PRESS Conference
at the 10th Sarajevo film festival :

"It is my honor to collaborate in this orchestra with the renowned jazz musicians from Sarajevo, such as Sinan Alimanovic, Dinko Simunovic, Faik Lacevic and others, as well as with the members of the legendary "Folk Orchestra of RTV of Bosnia and Herzegovina". This combined- stylistically totally diverse, orchestra, creates a globally new, yet so typically Sarajevo sound, i.e., the music form that is logical just like the decorative secessionist architectural style of the old hotel "Evropa" merges so logically and harmoniously with the nearby Oriental buildings (bazaars, hans and small shops and restaurants) of Old Sarajevo- its world famous Bascarsija.

To live in Sarajevo means to come of age simultaneously with the sounds of Bach's concerts in A-minor, "Gang of Four" and "Clash", with local folk music, as well as with Grover Washington, Nino Rota, Prince, etc. I want, with this project, to introduce somehow all the Sarajevo authors, who, just like me, carry in their souls and in their work, the beauty, the progressiveness and the artistic decadence of the West together with the enchanting scent of mystical Orient, and, at times, the sweet northern pathos with the temperament and the warm air of seductive Mediterranean...

It is on the terrace of hotel "Evropa" that we could sense the charm of Central Evropean Grand hotels (like those in Vienna), with their circular mirrors and marble tables, we could see famous actors, beautiful women and writers, as well as accidental tourists, while drinking cappuccino and eating Sacher cake, and, in the same time, inhaling the attractive scents of oriental cuisine that lingered above us coming from the nearby Oriental restaurants. In the distance there were the neon lights of the nearby soc-realistic super-market.

The poignant warmth of amateur singing, lanterns, that universal hotel terrace orchestra that tires to entertain the audience, the aging presenter - in full gear, all with the wig and white jacket, noble conversation, the bass guitarist, with black rings under his eyes, playing routinely, fine ladies who are secret drunks, crystal chandeliers, the singer who can greet his audience in four different languages, the
unavoidable dancing pair, the kids shouting curse at them, sitting on the hotel wall, the moment when the ties are loosened and pop songs replaced by the ecstatic, fatally-sweet (such is the interpretation) folk songs known as "sevdalinke".

It is this stream of thoughts - certainly incomprehensible to those from other countries - that we will try to bring to the viewers and listeners on the deck of the National Theater of Sarajevo in the program of the 10th Sarajevo Film Festival - fully aware that wiping dust from those suitcase full of sweet and tender memories would take them away from us - for good and with no return..."

Sasa Losic, Fascination magazine (May , 2004)