By Emre Bastug

SARAJEVO

The Al Jazeera Balkans Documentary Film Festival opened Friday in the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo.

Many participants from the Balkans and Europe took part in the opening ceremony of the international festival, which is being held for the first time.

The Danish documentary ‘Lost Warrior’ directed by Soren Steen Jespersen and Nasib Farrah was screened at the opening of the festival.

Speaking before the opening ceremony, Tarik Dodic, managing director of Al Jazeera Balkans, said he hopes the festival will be the start of a long-lasting tradition.

Dodic said important films of "brilliant" directors will be shown during the festival.

A total of 15 documentaries will compete and three awards will be presented.

The festival aims to support documentaries and writers focusing on universal humanitarian values and social issues.

It will run until Sept. 25 in Sarajevo's "Cinema City".

Anadolu Agency is the Global Communications Partner of the festival.