SEJAD ADEMAJ
[he/him] Screenwriter & Director - Expert for Sinti*zze and Rom*nja, Antiziganism, People of Color, Classism & Migration Experience
Sejad Ademaj first studied screenwriting and now directing at the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg. As the son of a Montenegrin Roma family, he lived in Germany from 1991 to 2008 with a tolerated status. This period was marked by constant uncertainty and the threat of being deported. After graduating from high school, Sejad trained as an event manager and then studied "Media Design and Production" at HS Offenburg, which he successfully completed with a bachelor's degree in 2020.
In winter semester of 2020, Sejad began studying screenwriting at the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg. Due to the great success of his second-year film "Fifteen Minutes", which premiered at the Hofer Filmtage in 2022 and was nominated for several short film awards, he was offered a change to the subject of scenic directing. Sejad writes and directs on topics such as (anti-Muslim) racism, ethnic minorities, and socioeconomic background.
He speaks German and English and has a good knowledge of Serbian, Albanian and Romanes.
AUSZEICHNUNGEN
Interfilm Berlin - 1. Place German Competition für „Fünfzehn Minuten“
Filmzeit Kaufbeuren - Prize of the student jury for “Fifteen minutes”
Exground Filmfest - 2. Place in the German Short Film Competition for “Fifteen Minutes”
Filmfest Osnabrück - Audience Award for the best student short film for “Fifteen Minutes”
!Return International Film & Art Festival - Audience Award for „Fünfzehn Minuten“
Ake Dikhea Int. Festival of Romani Film - Honorable Mention for „Fünfzehn Minuten“
Filmkunstfest Mecklenburg-Vorpommern - 2. Audience Award for "Deutsche Sprache, schwere Sprache"
NOMINIERUNGEN
2023
Hof International Film Festival, nomination for the Jury Short Film Award of the City of Hof for “Deutsche Sprache, schwere Sprache”
LAKFF, nomination for the Grand BMW Short Film Award for “Deutsche Sprache, schwere Sprache”
FilmKunstFest Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, nomination Best Short Film for “Fifteen Minutes”
Int. Filmfest Emden-Norderney, nomination Engelke Short Film Award for “Fifteen Minutes”
Filmfest Osnabrück, nomination Audience Award for the best student short film for “Fifteen Minutes”
Exground Filmfest Wiesbaden, nomination for Best Short Film for “Fifteen Minutes”

Ake Dikhea? International Festival of Romani Film, nomination Best Short Film for “Fifteen Minutes”
Filmzeit Kaufbeuren, nomination Student Jury Award for “Fifteen Minutes”
!Return International Film & Art Festival, nomination Best Short Film for “Fifteen Minutes”
Filmschau Baden-Württemberg, nomination Best Short Film for “Fifteen Minutes”
2022
Hof International Film Festival, nomination for the Jury Short Film Award of the City of Hof for “Fifteen Minutes”
LAKFF, nomination for the Grand BMW Short Film Award for “Fifteen Minutes”
FILMOGRAPHY
2024
PHILOMENA – MUSIK VERTEILT DEN SCHMERZ (AT)
Writers: Detlev Buck, Constantin Lieb, Sejad Ademaj
Production: DCM Pictures GmbH
LET’S CALL IT LOVE (AT)
Director: Sejad Ademaj - Writer: Sofie Hirschmüller
Production: Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg with ARTE, SWR, La Fémis
2023
DEUTSCHE SPRACHE, SCHWERE SPRACHE
Writer & Director: Sejad Ademaj
Production: Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg
Official Selection 24. Landshuter Kurzfilmfestival
Official Selection 57. Internationale Hofer Filmtage
2022
FÜNFZEHN MINUTEN
Writer & Director: Sejad Ademaj
Production: Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg
Official Selection 29th Filmschau Baden-Württemberg / Competition Best Short Film
Official Selection 36th Exground filmfest Wiesbaden / German Short Film Competition
Official Selection 39th Interfilm International Short Film Festival Berlin / German Competition
Official Selection 16th Filmzeit Kaufbeuren / Competition Best Short Film
Official Selection 45th Biberach Film Festival
Official Selection 3rd !Return International Film & Art Festival / Short Film Competition
Official Selection 7th Ake Dikhea? International Festival of Romani Film / Short Film Competition
Official Selection 38' Independent Film Festival Osnabrück / Short Film Competition
Official Selection Wiesenflimmern Open Air Short Film Festival 2023
Official Selection 47th Filmfest Weiterstadt
Official Selection 32nd FilmKunstFest Mecklenburg-Vorpommern / Short Film Competition
Official Selection 24th Schweinfurt Short Film Festival
Official Selection 23rd Landshut Short Film Festival / D-A-C-H Competition
Official Selection 56th Hof International Film Festival / Short Film Award
2022
EVERYBODY LEAVES IN THE END
Writer & Director: Simon Schneckenburger - Co-Writer: Sejad Ademaj
Production: Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg
​
2022
GUILTY PLEASURE
Writer: Sejad Ademaj - Director: Pascal Momper
Production: Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg
2019
BLOCKJUNGE
Writer & Director: Sejad Ademaj
Production: Hochschule Offenburg
2016
BITTE BENEHMT EUCH
Writer & Director: Sejad Ademaj
Production: Hochschule Offenburg