The Sarajevo Reborn performance is the reason that historical figures from Sarajevo will be in Mostar to meet with Aleksa Šantić and Emina on Mostar’s Old Bridge (Stari Most).

Based on examples taken from large cities elsewhere, #SarajevoReborn is part of the project, The Sunny Side of the Federation of BiH 2019, where young BiH actors get dressed up as historical figures from two major periods of BiH history (the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian periods) and walk the streets of town, so as to entertain domestic and foreign tourists and citizens, while also acquainting them with the country’s past in an interactive and imaginative way.

Five young actors and actresses from different parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina embody the characters of Isa Bey Ishaković, the founder of Sarajevo; Gazi Husrev Bey, the other “real founder” of Sarajevo; Franz Ferdinand, Heir Apparent to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife, Sophie Chotek; then there is Gavrilo Princip, a member of Mlada Bosna, the group that carried out the assassination of this couple – an act which triggered the start of the First World War. In Mostar, these five characters will meet the famous poet of Mostar, Aleksa Šantić (1868–1924), and Emina, to whom he dedicated one of his most beautiful love songs.

You will be able to encounter and meet Franz Ferdinand, Sophie Chotek, Gavrilo Princip, Isa Bey Ishaković, Gazi Husrev Bey, Aleksa Šantić and Emina on the Old Bridge in Mostar on Saturday, October 26, from 11:30 a.m. to 13:30 p.m. It’s interesting to mention that the #SarajevoReborn project drew upon the skills of BiH costume designers and tailors, who were fully committed to creating authentic costumes. BiH mask makers and makeup artists were responsible for the authentic masks that are used, and everyone has coalesced around the idea that this was a way to enhance the cultural tourism offering.

At the same time, during the week of October 18 to 26, 2019 (beneath the Old Bridge in Mostar), residents of Mostar, as well as domestic and foreign tourists, will have the opportunity to watch the video, Welcome to the 26th Annual Sarajevo Film Festival, which shows the most interesting moments from the previous edition of the SFF.

The Sunny Side of the Federation of BiH 2019 is a joint cultural-tourism project realized by the Obala Art Center from Sarajevo and the Primera PR Agency from Mostar, and programs will be running until the end of the year in Sarajevo, Mostar, Goražde, Konjic, Široki Brijeg and Međugorje. The project is co-financed by the Federal Ministry of the Environment and Tourism.

Admission to all programs is free.