Still: Inn a State of Siege - Qali Nur

In the Competition Programme – Documentary Feature, Don't Ask Me If I Killed by Helena Maksyom celebrates its international premiere. The film follows the filmmaker after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, as she joins the Ukrainian army. The only woman in her unit, she learns to survive and treat the wounded, forming deep bonds with fellow soldiers while capturing beauty and humanity amid devastation. But deep down, she's still a girl who wants to dance and be a mom.The Dutch co-producer is Een van de jongens (Renko Douze), with First Hand Films handling international sales. Ahead of the film’s premiere at Docudays, SEE NL spoke with Renko Douze about the making of the documentary. Read the interview here.

Also screening in the Documentary Feature Competition is Fragments of Belonging by Tatjana Božić, another international premiere. The Croatian, Dutch and German co-production is produced on the Dutch side by Spacedust Productions. In the film, Božić embarks on a journey of settling in. For the sake of her son, she does everything she can to integrate into Dutch society, which has thus far remained foreign to her. With her quirky and authentic sense of humour, she throws herself into this experiment.

The Competition Programme – Documentary Shorts includes Dear Orchid by Hana Selena Sokolović, making its international premiere. The film imaginatively evokes the journey of the director's two older sisters away from war-torn Sarajevo during the siege that began in 1992, and through Bosnia and Croatia. Drawing on a poetic diary written at the time by her sister Selma Parisi, then ten years old, it combines animated figures, present-day footage and voice-over narration by Selma's daughter Sara Parisi, capturing the poignant lyricism of a child's impressions and reflections.

The Dutch presence continues in the BH Film Programme with the international premiere of Inn a State of Siege by Qali Nur. Produced in the Netherlands by Elements Productions, the documentary asks: How do you keep a hotel running during a war, in a besieged city and on a location surrounded by snipers?

Find out more about Sarajevo Film Festival here.