Harun Mehmedinovic

Harun Mehmedinovic first became a Jack Kent Cooke Scholar while still an undergraduate at the University of California, Los Angeles. At UCLA, Harun worked as a photographer, director, and cinematographer on more than 30 short films, and formed a student-run production company, “American Flag Productions.” As a Graduate Scholar, Harun went on to receive an M.F.A. in film directing in 2007 from the American Film Institute.

Harun believes that surviving the daily explosions at his home in Sarajevo, Bosnia, was the greatest gift of his life. "From 1992-1995, I was in constant fear for my own life, and I spent my days in almost total isolation from the outside world. As a witness to tragedy, I developed a need to document and bear witness to my experiences." By the time he was 11 years old, he had one wish: "to precisely record the sound of war - a whistling grenade. I believe that can only be done through film."

Today Harun is pursuing his dream, working as a director and screenwriter. His most recent film, In the Name of the Son, is based on his experiences growing up in wartime Bosnia. It has been showcased at numerous film festivals, including the Bermuda International Film Festival, Sarajevo Film Festival, Cleveland Film Festival, Santa Barbara Film Festival, and Telluride Film Festival.

Harun received the Richard P. Rogers Spirit of Excellence Award in Directing and the Bridges/Larson Award in Screenwriting in 2006. He has recently been signed by the Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and Anonymous Content for representation.