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Lights of Sarajevo (int)

Sarajevo 1969-2019. The fiftieth anniversary of the legendary Skenderija Hall, a temple of music and sport, famed far and wides. Half a century of history of this Sarajevo institution is told from the point of view of Sejo Sexon, leader and frontman of the group “Zabranjeno pušenje“.
An intimate story that starts from childhood, youthful dreams, failed attempts and first successes, all the way through to the post-war comeback and peak of their career, crowned at a concert on the occasion of the joint jubilee of both the band and the hall, in basements of which they began their journey.
The film Lights of Sarajevo takes us to cold winter nights, through unique, picturesque Sarajevo settlements and neighbourhoods and through myths and legends related to the hall itself, dating back to the socialist period.
The camera often, without censorship, peeks into the intimacy of the backstage and the preparations of its members for the gig, as well as all the tension and excitement prior to the biggest solo concert of the band in its long career.
This time capsule, a remarkable and unique snapshot from its long and fascinating history, is given by “Zabranjeno pušenje“ as a gift to its audience and all those people whose life stories the band turned into timeless songs, who have been the band's loyal and only support throughout all these years.

  • Srdjan Perkic
    Director
  • Davor Sucic Sejo Sexson
    Writer
  • Amra Hadzihafizbegovic - Deovic
    Producer
  • Davor Sucic
    Key Cast
    "Sejo Sexson"
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Svjetla Sarajeva
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 13 minutes 59 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 25, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    70,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Country of Filming:
    Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Language:
    Bosnian, English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Black & White and Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Sarajevo Film Festival
    Sarajevo
    Bosnia and Herzegovina
    August 15, 2022
    World Premiere
    Official Selection of the Documentary Competition Program
  • Tuzla Film Festival
    Tuzla
    Bosnia and Herzegovina
    October 29, 2022
    Competition Program
    Award for the best documentary film
  • SEE Fest Los Angeles
    Los Angeles
    United States
    April 29, 2023
    Competition Program
    Audience Award for the Best Documentary Film
  • Bihać Avantura Film Festival
    Bihac
    Bosnia and Herzegovina
    August 25, 2022
    Competition Program
    Award for the best documentary film
  • SEE Fest Los Angeles
    Los Angeles
    United States
    April 29, 2023
    Competition Program
    BARCO HDR MASTER Light Steering Color Grade Prize
  • Eastern Neighbours Film Festival
    Hague
    Netherlands
    December 23, 2022
    Netherlands premiere
    Selection of the best 50 films from 27 countries
  • Filmski Centar Sarajevo
    Sarajevo
    Bosnia and Herzegovina
    September 5, 2022
    Ceremonial Opening
    Ceremonial opening of the 1st "Summer Cinema Valter"
Distribution Information
  • imaginarium.ba
    Distributor
    Country: Bosnia and Herzegovina
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Srdjan Perkic

Srđan Perkić, born in 1971. in Sarajevo, photographer and creative director.
Since 1994. he has been working and living in Italy, cooperating with the biggest photography studios.
In 2008. he founded the marketing agency "Gruppo Pragma" and deals with the concept and implementation of numerous projects, signing various national and international campaigns.
A few years later, together with the architect Goran Dizdar in Sarajevo, he launched the "Prontacasa" project, which today is one of the largest European brands for 2D/3D visualization of space.
In 2019. within the framework of the marketing agency, he founded the brand "NAVA - not a video agency", for the realization of commercial videos.
From 2018. to 2022. he is directing his first documentary film, "Lights of Sarajevo", which was shown at the Sarajevo Film Festival same year in the Official Selection of the Competition Program and after that received different premiums and nomination around the world.
Festivals and awards:
● 28. Sarajevo Film Festival
World Premiere
The Official Selection of the Competition Program
12-19 August 2022.

● Avant & Una
Bihać Avantura Film Festival
Award for the best documentary film
20-25 August 2022.

● Tuzla Film Festival
24th International Documentary Film Festival Tuzla
Award for the best documentary film
22-24 October 2022.

● Summer Cinema Valter
Film Center Sarajevo
Ceremonial opening of the 1st festival “Summer Cinema Valter”
05-07 September 2022.

● Eastern Neighbours Film Festival
Selection of the best 50 films from 27 countries
The Hague, Netherlands
23-27 November 2022.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

The main motive was to produce a documentary film about the 50th anniversary of the legendary Skenderija hall and the most authentic and famous Sarajevo rock band that grew up there. The choice was to make an original documentary film and the first film about the Balkan pop-rock scene, but with a different approach, without the classic "talking heads" interview.

Skenderija as Sarajevo's most important cultural facility, the first hall in Sarajevo that brought a new social and spatial typology to the city, changed the rhythm of the city and hosted exceptional cultural and sports events. Today, Skenderija is studied as one of the most impressive examples of socialist brutalist architecture. It opened with the world premiere of the film "Battle of Neretva", the first and greatest historical film colossus together with Kubrick's "Spartacus".

Authentic scenes of Sarajevo are present in the film, during cold winter nights with dominant blue tones, through unique and colorful Sarajevo settlements and neighborhoods, as well as the legacy of Turkish and Austro-Hungarian construction and of course the socialist period.

Half a century of the Skenderija hall and the city of Sarajevo is told from the perspective of the leader and frontman of Zabranjeno Pušenje -Sejo Sexon. Personal narrative and intimate story are interwoven with dreams, ups, and downs, and the evolution of the band crowned at the biggest solo concert in Skenderija.

Guided by the idea of alternativeness, the archival material was exclusively used as a tribute to famous Balkan actors or athletes. The aim was to bring the viewer closer to what really stands behind the rock band today. For this reason, the camera often peeks into the backstage or follows the band on the road to show the film in the most honest light.

The theme of the film is Sarajevo itself and the songs that are dedicated to that same city, its legends, but also to ordinary people that the band sang in their timeless songs.

The film is intended for all people who want to get to know the culture of Sarajevo, generations who grew up in the country that experienced the most authentic rock bands from the Balkans. It is equally dedicated to the young post-war generations who continue to explore our past and cultural traditions.

As a Sarajevo resident myself, I want to show this city with a different approach, which during the 90s was a synonym for suffering caused by the war, looking back at our true values and the possibility of living together.
The film has a commercial and festival character, which caused great popularity among the audience. Currently, the film was present at 3 festivals and continues his international journey through the Netherlands, Italy and other European countries.