Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina — The Sarajevo Film Festival wrapped up on Friday evening with an award ceremony held at the National Theatre, where Serbian director Stefan Đorđević received the prestigious “Heart of Sarajevo” award for Best Feature Film for his work “Vetre, pričaj sa mnom” (Winds, Talk to Me).
During the ceremony, Đorđević expressed gratitude to the festival for being a launching pad for his career and for supporting emerging filmmakers. He thanked the jury, the audience, and his family for their contributions to his journey.
The competitive jury this year included notable figures in the film industry such as director Sergej Loznica, actor Dragan Mićanović, and Emanuel Parvu, who is known as a director, screenwriter, and actor. Ena Sendijarević and festival director Triša Tatl also served on the panel.
Ivana Mladenović was honored with the “Heart of Sarajevo” for Best Director for her film “Sorella di Clasura” (Sister of Closure). Andrija Kuzmanović claimed the Best Actor award for his performance in “Yugo Florida,” noting that this recognition holds great significance for his career.
The award for Best Actress was uniquely shared among four actresses from the film “Fantasy,” directed by Kukla. Sara Al Saleh, Alina Juhart, Mina Milovanović, and Mia Skrbinac were collectively honored for their roles. Additionally, “The Men’s Land,” directed by Mariam Bakacho Khatchvani, won the Best Short Documentary Film award and is also in contention for an Oscar nomination.
Ivet Loker received the “Heart of Sarajevo” for Best Documentary Film for her piece “Our Time Will Come.” The jury also presented a Special Recognition for Documentary Film to “I Believe the Portrait Saved Me” by Alban Muje, praising it for its charisma, talent, and sincerity. Kristina Nikolova’s film “In Hell with Ivo” was awarded the Special Jury Award for Documentary Film. Various awards were also awarded for short films, including “Winter in March” by Natalija Mirzojan for Best Short Film and “Tarik” by Adem Tutić for Best Student Film.
Special awards acknowledging gender equality and youth perspectives were given to “Bog neće pomoći” (God Will Not Help) directed by Hana Jusić and “Dj Ahmet” by Georgij M. Unkovski, respectively.
Before the ceremonies, the event dazzled with a red carpet that attracted many personalities from the film industry, while local citizens gathered around the National Theatre to mark the festival’s closing. The festival began on August 15 and featured a diverse lineup of 50 films, including world premieres, international selections, and regional showcases.
Throughout the week, attendees had the chance to see renowned figures like Paolo Sorrentino, Willem Dafoe, and Stellan Skarsgård, who each received an “Honorary Heart of Sarajevo” for their outstanding achievements in cinema.
In addition to film screenings, the festival featured coffee meet-ups, masterclasses, and concerts, enriching the cultural landscape of Sarajevo during its 31st edition.
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