The Sarajevo Film Festival has officially introduced the Prix Cineplexx, an award aimed at recognizing the best feature in the Open Air Premiere program, determined by audience votes. This initiative, unveiled in partnership with Cineplexx, the leading cinema chain in Southeast Europe, aims to enhance the connection between festival honors and a film's theatrical journey.
Set to take place from August 14-21, 2026, the festival will provide the winner with a total prize value of 20,000 euros (approximately $22,855). This includes 15,000 euros allocated for a marketing campaign in Cineplexx cinemas to bolster the theatrical distribution of the winning film, alongside 5,000 euros in cash awarded to the film’s producer.
Purpose of the Prix Cineplexx Award
According to Jovan Marjanović, director of the Sarajevo Film Festival, the Prix Cineplexx Award signifies more than just its monetary value. “In addition to audience recognition, the winning film receives substantial marketing support for its theatrical release through one of the region’s largest cinema chains,” he stated. This initiative aims to provide regional films with meaningful support beyond the festival.
The award is part of the festival’s Open Air Premiere program, which showcases the most anticipated works from across the former Yugoslavia. The program was divided into two sections last year: Open Air and Open Air Premiere, with the latter hosted at the UNIQA Open Air Cinema Stari Grad, which has recently expanded its seating capacity.
