The Global Film Initiative, the US organisation set up to promotecross-cultural understanding through cinema, has picked up Pjer Zalica'saward-winning Bosnian comedy-drama Fuse, which has been selected for the 33rd New Directors/NewFilms series in New York.

Set in the devastated Bosnian settlement of Teanj twoyears after civil war has ravaged the former Yugoslav region, the story followsthe frenzied antics of the townspeople as they attempt to drive out corruptionone week before a rumoured visit by US President Bill Clinton.

Fuse wonthe Silver Leopard award at the 2003 Locarno International Film Festival andearned Zalica the Best Bosnian Director Award at the Sarajevo Film Festival.

"The universal themes in Fuse are punctuated by humour and reflect an authentic voicefrom Bosnia's conflicted history," the Initiative's chairperson Susan Coultersaid in a statement.

The Initiative runs four programmes to achieve its missionstatement covering grants, acquisitions, distribution and education. To date ithas acquired 11 films and in 2003 it offered grants to 12 films.