Mastercard and the Sarajevo Film Festival: A Partnership That Creates Inclusive and Unforgettable Experiences
Every year in August, Sarajevo and Bosnia and Herzegovina become a place of film magic and an important meeting point for authors, audiences and fans of film art from all over the world. In this unique environment, Mastercard and the Sarajevo Film Festival open another chapter of a partnership that has been going on for 12 years. As a global leader in payment technology and innovation and the Festival's exclusive sponsor, Mastercard remains committed to connecting people with their passions and interests while supporting the development of the film industry and contributing to the creation of a digitally inclusive society.
As part of its ongoing contribution to the development of the Festival app and its modern payment options, Mastercard has prepared additional benefits for Mastercard cardholders during the Festival, including the ability to purchase tickets via the web and mobile app 24 hours before the regular sale, as well as a 20% discount on online purchases.
Additionally, through its global platform priceless.com, Mastercard promotes the Sarajevo Film Festival and the art of film in Croatia and Serbia, contributing to greater visibility for both the Festival and Sarajevo UNESCO City of Film.
Inspired by the Red Carpet of the Sarajevo Film Festival, a symbol of openness and diversity and a meeting place for different perspectives and stories, Mastercard is for the sixth year in a row the sponsor of the Special Award for the Promotion of Gender Equality, which is awarded to one of the female directors for her debut film. This award, established in 2021, is awarded to a female director whose debut work demonstrates a strong authorial voice and contributes to gender balance in cinematography. The award reflects a shared vision of inclusive storytelling and the importance of giving a platform to new voices in global cinema.
"For Mastercard, our collaboration with the Sarajevo Film Festival is much more than a sponsorship. It reflects our long-term commitment to culture and the arts, as well as to the local community that embraces the Festival every year. We are proud to provide Mastercard cardholders from Bosnia and Herzegovina and around the world with unique Festival experiences while strengthening Sarajevo's recognition as a regional hub for film. We are especially pleased that, as the sponsor of the Special Award for the Promotion of Gender Equality, we are empowering emerging women filmmakers and contributing to a film industry that is more open, more diverse, and more accessible to everyone," said Jelena Sretenović, Vice President and Country Manager of Mastercard for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Montenegro.