In 1977 she graduated journalism at the Faculty of Political Science in Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina). For a few years she worked as a journalist in the largest newspaper agency in Sarajevo (“Oslobodjenje”) before becoming a film producer. Some of her significant work included cooperation with Emir Kusturica (film director) on the movie “Time of the Gypsies”, which was nominated for an Oscar a received a Palm d’Or at the Film Festival Cannes. During the 15 years of her work at the film company “Forum Sarajevo”, she produced 20 movies, 6 TV series, and 150 documentaries. After the brake up of Yugoslavia and the start of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1992, she moved to Prague, where she started working on the preservation of human rights and production of cultural events. In year 1999, she founded NGO “Slovo 21”. In year 2000, she was one of the five people in the World (only European representative) who received “The Nansen Medal” from the UNHCR for her work in the area of human rights. In the same year she also received a special thank from the International Romani Union at their 5th World Congress for her work with the Roma minority. These are some of the most significant projects, which Jelena Silajdžić started and led in recent years: The World Roma Festival Khamoro 1999-2010, International Roma Youth Gathering We Are on the Long Way 2000 - 2010, Preparation of Roma students for Universities 2003-2010, Roma Womens Groups Manushe 2001-2010, project EQUAL Support of Roma in Prague 2005 – 2008, Next Door Family 2004 – 2010 ad..
Czech Republic