“Quo Vadis, Aida?”, a film directed by Jasmila Zbanic from Bosnia and Herzegovina has been nominated for an Oscar in the category of the Best International Feature Film, Academy Awards announced on Monday.
This is the first feature film to address the topic of Srebrenica genocide where over 8,000 Muslim men and boys were killed by Serb forces in 1995.
The event takes place in July 1995 and the main character is Aida- a UN translator who tries to save her family after the Serb force takes control of Srebrenica.
It is the worst act of mass killing on European soil since WWII. The United Nations peacekeepers were criticised for not doing enough to stop the atrocity. Former Secretary-General Kofi Annan later said “The tragedy of Srebrenica will forever haunt the history of the United Nations”.
The film’s director, Zbanic, says “Quo Vadis, Aida?” is based on facts, which she has achieved by reading testimonies and books, watching videos, as well as talking to experts and witnesses, Radio Free Europe writes.
Part of the cast is also the well-known Kosovo Albanian actor living in Sarajevo, Alban Ukaj which calls the project as “one of the most important” he did play during his career.
Over 90 countries applied for the category of the Best International Feature Film.
“Another round” from Denmark, “Better days” from Hong Kong, “Collective” from Romania and “The man who sold his skin” from Tunisia are other films nominated in the same category.
The 93rd Academy Awards, or Oscars, will be presented at a ceremony in Hollywood, Los Angeles, on 25 April.
