With just 7 days left until the 31st Sarajevo Film Festival, local, regional, and international DJs are gearing up to take over city’s clubs, rooftops, and streets. Read our guide to find out where to party after the screenings.
Five things you should know
- Garden of Dreams will host two rooftop parties, featuring Hardt Antoine (Aug 15th) and Jennifer Cardini (Aug 16th).
- German veteran DJ Tom Novy will perform at Delikatesna radnja on August 18th.
- Spanish house music superstar David Penn will perform at the Heineken Summer Lounge on August 21st.
- The inaugural NastyGrooves Festival will take place in the garden of B-Planet / Baristta Flower in Skenderija, featuring dozens of local and regional DJs throughout the week.
- Giant SFF closing party will take place on August 22nd in front of the Eternal Flame, headlined by NY-based Layla Benitez.
Rooftop parties with Garden of Dreams
Garden of Dreams is a Sarajevo’s best known party series, and during this year’s Sarajevo Film Festival they will be hosting two parties in what has become one of their favourite venues: Svjetlost Rooftop.
- Fri, August 15th: Hardt Antoine, After Affair, Cielo Hemon
- Sat, August 16th: Jennifer Cardini, Bonjasky
Garden of Dreams will also be responsible for the big closing party on the last day of the festival, but more on that below.
Heineken Summer Lounge
As is tradition, the plateau in front of the Skenderija Center will transform into Heineken Summer Lounge, offering a vibrant atmosphere and plenty of local and international DJs to keep the energy high.
2025 Line-up:
- Fri, August 15th: Isane, Stellar, Dizzy Dee
- Sat, August 16th: Feđa Knajdl, Alexander de Funk, Dizzy Dee
- Sun, August 17th: Brown Sugar R&B Night (DJ Soul b2b Merakoon)
- Mon, August 18th: Fox & Recht (Yugoton)
- Tue, August 19th: Yngod & friends
- Wed, August 20th: TEDDY-O, Not Yet, Calkins
- Thu, August 21st: David Penn, Isane, Alexander De Funk
- Fri, August 22nd: Hator, Stellar, Dizzy Dee
Make your reservation on time: Call (+387) 61 483 628
NastyGrooves Festival
NastyGrooves is a local label and collective that will host its inaugural festival during SFF this year, its most ambitious project to date. This festival will also take place in Skenderija, mere meters away from the Heineken Summer Lounge.
Daily entrance is 10 BAM, and you can also get a full festival pass for 30 BAM.
Matinée street party
Sarajevo Matinée is Sarajevo’s well-known day party series that will be hosting a street party in the heart of the festival, in front of the National Theatre. The party kicks off at 9pm on Saturday, August 16th and will feature a back-to-back set by its founders Alain and Coem.
Silver & Smoke line-up
If you’re looking for a more traditional club experience to continue the party until the early morning, Silver & Smoke is the place to be.
- Fri, August 15th: Bonjasky, Calkins
- Sat, August 16th: Coem, Alain, 2odd
- Sun, August 17th: Edib B
- Mon, August 18th: Not Yet, Aladin
- Tue, August 19th: Coem, Alain, 2odd
- Wed, August 20th: Machado, Eela
- Thu, August 21st: Ivus, More Than You
- Fri, August 22nd: Garden of Dreams afterparty
- Sat, August 23rd: Calkins, Zael
Delikatesna radnja line-up
Delikatesna radnja, a popular bar and restaurant in the heart of the city, will also be hosting a series of parties during the festival.
- Fri, August 15th: Sammer
- Sat, August 16th: New Millenium
- Sun, August 17th: Prufrock, Alexander de Funk
- Mon, August 18th: Tom Novy
- Tue, August 19th: Brigitte Belling
- Wed, August 20th: Yugoton
- Thu, August 21st: Peppe Le Funk
- Fri, August 22nd: Anya
Kawa line-up
Kawa is kicking things off with a bang, with a set by our favourite regional DJ duo Talaz, known for their hybrid sets that blend afro house, progressive house, afro tech, all layered with Anne playing the flute and Steve playing percussions.
- Fri, August 15th: Talaz, Calkins
- Sat, August 16th: Calkins
- Sun, August 17th: Dynnotik
- Mon, August 18th: Not Yet, Alen Aladin
- Tue, August 19th: Alain, Coem
- Wed, August 20th: Ryo, Six Beats
- Thu, August 21st: Calkins, Eela
- Fri, August 22nd: Hator
Akademija Obala line-up
Akademija Obala will also be hosting a series of parties during the night.
- Fri, August 15th: Alexander de Funk
- Sat, August 16th: Monologue
- Sun, August 17th: Stellar
- Mon, August 18th: Yngod b2b Paulo
- Tue, August 19th: Dizzy Dee
- Wed, August 20th: Asimin Asanof
- Thu, August 21st: Subtly Praised
- Fri, August 22nd: Alexander de Funk
Hemingway’s Bar line-up
Newly-opened Hemingway’s Bar, located at the famous Vilsonovo Šetalište (eng. Wilson’s Lane), will also be joining the party this year with a line-up of local DJs to bring the mood up.
Festival closing party with Layla Benitez
After performing at the Sphere in Las Vegas in February, Coachella in April and Tomorrowland in July, Layla Benitez is gonna headline this year’s Sarajevo Film Festival closing party in front of the Eternal Flame.
Check out her full set at Tomorrowland’s Freedom stage (July 18th) below:
August 11th Update: An article was updated to include the Matinée street party and programmes at Silver & Smoke, Kawa, and Akademija Obala.
