BHFF TEAM
Since its founding, the BHFF has been supported solely by the tireless efforts of its volunteers. BHFF is led by its Directors with support of film enthusiasts based in New York City.
Amir Husak
Artistic Director
Amir has been involved with BHFF since 2007 on various tasks as a jury member, film panelist, and curator. He rejoined the BHFF in 2016 as a festival programmer and stepped in as the new Artistic Director of the festival in 2022. He is a documentary media maker and scholar with a varied portfolio of articles, films, and interactive works. In 2016, Amir co-edited a volume on socially engaged art practices in Bosnia-Herzegovina titled Kriza, Umjetnost, Akcija (Crisis, Art, Action). He is an Assistant Professor of Media Studies at The New School in New York City.
Damir Pozderac
Development Director, Co-Founder
Damir was part of the BHFF founding team in 2003 and has since worked on nearly all aspects of the festival. He has been a Festival Director for more than 10 years and brings great strategic and creative guidance to the team. As a Development Director, he helps BHFF through grant writing, strategic collaborations, and partnerships with various organizations, foundations, state and city agencies.
Dijana Jelača
Programming Director
Dijana has been the festival's programmer since 2016. With her significant expertise in Bosnian-Herzegovinian and regional cinema, she brings invaluable contributions to the festival, specifically to the film selection and the festival's Q&A events with the filmmakers in attendance. Dijana is a widely published film scholar, including books Dislocated Screen Memory: Narrating Trauma in Post Yugoslav Cinema, and Film Feminisms: A Global Introduction. She teaches in the Film Department at Brooklyn College.
Ivona Boroje
Co-programmer
Ivona joined the BHFF team in 2017 and has worked on various aspects of the festival, such as communications, grant fundraising, video interviews with filmmakers, as well as supporting translation, operations, guest relations, and special events. She is originally from northeast Bosnia and Herzegovina and passionate about the arts and cultural exchange. This is her first year on the programming team.
Verushka GaNun
Events organizer, translator
Verushka is an information services professional specializing in intellectual property, and a film aficionado; born and raised in former Yugoslavia and passionate about film as a way to connect, educate and entertain people across diverse backgrounds. At BHFF she is helping with translations and event organizing.
Anne Eberhardt
Budget and Finance Director
Anne joined the festival in 2017 having been an avid fan for years. She is a forensic accountant with Gavin/Solmonese, which proudly supports her efforts on behalf of the BHFF.
Ezana Ćeman- Pervizaj
Public Relations Chair
Ezana has been involved with BHFF since 2016 and is currently managing Public Relations. A native Brooklynite, Ezana has spent half her time in Sarajevo and half in Prizren for the last 3 years. She works as a Product Manager at The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), based in Sarajevo.
Aida Lihić
Web Content Manager
Aida became a member of the BHFF team in 2017, assuming the role of Web Content Manager within the Marketing department. In the context of the 2020 special film festival, she assumed responsibility for the comprehensive graphic design efforts across various platforms, encompassing both the website, social media channels, and the Eventive page. Aida also created our graphic visuals for 2023.
Orfeas Skutelis
Technical Director
Orfeas Skutelis is a cinematographer born in Novi Sad (former Yugoslavia). He graduated from the Academy of Arts in Novi Sad with a degree in cinematography and received an MA in Media Studies from The New School in New York where he currently teaches. He's been with the BHFF since 2019.
Keith McGraw
AV
Keith has a background in live music, sound art, and audiovisual exhibitions. Since 2018, he has worked at the Brooklyn Museum producing live events and installing time-based media works, with a particular interest in immersive sound pieces. He joined the BHFF team in 2023.
Programming Assistance
Samantha Ryzman
Alexandria Woolfe
Event Photography
Jovana Obradović
Special Events
Melanie Brkich
Verushka GaNun
Volunteer and Event Coordination
Olivia Jenkins
Web administration assistance
Harun Ćurak
Fundraising and donor relations
Adna Karabegović
Guest Relations
Nerma Keserović
Social Media and PR Assistance
Amela Mušić
Selma Dučanović
Design BHFF 2024
Adnan Suljkanović
BHFF Past Organizers and Collaborators
Adnan Šaćiragić, Alma Subašić, Almir Lucević (co-founder), Amelisa Djulovic, Amra Djumišić, Amra Turalić, Anela Pašović, Bojan Simić, Demira Pašalić - Medunjanin, Denis Bešić, Dino Bešlić, Edita Zulić, Elyse Weingarten, Emir Bander, Enes Dedović, Farrah Musakadić, Ishara Jack, Iskra Sagi, Ilhan Ramić (co-founder), Jelena Subotić, Leila Rachidi (co-founder), Milan Džaja, Mirza Medunjanin, Muamer Mrkanović, Nakeishia Crawford-Simić, Nebojša Šerić-Shoba, Nedim Begovac, Sabina Cerić, Sanida Luković, Saška Trivudža, Oleh Dubno, Selma Avdičević (co-founder), Shannon O'Toole, Tara Jović, Zlatko Filipović, and many others.