Directors Wrote to Nikšić Criticizing the 'Trojka': Not Only Did You Betray Election Promises, But You Also Endangered Cinematography

(Patria) - The Association of Directors in Bosnia and Herzegovina sent a letter to the Prime Minister of the Federation of BiH Government, Nermin Nikšić, on July 10th this year, regarding the difficult position of BiH cinematography.

The letter is signed by Danis Tanović, Jasmila Žbanić, Pjer Žalica, Aida Begić, Dino Mustafić, Tanja Miletić Oručević, Nermin Hamzagić, Ines Tanović, Alen Drljević, Srđan Vuletić, Alen Šimić, and Nedim Karalić.

"We are publishing this letter in its entirety with the desire to accelerate the much-needed dialogue in order to solve the accumulated problems. Dear Prime Minister Nikšić, after a year and two months of the current Federation of BiH Government's operation and the hope that we would establish a functional system and finally get a modern film center, we must regretfully note that cinematography has once again become a hostage of unclear cultural policy and has been brought into the worst situation in the last 20 years," they stated in the letter.

They believe that film production has completely stagnated since Nikšić came to power. They stated that currently, only what was supported in previous years' calls for proposals is being filmed.

"The Sarajevo Film Fund has been trapped for months in bureaucratic-administrative-inspection activities, which we support, but we demand that bureaucratic procedures are not resolved for years. We have offered you a solution and demand that you listen to the professionals. BH Telecom, owned by the Federation of BiH, has shut down BHContentLab despite your assurances that you would not only support this project but also increase its funding. Therefore, even in the television segment, there will no longer be domestic content and domestic production," they wrote.

They further emphasized that film authors are still not realizing their guaranteed copyrights "because a director previously convicted of embezzlement has been appointed to the most responsible position at the Institute for Intellectual Property," and that Nikšić's party voted for his appointment. They claim that the Cinematography Law, which they submitted a year ago, has not even been read, let alone put into procedure.

"In several joint meetings and correspondence, we have provided guidelines, demands, and requests to the Government, explaining how cinematography can be much better than what you found when the 'Trojka' came to power, without major investments and bureaucratic hurdles. However, all our attempts to find solutions, both with you and with the other leaders of the 'Trojka' political parties - Elmedin Konaković and Edin Forto - have resulted in a lack of any action and led to catastrophic results. Not only have you betrayed your election promises, but you have also endangered the cinematography of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was already barely surviving due to meager investments," the directors believe.

For comparison, the Association of Directors in BiH states, this year's budget of the Croatian Audiovisual Centre is 15,444,629 euros, and the budget of the Film Center of Serbia is around 15,000,000 euros.

"You have reduced the budget for film in BiH from 1,740,000 euros to 1,510,000 euros. For your Government, the 'best ambassadors of our country' and 'a country without culture is not a country but a territory' are not only not a reason for stronger support, but with such an attitude and negligence, you are actually causing Bosnian-Herzegovinian film to disappear. We think it is important to inform the public that if you continue like this, there will be no more domestic production during your mandate," they wrote.

Finally, they once again called on Nikšić to open a dialogue with professional associations and lay the foundation for adopting rational solutions in this area.