Volunteers like the silent heroes of the BOSIFEST

October 23 2017

Belgrade International Film Festival of Persons with Disabilities - BOSIFEST was held for the eighth consecutive year. This film festival probably would not exist without the main engineer Darko Ivic, many institutions that supported him for years, as well as sponsors who helped him. However, a large number of volunteers who performed daily "behind the scenes" performed a number of most diverse tasks, in accordance with the standards of the biggest film festivals.

Student of psychology Teodora Pavlović (20) claims that BOSIFEST gave her an ideal opportunity to do something useful for society, and to see great movies at the same time.

- As a future psychologist, it is important for me to talk with people with disabilities, to hear their opinion, to understand the ways in which I can help them. This film festival is great, so I'm glad to use the opportunity to look at some of the movies – said Teodora.

She adds that she was glad that she had the opportunity to meet some of the filmmakers from abroad who were guests on BOSIFEST.

- Volunteering at this festival helps me to personal and spiritual development. I had the opportunity to meet the author of "Arise and Walk", Matthieu Firmin, who won the paraplegia. It was an incredible experience for me. I hope that I will have enough time and next year to re-apply for volunteering on BOSIFEST - added Teodora.

Marina Jankovic from the Faculty of Philology participated in the organization of BOSIFEST for several months.

- I have a disabled person in the family, so this was an additional motive for applying for volunteering on BOSIFEST. In the preparation of the festival, I translated many interesting texts, which is a great thing to gain experience. At the festival I met at least five other girls with whom I will surely remain in touch. During the duration of the festival, I was in charge for Polish director Anstasya Dabrowska, author of the film "Daniel", which was also a great experience - explains Marina.

In addition to state institutions that cooperate with BOSIFEST for years, the festival has realized cooperation with private companies. At the closing of the 8th Bosifist festival, the festival was, among others, presented gratitude to Ivana Manitasevic, as the representative of the hotel onstantin the Great who also helped maintain this event.

- As a representative of Hotel onstantin tha Great, I was honored to have participated in such a great festival. I hope that our example will lead to the awareness of society, and that more and more people and companies are involved in projects of this kind. More and more things are being said about these things, and I believe that the private sector will increasingly cooperate on such projects - said Ivana Manitasevic from the Constantin the Great Hotel.

At this year's BOSIFEST, 18 films are displayed according to the selection of the selector, our famous documentary Goran Radovanovic. Grand prix at the festival won the film "Arise and Walk" by French author Matthieu Firmin. The jury of this year's Bosifist were Radoslav Zelenovic, director of the European Film Festival Palić and long-time director of the Yugoslav Cinematheque, Predrag Gaga Antonijević, celebrated director and one of the best Serbian actresses Anica Dobra.

A- A+