Anadolu Agency’s (AA) documentary “Evidence” met with Sarajevo audiences at the 7th International Al Jazeera Balkans Documentary Film Festival (AJB DOC), organized by Al Jazeera Balkans in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The screening of AA’s documentary “Evidence”, which clearly reveals the war crimes committed by Israel in Gaza, was attended by Turkey’s Ambassador to Sarajevo Sadık Babür Girgin, Palestine’s Ambassador to Sarajevo Abdurezaq Namoora, field producer of the documentary “Evidence” Ömer Faruk Tunç and many Sarajevans, at the festival where AA is the Global Communications Partner.
Tunç told AA, “The idea for the documentary came from some evidence obtained by our photojournalists in Gaza. We obtained serious photographs and visuals showing that white phosphorus bombs were used there.”
Tunç, who said that research and documentary production on the subject was planned upon the instructions of AA General Manager Serdar Karagöz, said, “Previously, an ‘Evidence’ book was published as a photo archive with visual details and evidence. We started to expand the documents as a documentary based on this book.”
Tunç stated that they met with Amnesty International, which used the documents, and said, “We obtained information about their work in the field. Later, we received interviews from international experts, United Nations (UN) officials, former Israeli lawyers and many other officials regarding this issue.”
Pointing out that the AJB DOC was organized with the theme of “Justice?” this year, Tunç said, “We also think that justice can be better achieved with evidence because justice means evidence.”
“After this documentary, people will see the truth”
Ambassador Namoora emphasized that Israel was attacking civilians in Gaza with phosphorus bombs, which had extremely negative effects on both health and the environment.
Kada Hotic, Vice President of the Srebrenica and Zepa Mothers Association, who attended the screening, reminded that Bosnia and Herzegovina shared a similar fate with Gaza and said, “I want to ask the whole world, how many more children must die in Gaza?”
Majeed Marouf, the head of the Palestinian Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, underlined the importance of showing such a documentary, saying, “The genocide and oppression in Gaza must be proven. Europe and the whole world must see the truth. After this documentary, people will see the truth and will be surprised by the evidence shown. What is happening in Gaza will be viewed differently.”
After the screening, Tunç answered questions from the audience and AA’s “Evidence” book was presented to the guests.
Festival focuses on Palestine
The AJB DOC, which was opened yesterday and will continue until September 17, is addressing the suffering that the Palestinian people have suffered due to Israeli attacks this year.
The festival includes 24 documentaries on Israel’s violence against Palestinians, as well as those on the world economy and political turmoil.
The jury members of the festival were Deborah London-Harrington, Namik Kabil, Mila Turajlic, Francesco Montagner and Myriam Francois.
In the competition section of AJB DOC, 3 awards will be given: “AJB Main Award”, “AJB Program Award” and “Audience Award”.
The festival will also feature an Industry Days program and panels will be held.
