A Sarajevo orphan who was brought to Italy in the 1990s spoke at the world premiere of "If you are watching this, Mom" in Sarajevo. Photo: Claus Vittus/SCOOP

Another victory for investigative journalism, as a documentary about missing Bosnian children produced with support from the IMS-funded investigative journalism network SCOOP wins an award at the International TV Festival Bar Montenegro film festival

Bosnian filmmakers Dario Novalic and Mustafa Mustafic have received the the Silver Olive for their documentary “If you are watching this, Mum” about Bosnian children sent to Italy during the Balkan  war. The idea for the film and the funding was born by SCOOP, the IMS funded network for investigative journalists in Eastern and South-Eastern Europe.

The lost children of Sarajevo

In 1992, 45 children from the "Ljubica Ivezic" orphanage left the city of Sarajevo which it was under seige due to the Balkan war. In agreement with the Italian government, the authorities decided to move the children out of the war zone to Italy where they would remain until the war was over and they could return.

In the years following the war, the fate of the children remained a mystery, giving way to rumours in Bosnian media that they were victims of trafficking in Italy and the US. Film producer and journalist Dario Novalic’s documentary “If you are watching this, Mum” dispels these rumours by speaking to five of the children still living in Italy 15 years after they arrived where they have now established their adult lives.  

Invaluable finanical support for investigations

Preliminary research presented by Dario Novalic to SCOOP showed that the ‘lost’ children could be traced by calling the Federal Ministry of Civil Affairs, thus putting stories of missing children to shame. However, additional funding was required to investigate the impact on the children and recognising the story would have a significant impact, SCOOP funded the investigation that would document the fate of the children.

Brigitte Alfter, Coordinator of Scoop in Eastern and Southern Europe explaines:

- The idea of investigating the whereabouts of the children was first discussed at a SCOOP conference in Sofia in 2004, where Bosnian journalists emphasised that this was a question still occupying the thoughts of many Bosnians. The clear relevance of the issue in Bosnia and the investigative approach taken by Dario Novalic  led to SCOOP's funding of the research for the film.

- Many journalists are on to good stories, but do not have the funds to carry them out, she continues. SCOOP’s work as an investigative journalism network run by the Danish Association for Investigative Journalists /FUJ) is unique because we support individual journalists in researching and developing good ideas which have clear impact and relevance in society.  

For more about SCOOP and the the documentary “If you are watching this, Mum” and to read articles by film maker Dario Novalic about the *lost* children of Sarajevo, please click here.