ZAGREB, August 16 (EFE) – The 30th edition of the Sarajevo Film Festival, created during the military siege of the capital, will open on Friday with the premiere of a film by Bosnian director Danis Tanovic, and will pay tribute to actors Meg Ryan and John Turturro and directors Alexander Payne and Elia Suleiman.
The festival, which runs until the 23rd of this month, opens with the premiere of “Nakun Ljeta” (After Summer) by director Tanovic, director of “No Man’s Land,” the Golden Globe-winning film in 2018. 2002 and the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
In Sarajevo, the largest film competition in South-Eastern Europe, more than 250 films from 69 countries will be screened this edition, with 54 films in competition.
The Heart of Sarajevo Award is given in the categories of feature, documentary, short, student and environmental films for the best feature film, direction and best actors, while the Heart of Honor of Sarajevo Award is given to filmmakers for their exceptional contribution to the development of cinematography.
This year, a new “Environmental Awareness Special Award” was introduced. In this environmental line, the film display system is powered by solar energy.
American actress Meg Ryan will be honored with the Sarajevo Heart of Honor Award for her “versatility and natural charm in every role she plays” and in recognition of her “exceptional contribution to the art of cinema,” according to the organization.
Ryan will attend screenings of her comedy film “You’ve Got Email” (1998) and her latest film “What Happens Later” (2023), which she directed, wrote and stars in alongside actor David Duchovny.
He will also give master classes led by Tanovic.
American actor, screenwriter and director John Turturro will also receive the same award, as will director, screenwriter and producer Alexander Payne, and Palestinian director Elia Suleiman.
They will all participate, along with film director Cord Jefferson, in various programmes and conferences at the festival, while the awards jury this year will be headed by American screenwriter and film director Paul Schrader.
In past editions, filmmakers such as Robert De Niro, Benicio del Toro, Oliver Stone, Gael García Bernal, Wim Wenders, Angelina Jolie, Michel Franco, Mads Mikkelsen, Gael García Bernal, and Alejandro González Iñárritu have been honored. Evie
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