[3] The festival was established by film professionals from Bosnia and Herzegovina with the goal of giving younger filmmakers from the Former Yugoslavia a wider platform to promote their work.

[6] OFF Sarajevo serves as a platform for young filmmakers, offering them an opportunity to showcase their work, gain industry exposure, and connect with peers, sponsors, distributors, and representatives from political, public, and cultural sectors.

The festival also includes non-competitive categories, such as OFF Screen and OFF Retrospective, which offer audiences a chance to explore a broader range of cinematic work.

With an array of notable guests, including young actors from streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and HBO Max, OFF has established itself as Bosnia and Herzegovina’s second-largest film festival.

This popularity drives both domestic and international interest, introducing audiences to short films and promoting festival culture among younger generations.

[9] Each edition sees around 200 accredited attendees and numerous media representatives, including five prominent international outlets, covering the festival’s programs and events.

OFF Co-pro is also the largest co-production market for short films in the Former Yugoslavia, the only such in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a financial fund and a set of logistical services for all stages of production.