Following a partnership between UNEP, the Sarajevo Film Festival (SFF) and other organisations, a day dedicated to nature has sought to catalyze a change in attitudes to the environment through film, debate and an array of green actions.

A thought-provoking documentary was screened, new technology promoted and green development put into practice at the most important annual cultural event in the region.

The SFF is one of the biggest cultural events in the region. 2015 marked its 21st edition and showcased a wide variety of feature and short films from around the world.

The festival’s ‘EnviroDay’ on 17 August kicked off with a media event promoting six solar-powered LED benches, which are able to provide detailed information on air quality and noise and can also charge smartphone devices and provide wifi internet access.

The benches – donated by the Swedish Embassy – were installed in three locations in central Sarajevo and place Bosnia and Herzegovina among the very few countries to have this energy-efficient technology.

Also on EnviroDay, the documentary ‘Bosnia and Herzegovina: The Land of Diversity’ was screened for 130 guests and was followed by a lively panel discussion focusing on the benefits of nature conservation and the challenges of conservation efforts in the country. The panel was made up of Martin Schieder, head of Economic Development, Natural Resources and Infrastructure at the EU Delegaton to Bosnia-Herzegovina; environment protection and tourism expert Tim Clancy; Jan Dusik, Director of the UNEP Regional Office for Europe and the film’s director Vladimir Perović. It was moderated by Al Jazeera’s Balkans Correspondent Dalija Hasanbegovic.

The entire festival was ‘greened’ thanks to separated waste collection being launched by UNEP and carried out by the Rad Public Utility Company (KJKP Rad) of Sarajevo Canton. Furthermore, more than 300m² of public space were given a makeover as green spaces were boosted in cooperation with the Park Public Utility Company (KJKP Park) of Sarajevo Canton.

Concluding the day dedicated to the environment, a reception took place at the Festival square, organized by UNEP in cooperation with Slowfood Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Embassy of Brazil in Sarajevo.

More for information please contact amina.omnicevic@unep.org