Blum: Masters of Their Own Destiny
| Blum: Masters of Their Own Destiny | |
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| Bosnian | Blum - Gospodari svoje buducnosti |
| Directed by | Jasmila Žbanić |
| Screenplay by |
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| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Eldar Emrić |
| Edited by | Vladimir Gojun |
Production company |
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| Distributed by | Icarus Films |
Release dates |
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Running time | 76 minutes |
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Blum: Masters of Their Own Destiny (Bosnian: Blum - Gospodari svoje buducnosti) is a 2024 Bosnian documentary film written, co-produced and directed by Jasmila Žbanić. The film tells the story of how Emerik Blum, Bosnian Jewish businessman, philanthropist and politician transformed a small studio into a major company Energoinvest using a unique and democratic management style. In this model, every employee had a say in the decisions affecting the business. Though not widely known, it shows how shared decision-making can lead to big success.[1]
The film premiered on 8 November 2024 in Sarajevo.[2] It was selected as the Bosnia and Herzegovina entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards, but it was not nominated.[3][4]
Cast
- Emerik Blum
- Raif Dizdarevic
- Zarko Primorac
- Josip Broz Tito
Production
In September 2022, Dok Leipzig announced its Co-Pro Market projects, the documentary featured in the list of 34 projects from 32 countries.[5]
Release
Blum: Masters of Their Own Destiny was screened in Doc Fortnight 2025 at MoMA’s Festival of International Nonfiction Film and Media on 22 February 2025.[6][7] It was released on 31 March 2025 at 21st ZagrebDox in Croatia.[8] It was screened at the Bosnian-Herzegovinian Film Festival in New York on 26 April 2025 in SVA Theatre.[9]
On 14 July 2025, it was screened at the Pula Film Festival, Croatia.[10]
New York based distribution company Icarus Films acquired the rights of North American Distribution of the film in July 2025.[11]
Reception
In his review for Dokumentarni at ZagrebDox, Janko Heidl awarded the film 4 out of 5 stars, praising its thoughtful structure and emotional depth. He described the film as featuring "rich and exciting archival material, in black and white and in color, well-researched and inspiredly (re)organized," which is interwoven with present-day interviews of former Energoinvest employees, filmed with "beautifully, unobtrusively elegantly" lighting that underscores "the dignity of their work-life path."
Heidl highlighted the film’s poignant conclusion, which portrays the dissolution of Energoinvest during the war and its post-war privatization. He noted that the ending "resonates tragically as if it were a living being," and commended the filmmakers for conveying "the horror of destruction as such, the force of evil that quickly and easily obliterates what has been built for decades."[8]
See also
- List of submissions to the 98th Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film
- List of Bosnian submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film
References
- ^ Žbanić, Jasmila (31 May 2025). "Blum: Masters of Their Own Destiny". ZagrebDox. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
- ^ Jelena Kalinić (10 November 2025). ""Blum: Gospodari svoje budućnosti": film Jasmile Žbanić vrijedan gledanja i suza" ["Bloom: Masters of Your Future": Jasmila Žbanić's film worth watching and tears]. Naukagovori (in Bosnian). Retrieved 16 September 2025.
- ^ "Film "Blum – Gospodari svoje budućnosti" Jasmile Žbanić bh. kandidat za Oscara" [The film "Bloom - Masters of Your Future" by Jasmila Žbanić, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Oscar nominee] (in Bosnian). Buka Magazine. 16 September 2025. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
- ^ "European titles submitted for the Oscars race". Cineuropa. 17 September 2025. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
- ^ Vladan Petkovic (17 September 2022). "DOK Leipzig announces its Co-Pro Market selection". Cineuropa. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
- ^ "Blum: Gospodari svoje budućnosti (Blum: Masters of Their Own Destiny). 2024. Directed by Jasmila Žbanić". Museum of Modern Art. 22 February 2025. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
- ^ "International Premiere of the Film 'Blum – Masters of Their Own Destiny' at the New York Festival". Sarajevo Times. 3 February 2025. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
- ^ a b Heidl, Janko (12 June 2025). ""Blum – Gospodari svoje budućnosti" – Propaganda općeg boljitka" [“Blum – Masters of Your Future” – Propaganda for the common good]. Dokumentarni (in Croatian). Retrieved 16 September 2025.
- ^ "Blum: Masters of Their Own Destiny". Bosnian-Herzegovinian Film Festival. 26 April 2025. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
- ^ "Blum: Masters of Their Own Destiny". Pula Film Festival. 14 July 2025. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
- ^ Garner, Glenn (25 July 2025). "Icarus Acquires Jasmila Žbanić's 'Blum: Masters of Their Own Destiny' Doc For North American Distribution". Deadline. Retrieved 16 September 2025.