SPI to Evaluate the Sarajevo Film Festival’s Role and Impact in Addressing the Skills Gaps and Shortages in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Screen Sector

OlsbergSPI (SPI) has partnered with the Sarajevo Film Festival (SFF) to carry out an evidence-based review of SFF’s training and market programmes, assess screen sector skills gaps and shortages in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and extend insights to the wider region.

Funded by the British Council’s Western Balkans–UK Creative Skills Development Fund, the project will evaluate the effectiveness, relevance, and impact of SFF’s CineLink Industry Days programme. This includes providing actionable recommendations to strengthen the SFF’s curriculum and role as a regional hub for professional development.

The project will produce practical outputs, delivering immediate value and supporting long-term impact across the screen sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the wider Western Balkans. These include:

  • Skills Gap Analysis - identifying current and emerging skills gaps and shortages across the Bosnian and wider Western Balkans screen production workforce

  • Benchmarking Report - comparing CineLink Industry Days with other national and international offers

  • Strategic Roadmap - outlining how SFF can strengthen its role as a regional skills hub

  • Monitoring & Evaluation Framework - to track SFF’s outcomes such as employment uptake, cross-border collaboration, progression pathways, and diversity

  • Pilot Proposals for the 2026 SFF edition - with targeted training interventions, delivery models, and partner options

  • Final Executive Report - consolidating key findings and recommendations

  • Sector Development Briefing - summarising high-level insights to support advocacy, policy dialogue, and cross-sector engagement.

For more information on this project, please contact SPI Senior Research Analyst, Emma Openshaw on emma@o-spi.com

Further information on SPI’s Sector Research and Analysis here.

Read the British Council’s funding Press Release here.

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