“Warriors on the Edge of the Empire” Documentary Series
Telling Shared History and Cultural Heritage of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia
By RTVFBiH & RTV Vojvodina
"Warriors on the Edge of the Empire" is a regional co-production developed within the Innovation Media Minds program, bringing together the public broadcasters Radio and Television of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (RTVFBiH) and Radio and Television of Vojvodina (RTV Vojvodina). The project by author Dijana Čustović from RTVFBiH, developed in collaboration with Blažo Popović from RTV Vojvodina, explores ancient military equipment—defensive gear and weapons—as well as archaeological artifacts, using them as an entry point into a broader narrative about the cultural and historical heritage of the Western Balkans.
© RTVFBiH / RTV
Through two pilot episodes, produced by the partner broadcasters, the project connects archaeological finds with human stories, revealing how identity, power, and cultural exchange have been shaped in this region—from Illyrian communities to the Roman Empire. The project is realized in cooperation with museums and cultural institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and beyond.
Beyond its historical focus, the project also raises a broader issue—the visibility and accessibility of museum collections and cultural heritage, which despite their exceptional value often remain outside the focus of public attention. Drawing on the authors’ experience in educational and documentary formats, the project employs contemporary narrative and visual approaches—including CGI, animation, and on-location filming—to bring this heritage closer to modern audiences.
As an example of regional co-production, Warriors on the Edge of the Empire highlights the historical spaces of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, while opening the potential for the development of a broader documentary series dedicated to cultural heritage.
The project Warriors on the Edge of the Empire demonstrates how public broadcasters, through collaboration and innovation, can make cultural heritage more accessible, comprehensible, and relevant to contemporary audiences.
Warriors on the Edge of the Empire began as a simple idea—to view museum objects not merely as artifacts, but as stories. For us, this co-production was not just a one-off production model. We see it as a beginning, as a pilot that opens possibilities for further collaboration on cultural heritage and its reinterpretation through contemporary media.
© RTVFBiH / RTV
© RTVFBiH / RTV
© RTVFBiH / RTV
WARRIORS ON THE EDGE OF THE EMPIRE – TEAM
Authors – Biographies
Dijana Čustović is an interdisciplinary author and editor at RTVFBiH, with an academic background in art history and comparative literature. She is the creative force behind the educational series Treasure Hunters and Blitzkultura—documentary productions that successfully transform complex cultural heritage archives into contemporary visual narratives. This is evidenced by the latest season of Treasure Hunters – Forgotten Monuments, which was selected for the Berlin TV Series Festival 2025.
As the project author and co-production strategist for Warriors on the Edge of the Empire, she affirms the importance of heritage storytelling and seeks to connect historical research with contemporary media approaches.
Blažo Popović is an experienced media professional and a prominent figure at RTV Vojvodina, with over 30 years of experience in journalism and television production. In his previous role as General Director of Radio Television of Vojvodina, he led the institution’s modernization and strategic development. As an author, he is best known for the cult talk show Otkopčano, featuring around 300 notable guests, and the acclaimed travel-documentary series Bez aranžmana, which explores European history and culture through a personal, cinematic lens. As a writer, his collection of travel essays Uljez među opsenama further confirms his deep fascination with Mediterranean historical narratives. In the project Warriors on the Edge of the Empire, he brings extensive expertise in exploring regional identity and storytelling about Roman heritage in this area.
Authors – Collaboration
United through the Innovation Media Minds (IMM) program, Dijana Čustović and Blažo Popović represent a strategic cross-border partnership between the public broadcasters RTVFBiH and RTV Vojvodina. Their collaboration on Warriors on the Edge of the Empire focuses on revitalizing regional cultural heritage through visual storytelling. By combining expert knowledge with CGI and classical animation, the project aims to transform traditional archives into a dynamic experience and make the shared history of the Balkans relevant to modern digital audiences.
PROJECT PRODUCTION TEAM
RTVFBiH
- Lead Author / Screenwriter: Dijana Čustović
- Director (Ep. 1): Saša Kaljanac (Prix Europa winner for Fiery Streets)
- Producer (Ep. 1): Azra Fazlić
- Cinematographers: Nedim Begtašević, Darko Ćorić, Almir Čaušević, Faruk Avdović
- Drone Operator: Ademir Šehić
- Sound Engineer (Ep. 1): Boris Kragulj
- Editing & Animation (Ep. 1): Dario Marjanović / Ena Knežević
- Narrator / Cast (Ep. 1): Haris Bidžan
- Expert Contributors: Ana Marić, Amra Šačić Beća, and experts from partner institutions:
- National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Natural History Museum Vienna
- Museum of Herzegovina Mostar
- Humac Museum Ljubuški
- Screenplay, Direction & Narration (Ep. 2): Blažo Popović
- Cinematography (Ep. 2): Goran Velemir
- Editing & Post-production (Ep. 2): Predrag Novković
- Animation (Ep. 2): Bojan Perkučin – Đakov / Teodora Rudić
- Production Coordinator (Ep. 2): Danijel Erdeg
- Expert Consultant: Tijana Stanković Pešterac (Museum of Vojvodina)
- Project Supervisor: Radmila Mihajlović (RAI, Italy)