cinema.
Roundtable Discussions and Manifesto Creation
The initiative includes three moderated roundtables where participants will discuss challenges, share experiences, and generate actionable recommendations for building “a more inclusive, courageous and sustainable audiovisual industry.” Mitevska emphasizes the importance of collectively drafting a manifesto that articulates their shared concerns and ideals, describing it as “something bold, punk and revolutionary.”
A Moment of Empowerment
“This is a gathering about strength, joyful hunger, and revolutionary anger of taking the space deserved,” Mitevska states. “We will explore how women can reinvent cinema, challenge traditional norms, and use this crucial moment to pave a new path forward.”
Inspiring Foundations in Film
Teona Mitevska, a prominent figure in Southeast European cinema, recently premiered her latest feature “Mother,” which stars Noomi Rapace as a young Mother Theresa, at the Horizons sidebar of the Venice Film Festival. The seed for Sister Sister was planted during a conversation she had with Sarajevo programmer Asja Krsmanović at the Manaki Brothers Film Festival last fall. Mitevska voiced her fatigue with external definitions of her identity and her newfound resolve to define herself authentically as she approaches her 50s.
Collaboration with Célina Sciamma
Following their initial discussion, Mitevska reached out to Sciamma, whom she met at the 2023 Venice Film Festival. The two directors discovered a shared vision, with Mitevska noting Sciamma’s “unapologetic tone” and pursuit of a new feminist grammar in cinema as key elements. Sciamma enthusiastically backed the Sister Sister initiative, which will also feature a panel discussion titled “Are We Radical Enough? Reclaiming and Redefining Women’s Authorship in European Cinema.”
Panel Discussions on Women’s Authorship
Taking place on August 20 at 1 p.m. in Sarajevo’s Festival Garden, the panel will include notable women filmmakers exploring how they navigate authorship in a world shaped by patriarchal norms, political instability, and cultural narratives. Participants will include Sciamma, Serbian director Jelena Maksimović, and Blerta Basholli, the Kosovo-born director of the acclaimed film “Hive.” This dialogue aims to reflect on the progress women filmmakers have made in Europe over the last decade and address ongoing questions about narrative power and marginalization.
Manifesto for Action and Inclusion
The Sister Sister think tank will conclude by establishing a manifesto with actionable principles to enhance creative freedom, equal opportunity, and inclusive leadership in the regional screen industries. The initiative aims to inspire lasting change in industry practices, funding strategies, and future collaborations.
Creating a Safe Space
Mitevska articulates a vision for a “safe space for women to define themselves without restrictions.” She describes it as “a bold and fearless zone of not giving a damn,” emphasizing the importance of self-definition and autonomy in the creative process.
The Sarajevo Film Festival runs from August 14 to 21, inviting audiences and industry professionals alike to reflect on the critical role of women in shaping the future of cinema.
