Hollywood actor Mickey Rourke with a Bosnian woman wearing traditional dress in Sarajevo. (PHOTO: AFP/Getty Images)

Since then, it has grown into the Balkan region's most important film event and a significant film industry destination. It now draws more than 100,000 people each year, a long way from its humble beginnings in a besieged city back in 1995.

This year's festival presented 232 films from 53 countries screened over nine days.

The festival also draws some of the biggest names in the international arena. Last year, Kevin Spacey, Juliette Binoche, Nick Nolte, Mike Leigh, Charlie Kaufman, Jia Khang-ke and Nuri Bilge Ceylan attended among others, filling Sarajevo locals with the hope that their city can be significant in peaceful times too.

This year, the glamour was less evident, likely due to the recession. But Gillian Anderson and Mickey Rourke made an appearance. Rourke spent few days at the Festival and few dollars around the city, buying some traditional Bosnian linen in the historic center.

Sarajevo is arguably the leading showcase for films from south-east Europe and this year there was a real sense of local patriotism. Winner of the top prize, the “Heart of Sarajevo,” was a Serbian war drama, “Ordinary People” by director Vladimir Perisic. A number of other award-winners also explored aspects of the war in the former Yugoslavia, including short film “The Party” by Croatian Dalibor Matanic.

Sarajevo has established itself as the regional center, not only for competing filmmakers, but also for co-operation. Most of the films coming out of the Balkans international co-productions, which not only benefits the industry but brings a co-operative spirit to a region formerly known mostly for its troubles.