Organizer Information
The WARM Foundation is an international organization dedicated to documenting contemporary conflicts and preserving collective memory through journalism, art, research, and cultural initiatives. Based in Sarajevo with partner organizations across Europe, the foundation brings together reporters, artists, filmmakers, academics, and researchers who engage critically with war, human rights, and post-conflict societies.
One of the foundation’s flagship initiatives is the WARM Festival, an annual international gathering that explores the intersection of art, journalism, and scholarship in relation to global conflicts and historical memory. The festival includes exhibitions, film screenings, lectures, and discussions featuring internationally recognized experts and practitioners.
Alongside the festival, the WARM Academy operates as a multidisciplinary educational program designed to train and connect emerging professionals working in fields such as documentary filmmaking, photography, visual arts, research, and investigative journalism. The academy aims to foster innovative storytelling methods and deepen participants’ understanding of contemporary conflicts and their social, cultural, and environmental consequences. Through workshops, presentations, and direct interaction with experienced practitioners, participants gain practical insight into documenting complex realities while maintaining ethical standards and artistic integrity.
Title & Description
WARM Academy 2026 – International Program on Art, Journalism, and Conflict Documentation
The WARM Foundation invites applications for the 8th edition of the WARM Academy, which will take place from 6–12 July 2026 in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, alongside the WARM Festival. The program gathers a selected group of participants from around the world who are interested in exploring contemporary conflicts and post-conflict realities through interdisciplinary approaches combining journalism, research, and artistic practice.
The academy offers an intensive educational and collaborative environment where participants engage with award-winning authors, scholars, journalists, filmmakers, and artists who have firsthand experience documenting conflict zones. Through lectures, discussions, workshops, and presentations, the program examines the ethical, creative, and methodological challenges of representing war, memory, and human rights issues.
The 2026 edition will focus on current global hotspots and underreported conflicts that remain outside mainstream international coverage. Participants will explore how storytelling, investigative work, and artistic expression can help illuminate complex geopolitical realities while amplifying underrepresented voices.
Applicants are encouraged to submit project ideas addressing themes such as war, human rights, environmental consequences of conflict, and post-conflict transformation. Selected projects may be presented during the WARM Festival, offering participants an opportunity to showcase their work within an international cultural platform.
The program welcomes a wide variety of creative and research formats, including film projects, photo essays, books, theater or performance pieces, multimedia installations, audio storytelling, or digital media initiatives. Works in progress, experimental formats, and proposals for public discussions or workshops are also eligible.
Overall, the WARM Academy seeks to strengthen professional networks, encourage interdisciplinary collaboration, and support innovative approaches to documenting contemporary conflicts and their lasting social and cultural impact.
Categories
- Visual Art
- Photography
- Video / Film
- Multimedia
- Performance
- Writing / Literature
- Journalism
- Research
Eligibility
- Open internationally
- Students, researchers, artists, photographers, filmmakers, academics, journalists, and cultural practitioners
- Individuals engaged with topics related to contemporary conflicts, human rights, and memory practices
- Applicants must be available to attend the entire program in Sarajevo
- Applicants should have a strong interest in interdisciplinary storytelling, research, or artistic work connected to conflict and post-conflict realities
Program Benefits & Awards
- Participation in the WARM Academy 2026 educational program
- Direct interaction with internationally recognized journalists, artists, scholars, and researchers
- Lectures, workshops, discussions, and collaborative sessions
- Networking opportunities with professionals attending the WARM Festival
- Potential presentation of selected projects within the festival program
- Access to an international community focused on conflict documentation and memory studies
In addition, the program offers:
- Scholarship covering participation in the academy
- Limited grants for accommodation and transportation costs for selected participants
- Opportunities for future collaboration within the WARM network
Participants are also encouraged to seek additional support through universities, research institutions, NGOs, or mobility programs if needed.
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Completed online application form
- Project proposal related to conflict, memory, or human rights issues
- Description of the applicant’s professional background or interest in the topic
- Portfolio or supporting materials (if applicable)
- Personal information and contact details
Projects may be finished works, works-in-progress, or conceptual proposals for presentations, exhibitions, discussions, or workshops.
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 20 March 2026
- Results Announcement: 10 April 2026
- Academy Dates: 6 – 12 July 2026
- Arrival Date for Participants: 5 July 2026
Location
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Additional Details
- Participation is limited to a selected group of participants chosen through the open call process.
- Full attendance during the entire program is required.
- Selected projects submitted through the application may be curated for presentation during the WARM Festival program.
- The academy encourages experimental, hybrid, and interdisciplinary formats that push the boundaries of storytelling about conflict and memory.
- Particular interest is given to projects exploring the intersection of environment and conflict, including environmental destruction, climate-related displacement, and resource-driven tensions caused by war.