Under the auspices of the 30th edition of the Sarajevo Film Festival, UNIQA introduced a project supporting the UNIQA SEE FUTURE Foundation for female filmmakers in the Southeast European region. In partnership with the Festival, Slano Film Days, and regional film centers, UNIQA will support the realization of film projects focused on empowering socially engaged themes in three categories: feature films, documentaries, and short films, through a competition for female filmmakers, which will be announced in September.
“We are proud to present our plans in the environment of one of the most significant events in Southeast Europe, which, with its mission of creating a better future, is an ideal ally in initiatives for the benefit of the community. We are confident that, together with competent people from the world of art and culture, we will provide strong support and encouragement to female authors for future successful film productions that the entire region will be proud of,” said Adel Bahtanović, President of the UNIQA SEE region, at a press conference.
Support for female artists is crucial for the development of culture and art, as well as for broader social change, as it enriches the overall cultural production, contributes to creating a more inclusive artistic scene, where different voices and perspectives are respected and valued. Support for female filmmakers also reflects UNIQA’s commitment to gender equality, which is at the core of the brand’s strategy.
“One of the challenges we face in the film industry, despite its progressiveness, is gender inequality. We are committed to achieving equality in the film industry through various projects we implement. The data we have collected reveals a disheartening fact that the representation of women in the film industry is less than 30 percent, and our goal is to equalize that ratio. In the UNIQA SEE FUTURE Foundation, we have found a partner who sees things the same way, and through this joint initiative, we will strive to improve the position of female artists through financial and professional support,” said Jovan Marjanović, Director of the Sarajevo Film Festival.
In addition to the project supporting female filmmakers, the Foundation will support the innovative Mentorship Initiative project in the field of culture, in collaboration with the artistic collectives Nomad from Zagreb and Nomarts from Vienna. This program is designed to support young artists, particularly female artists from Southeast and Eastern Europe. The initiative includes a one-year mentorship between established artists and selected young talents, culminating in an exhibition in a relevant exhibition space and an artistic intervention in a public space.
Apart from culture, the UNIQA SEE FUTURE Foundation supports talent in sports. UNIQA brand ambassador and sports mentor in the Foundation, Goran Ivanišević, as a special guest of UNIQA insurance, played an exhibition tennis match in Sarajevo with well-known Sarajevo actors Nadine Mičić and Boris Ler, highlighting the general importance of supporting talents in all fields. Goran, Nadine, and Boris ensured that the audience enjoyed every moment, and young tennis talents from the Sarajevo Tennis Club GEM contributed to creating a real show for all present. The bravest challengers from the audience also had the opportunity to try their hand at playing with the actors and Goran or to receive an autograph and a memorable photo.
Thanking everyone for the invitation, Goran expressed his great satisfaction at visiting Sarajevo after 15 years, for the first time as a guest of the Sarajevo Film Festival. He shared his excitement about the energy and unique atmosphere where everyone felt welcome.
“Talent, whether in sports or in art, is just the foundation that needs to be recognized, supported, and developed, and that is precisely the mission of the UNIQA SEE FUTURE Foundation, which serves as a platform where young talents receive financial and professional support that their family or the state often cannot provide. I believe that with my experience, I can support young people who make serious life decisions at an early age. As someone who has gone through that path to achieving a successful sports career, I can contribute and help sports talents who are at the beginning. That’s why I look forward to my mentoring role in the UNIQA Foundation because working with talented young people has been my lifelong dream,” said Goran Ivanišević. The Foundation expanded its sports activities, following its support of Luna Vujović, a young tennis player and Wimbledon junior champion, by supporting new tennis talents and building infrastructure with a donation to the Sarajevo Tennis Club GEM.
The mission of UNIQA insurance is based on helping clients achieve a longer, better, and safer life, and one of the most important values that stem from it is responsibility towards the community. The UNIQA SEE FUTURE Foundation will continue its activities focused on strong support for culture, sports, and sustainability throughout the Southeast European region.
