Short films that win the Heart of Sarajevo Award and the nomination for the European Film Academy (EFA) short film award at the Sarajevo Film Festival will be eligible for consideration in the Animated Short Film/ Live Action Short Film category of the Academy Awards without the standard theatrical run, provided that they otherwise comply with the Academy rules.

The Sarajevo Film Festival thus joins the family of leading international Oscar - qualifying film festivals that, among others, includes the Sundance Film Festival, Berlin International Film Festival, Cannes Film Festival, Locarno International Film Festival and the British Academy of Television and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards. 

The 25th Sarajevo Film Festival will be held from 16th to 23rd August 2019. One of contemporary cinema's most respected authors, Swedish director and Palme d'Or winner Ruben Östlund will preside over the Competition Programme - Feature Film Jury. SFF screened several of Östlund's films throughout his carees, including The Square at the 23rd Sarajevo Film Festival (2017), Force Majeure at the 20th Sarajevo Film Festival (2014) and Play at the 17th Sarajevo Film Festival (2011). More details regarding that can be found on the official festival website.