Sarajevo Film Festival to Honor Hollywood Stars Meg Ryan, John Turturro

SARAJEVO (Reuters) – The Sarajevo Film Festival, the largest movie showcase spanning from Vienna to Istanbul, is set to honor Hollywood actors and directors Meg Ryan, John Turturro, and Alexander Payne for their significant contributions to cinema, the festival organizers announced on Monday.

The Honorary Heart of Sarajevo award will also be bestowed upon Palestinian director Elia Suleiman, according to the organizers.

During the 30th edition of the festival, slated for August 16-23, these honorees will attend screenings of their most popular movies, present their latest works, and conduct masterclasses, the SFF shared.

The Sarajevo Film Festival (SFF) was established towards the end of the Bosnian war from 1992-1995 by a dedicated group of movie enthusiasts. Since its inception, it has garnered support from figures across the global film industry.

SFF Director Jovan Marjanovic expressed it was a “great privilege” to attract such prominent industry figures to the festival, connecting them with young talents from the region. “These are the ties that last, and we see people returning, enabling the festival to grow and develop,” Marjanovic said.

The festival will kick off with the world premiere of “My Late Summer,” directed by Bosnian Oscar-winning filmmaker Danis Tanovic. This year, the event will showcase a total of 240 films.

Meg Ryan is set to present a special screening of her 1998 romantic comedy “You’ve Got Mail” at an open-air cinema that accommodates 2,000 viewers. She will also present her latest directorial work, “What Happens Later,” in which she stars as well.

This year, 54 films from southeastern Europe, Ukraine, and the southern Caucasus will compete in four categories: features, short films, documentaries, and student films. Notably, 19 of these films will have their world premieres at the festival, all vying for the Heart of Sarajevo award.

Marjanovic explained to Reuters, “What unites all these countries is that they stand at the periphery, both geopolitically and culturally.” He added, “So the Sarajevo Film Festival has positioned itself as the center of all these cinematographies, providing a window to the world and a platform for mutual cooperation and global collaboration.”

Source: Reuters