The fortress in Maglaj has stood for centuries, watching over the town as time etched its stories into stone. But on a midsummer night this July, it pulsed with a different kind of energy- an energy made of light, music, and voices in many languages. This was Maglaj Spirit Weekend, a cultural spark born from a dream that has now, four years on, become one of the most anticipated events in Zenica-Doboj Canton.
Held on 25th and 26th July, this year’s Maglaj Spirit Weekend brought together film lovers, artists, and visitors from across the region for two unforgettable days and nights. It all began with an idea- a quiet, perhaps uncertain spark- kindled by our very own Young European Ambassador, Adi Softić. What started as a modest film gathering on the ancient Gradina fortress has grown into a full-fledged film festival, a two-day celebration of storytelling through film, panel discussions, and music. And from that very first event, the Young European Ambassadors have been there. Year after year, they return to Maglaj, not just to witness the growth of this festival, but to be part of it.
But this year brought something more- a confluence of art and activism that gave the weekend a regional dimension. As part of the WeBalkans Photo Contest, the traveling exhibition of winning photographs from across the Western Balkans found its home within the walls of Gradina. These 18 photos, each telling a unique story from six different countries, were displayed beneath the fortress lights, offering a visual journey through shared landscapes, lives, and dreams.
The opening of the exhibition was a moment of quiet significance. Adebayo Babajide, Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina, welcomed visitors with words of unity and encouragement. Alongside him stood Hana Kunić, a Young European Ambassador, joined by local athletes and cultural representatives from Maglaj and across the region. Together, they set the tone: this wasn’t just an exhibition, or even a festival. It was a gathering of people who believe in connection- through art, sports, photography, conversation, and shared experience.
As the sun set over Maglaj and films flickered across the screen, the fortress once used to guard the town now stood for something else. In Adi’s words, “Nekada se sa tvrđava oružjem čuvao grad, a ovaj put mi – filmom, razgovorom i muzikom širimo virus ljudskosti, prijateljstva i dobra.” – Once defended by swords and walls, the fortress now protected the values of humanity, friendship, and compassion- spread not through battle, but through art.
The festival was not only a cultural triumph but also a local success. With overnight stays increasing by 20% each year, Maglaj’s local economy feels the festival’s heartbeat. The event’s support, from organizations like BIH Može bolje, WeBalkans, the Municipality of Maglaj, and the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of ZDK, continues to grow, just as the community around it does.
What makes Maglaj Spirit Weekend truly extraordinary, however, is not just its scale, or its support, or even its programming. It’s the people behind it. The young team, Adi’s “improvised family,” who, through stress and exhaustion, never say “we can’t” but always “let’s go.” They’ve created something more than an event- they’ve created a home for culture, youth, and the spirit of the Western Balkans.
As the final DJ set echoed through the fortress and lights dimmed over the Gradina, we knew we’d return next year- not just to support, but to celebrate how far this idea has come. From a small spark to a regional flame, Maglaj Spirit Weekend is proof that with heart, friendship, and a little bit of “hajmo!”, anything can grow.
