The 7th International Al Jazeera Balkans Documentary Film Festival (AJB DOC), which will be organized by Al Jazeera Balkans in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, will begin tomorrow with documentaries that will bring to the big screen the oppression and suffering experienced by the Palestinian people.
The theme of this year’s festival, which will be held on September 13-17 and of which Anadolu Agency (AA) is the Global Communications Partner, was determined as “Justice?” AJB DOC Director Edhem Foco made an assessment of the festival to an AA correspondent.
Foco stated that 9 of the 24 documentaries to be screened at the festival will be making their world premieres, and said, “We determine our theme every year by taking inspiration from what is happening around us. Last year, the festival was held in September and the attacks on Gaza began in October. It saddened us that what was happening was not adequately conveyed in the cultural world.”
Stating that they witness the deaths of women and children and the destruction of infrastructure in Gaza every day, Foco said:
“We have also witnessed the reactions of the developed and modern world, which has a habit of telling others what should be done and how. They sided with the oppressive side that attacked without thinking. This is where the theme of ‘Justice?’ came to mind. Where is justice?”
AA’s “Evidence” documentary to be screened
Foco stated that AA’s documentary “Evidence”, which clearly reveals the war crimes committed by Israel in Gaza, will also be shown at the festival, and said, “Al Jazeera Balkans has had a long-standing collaboration with AA. As in previous years, AA is our Global Communications Partner this year. It is an honor for us that AA’s documentary will be shown at our festival.”
Recalling that AA reporters and photojournalists lost their lives in Gaza, Foco said, “AA is one of the few media organizations that continues its work in Gaza. The documentary ‘Evidence’ is quite meaningful and I hope many viewers will come to its screening. We have a documentary that will prove the genocide that took place.”
Foco said that AJB DOC has become an important position in the region and that documentaries are becoming more interesting and informative for viewers. Asking viewers to empathize with the documentaries they watch, Foco said, “Empathy is important. We also want to bring back the sense of empathy in society within the scope of the festival.”
Foco added that the opening film of the documentary tomorrow night is a production that tells the story of the suffering experienced by Palestine and its people.
Festival focuses on Palestine
AA’s documentary “Evidence” will be shown on September 14th as part of the festival in Sarajevo. Following the screening of the documentary, Ömer Faruk Tunç from the “Evidence” documentary team will answer questions from the Sarajevo audience.
This year, the AJB DOC will focus on the suffering of the Palestinian people as a result of Israeli attacks. The festival will feature 24 documentaries on Israel’s violence against Palestinians, as well as world economic and political turmoil.
The festival jury members will be 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”.
