Despite the fact that, in the past 25 years, the films directed by the Bosnian-Herzegovinian authors and producers, had an immense international success and response across the world, making this domain of creative work probably the most successful internationally, the cinema finds it very hard to function and survive under the current circumstances. The essential reason for such state is an institutional lack of understanding its needs as well as an absolute inability in adopting strategies and plans for its development that would be aligned with what is happening both in the countries of our region and in Europe.
In such a sit-upon and organisational setup, fundamental changes and vision should originate form the Federation Government and the Federal Ministry of Culture and Sports, whereas Mrs Dujmović, the Minister, should be the one to pro-actively initiate the adoption of a new Law on Cinema, the establishment of the Audio-Visual Centre at the level of the Federation, and to be actively involved in securing Bosnia and Herzegovina's membership in various international associations and initiatives. While authors and producers have been making great successes worldwide, the Fund, governed by this Ministry, has by far the lowest budget in Europe and, for the past six years, the Minister has not found it appropriate to meet with the members of the Association of Filmmakers and other professional associations, not even to congratulate them on their successes.
In the past 6 years, the Association of Filmmakers and other professional associations have had several contacts and meetings with Mr Fadil Novalić, the Prime Minister of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. At these meetings, there were always talks about the adoption of a new law and the change of the institutional framework for the functioning of audio-visual sector. Firm promises and pledges were made at those meetings that the situation would change in the shortest possible time, yet nothing has happened.
Today, Bosnia and Herzegovina, i.e. the Federation of BiH, is the only country in Europe where strategic discussion about the development of cinema happens in the Federal Ministry of Culture and Sport. It is the model abandoned long time ago, both in Europe and in all the countries in our neighbourhood. It has been proven to be slow and inadequate in responding to demands of the contemporary film industry, as well as very susceptible to gather together the people without a vision and basic knowledge, and in our case, even the individuals who are ready to cause deeper divisions and, ultimately, to do everything they can to serve their own short-term interests.
Along with all these years-long problems, we are faced with unprofessional and malicious activities within the current Management Board of the Foundation, whose President is in a direct conflict with the majority of active filmmakers. This year, the Management Board has adopted this a new Rulebook that threatens to destroy the most successful Bosnian-Herzegovinian production companies. Despite warnings and letters sent out to the Prime Minister, the Minister of Culture and the members of the Management Board – this Rulebook has remained in force, which makes us suspicious that decisions of the Federation Government are aimed at the systematic devastation of cinema as the most successful branch of the country's culture and industry.
Because of all the abovementioned, we demand from the Prime Minister of the Federation Government to finally initiate – and to do so in the shortest possible time – the procedure of adoption of the Law on Cinema and to open a concrete dialogue with the representatives of our profession, which would result in all the necessary changes and lead us towards the organisation of cinema that is in line with positive experiences and legal regulations in the EU member countries and in the countries in our neighbourhood. Furthermore, we demand from the Federation Government and the Federal Ministry of Culture and Sport to dismiss all the members of the Foundation’s Management Board and elect new members, who will enjoy the support of the Association and who will work in the interest of our profession.