Srebrenica Survivors on Film 'Quo Vadis, Aida?' and Genocide Denial

**Survivors of Srebrenica Genocide Reflect on Film’s Impact in New Podcast Episode**

*July 12, 2026*

In the second installment of their 2026 summer series, "Witness to War Crimes," the podcast *Asymmetrical Haircuts* revisits a 2021 episode featuring survivors of the 1995 Srebrenica Genocide, Alma Mustafić and Emir Suljagić, to discuss their reactions to the award-winning film *Quo Vadis, Aida?*

The episode, titled "Cinema Srebrenica," was re-released just over a month after the 31st anniversary of the genocide on July 11, 2026—a date designated by the United Nations in 2024 as the International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the Srebrenica Genocide.

Mustafić and Suljagić, both survivors who sought refuge at the UN base in Potočari, spoke with hosts Janet Anderson and Stephanie van den Berg about their experiences during the massacre and their perspectives on the film’s portrayal of events. Mustafić’s father, who worked with Dutch peacekeepers, and Suljagić, a former UN interpreter, shared their insights on how the film depicts the trauma of those who lived through the genocide.

The film *Quo Vadis, Aida?* follows a UN translator’s desperate efforts to save her family as Bosnian Serb forces overrun Srebrenica. The survivors reflected on the film’s emotional impact, acknowledging its role in raising global awareness while noting its limitations in fully capturing the complexity of their experiences.

At the episode’s conclusion, the hosts, joined by production intern Gigi Green, provided updates on developments since 2021, including the rise of genocide denialism in the region, led in part by former Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik. They also discussed the challenges faced by initiatives like the Srebrenica Memorial Centre, which Suljagić continues to oversee.

The episode also addressed key legal rulings, including Dutch Supreme Court decisions on Srebrenica cases, such as Mustafić’s lawsuit and the Mothers of Srebrenica case, where Dutch liability was reduced to 10%.

Mustafić, who emphasized the importance of centering survivor voices, highlighted her 2025 multimedia podcast project, *De 11 Stemmen van Srebrenica* ("The 11 Voices of Srebrenica"), which features survivor testimonies and airs on Dutch public radio. She continues to advocate for survivors through her work as a professor and activist.

The hosts recommended additional resources, including Al Jazeera’s documentary *Srebrenica: Genocide on Trial* (2025) and the Srebrenica Memorial Centre’s 2024 project *The Lives Behind the Fields of Death*, which compiles survivor testimonies.

*Asymmetrical Haircuts* is produced as a podcast, and the hosts noted that the spoken format better conveys the emotional depth of the survivors’ testimonies. Transcripts are available for accessibility.

For further listening, the hosts directed listeners to prior episodes on Srebrenica, including conversations with legal experts Liesbeth Zegveld (Episode 25) and Iva Vukušić, Jennifer Trahan, and Hikmet Karčić (Episode 27).