The Sarajevo Film Festival has introduced a new award: the Prix Cineplexx, given to the best feature in the Open Air Premiere program and chosen by audience members.
Established in partnership with Cineplexx — the leading cinema chain in Southeast Europe — the award has been created to “further strengthen the link between festival recognition and a film’s theatrical life,” underscoring a shared commitment to put movies in theaters.
The prize has a total value of 20,000 euros ($22,855), comprising 15,000 euros for a marketing campaign in Cineplexx cinemas to support the winning film’s theatrical distribution, and 5,000 euros in cash, presented to the film’s producer.
One of the Festival’s most attended programmes, Open Air was divided last year into two sections: Open Air and Open Air Premiere. Open Air Premiere showcases the region’s most hotly anticipated works from across the former Yugoslavia, presented at the UNIQA Open Air Cinema Stari Grad, a venue that doubled its seating capacity last year.
As the leading cinema chain in Southeast Europe, Cineplexx is “a natural partner” for an award that honors the audience’s choice while supporting the theatrical life of regional films, according to the film festival.
