THE ASSOCIATION. CIVIL SOCIETY, SELF-ORGANISED BOSNIA AID ...
The festival is organised by the Bosnian-German association Aktion – Leben und Lernen in Bosnien e. V. (Action - Living and Learning in Bosnia).
It was created in 2014 for the purpose of direct emergency aid. The initial impetus came from Amela Halilović. The founding chairwoman of the organisation, who lives in Bottrop, had experienced the Bosnian war (1992-95) as a child. She was interested in direct, everyday support for the people in her home town. She found fellow campaigners in the "House of Diversity" of the organisation DER PARITÄTISCHE in Bottrop and in the regional BIH community. Money and donations in kind were collected, a school exchange, educational trips and aid transports were organised, thus contributing to the (re)formation of civil society structures in BIH.
... AND A FILM FESTIVAL!
From the very beginning, it was both a prerequisite and a goal of the organisation's work to make the people and their situation in Bosnia visible and tangible. As up-to-date, interesting, inspiring and well-connected as possible: in a new, as yet non-existent cooperation project.
So why not a format with the direct participation of actors in Bosnia and its neighbouring countries? Perhaps even in close collaboration with creative and improvisation-loving actors there, who have so far decided to stay despite their often rather hopeless situation? On the basis of the medium of film, which unites all senses and art forms, promises multifaceted, authentic topicality – and can bring many people together both intellectually and emotionally?
So why not dare to do all this – especially on the Emscher and Ruhr, where so many migrant communities from Bosnia, the Balkans and beyond live together with many "old-established" immigrants from just a few generations ago and form one of the most exciting European metropolises? – And off we went.
