Based in England, originally from Former Yugoslavia, Vesna Marich is an award winning documentary filmmaker whose work explores themes and topics from the contemporary world which are thought provoking and socially engaged. Vesna started her career working for TV Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the late seventies. She has directed around 60 documentaries, documentary series, docudramas, educational programmes, children and live entertaining TV programmes. She doesn't know the exact number of the documentaries and other TV programmes that she had made because of the Bosnian war which started in 1992, stopped her career in TV media and changed her life completely. Her new life started in London in a different setting. From working constantly to not working at all to, finally, starting working in films again- the process was long, but the idea of giving up never crossed her mind. At the beginning of the new millennium Vesna started directing a range of films about Bosnians living abroad after they were forced to flee Bosnia during the war- as was she.
Vesna is interested in telling stories of the past too and has produced short films about Camden, the municipality in London where she lives. In the last couple of years her focus has been on the lives of physically disabled people and children and of those with learning disabilities, both in London and in Bosnia Herzegovina. Vesna wants to bring attention to amazing people who, against all odds, their age, illness or disability are still achieving their goals when they set their mind to it and are socially engaged and thriving in the community which has only to gain from their involvement.
Vesna has been selected to screen internationally at film festivals as well as a range of tours. For Vesna, her movies are tools for communicating amazing stories to a broader audience, as well as an educational tool. To make people feel and think, and to bring change to society as a result of that, would be an ultimate goal for Vesna.
Filmography
Director (5 Credits)
The Woman Who Stops the Wind2023
Documentary, Short
Inside I'm Free2021
Short
To Watch the Truth in the Eyes2018
Documentary
The Unbearable Whiteness of Being2016
Documentary, Short
Hannah's Dance2014
Documentary
Producer (1 Credit)
The Woman Who Stops the Wind2023
Documentary, Short
59 Awards & Selections
Best Film on Women The Woman Who Stops the Wind
Indian Independent Film Festival Kolkata
2023
Official Selection The Woman Who Stops the Wind
Sofia International Film Festival Sofia
2023
Honourable Mention The Woman Who Stops the Wind
Tatras International Film Festival Vysoke Tatri
2023
Best Short Documentary The Woman Who Stops the Wind
Ponza Film Awards Ponza
2023
Honourable Mention The Woman Who Stops the Wind
Future of Film Awards Ohrid
2023
Honourable Mention The Woman Who Stops the Wind
Art Film Awards Skopje
2023
Best Short Documentary The Woman Who Stops the Wind
1st Monthly Film Festival Belgrade
2023
Best Short Documentary The Woman Who Stops the Wind
Frida Film Festival Paris
2023
Official Selection The Woman Who Stops the Wind
The Impact DOCS Award La Jolla
2023
Best Woman Director The Woman Who Stops the Wind
Niagara Falls International Short Festival Niagara Falls
2023
Best European Documentary The Woman Who Stops the Wind
8 & Halfilm Awards Rome
2023
Best Women's Film The Woman Who Stops the Wind
Rameshwaram International Film Festival Tamil Nadu
2023
Finalist The Woman Who Stops the Wind
Kookai International Film Festival Kochi
2023
Best Women Filmaker The Woman Who Stops the Wind
Luleå International Film Festival Lulea
2023
Official Selection The Woman Who Stops the Wind
2 11 17 International Film Festival Tamil Nadu
2023
Official Selection The Woman Who Stops the Wind
Hercules Independent Film Festival Seville
2023
Official Selection The Woman Who Stops the Wind
Eastern Europe Film Festival Craiova, Județul Dolj
2023
Nominee The Woman Who Stops the Wind
The Monthly Film Festival Glasgow
2023
Best Quarantine Film Inside I'm Free
Art Film Awards Skopje
2021
Honorable Mention Inside I'm Free
Monthly Future of Film Awards Ohrid
2021
Finalist Inside I'm Free
Waikiki Beach Ibnternational Film Festival Honolulu
2021
Best Women's Film Award Inside I'm Free
Druk International Film Festival Punakha
2021
Best Mobile Film Award Inside I'm Free
World Film Carnival Singapore
2021
Semi-Finalist Inside I'm Free
Lulea International Film Festival Lulea
2021
Best UK Women Film Award Inside I'm Free
Mount Fuji International Film Festival Sendai
2021
Official Selection To Watch the Truth in the Eyes
Smita Patil Documentary and Short Film festival Pune
2019
Best Documentary Film To Watch the Truth in the Eyes
Dead Rose - International Film Festival Novosibirsk
2019
Official Selection To Watch the Truth in the Eyes
Sierra International Film Weekend Santa Cruz
2019
Official Selection To Watch the Truth in the Eyes
Bangkok Thai International Film Festival Bangkok
2019
Best Short Documentary Film Award To Watch the Truth in the Eyes
Salto Independent Film Festival Salto
2019
Official Selection To Watch the Truth in the Eyes
Direct Monthly Online Film festival
2019
Official Selection To Watch the Truth in the Eyes
Santiago Independent Film Award Santiago
2019
Official Selection To Watch the Truth in the Eyes
FICLAPAZ- La Paz International Film Festival La Paz
2019
Best Cinematography To Watch the Truth in the Eyes
Indo Global International Film Festival Mumbai
2019
Winner To Watch the Truth in the Eyes
Short Film Factory Bucharest
2019
Semi-Finalist To Watch the Truth in the Eyes
AltFF Alternative Film Festival Toronto
2019
Official Selection To Watch the Truth in the Eyes
Assim Vivemos- Brazil's International Disability Film Festival Rio de Janeiro
2019
Official Selection To Watch the Truth in the Eyes
Wimbledon Library Film Club London
2019
Official Selection To Watch the Truth in the Eyes
Rome Independent Prisma Award Rome
2019
Official Selection To Watch the Truth in the Eyes
Queen Palm International Film Festival Palm Springs, California
2019
Official Selection To Watch the Truth in the Eyes
Crown Wood International Film Festival Kolkata
2019
Official Selection To Watch the Truth in the Eyes
DUMBO Film Festival New York
2019
Official Selection To Watch the Truth in the Eyes
SENSUS Film Festival Moscow
2019
Winner -Documentary of the Month To Watch the Truth in the Eyes
TMFF The Monthly Film Festival Glasgow
2019
Award of Merit To Watch the Truth in the Eyes
The Impact DOCS Awards La Jolla
2019
Official Selection To Watch the Truth in the Eyes
Together! 2012 Disability Film Festival London
2018
Selected in Bosnian-Herzegovinian Film category To Watch the Truth in the Eyes
Sarajevo Film Festival Sarajevo
2018
Award of Commendation The Unbearable Whiteness of Being
Canada Shorts Saint John
2017
Official Selection The Unbearable Whiteness of Being
Women Over 50 Film Festival Brighton
2017
Official Selection The Unbearable Whiteness of Being
Cardiff Mini Film Festival Cardiff
2017
Award of Recognition The Unbearable Whiteness of Being
Best Shorts Competition La Jolla
2017
Official Selection The Unbearable Whiteness of Being
International Short Film Festival Kolkata Kolkata
2017
Music Therapy Film Award The Unbearable Whiteness of Being
6th International Folk Music Film Festival Kathmandu
2016
Best Film Award - Film on Disability Issues Hannah's Dance