The 31st Sarajevo Film Festival: Celebrating Cinematic Excellence and Social Impact
The 31st edition of the Sarajevo Film Festival concluded on Friday night, revealing an impressive lineup of winners that celebrated both artistic achievement and poignant social commentary. The prestigious Heart of Sarajevo award for Best Feature Film was awarded to Wind Talk to Me, directed by Stefan Đorđević. This touching narrative blends fiction and documentary elements, featuring the director alongside his family as they navigate personal grief and familial bonds. The film’s synopsis describes a heartfelt homecoming where Stefan returns to celebrate his grandmother’s birthday and confronts the recent loss of his mother. Driven by his desire to create a film about her and to rescue a stray dog, this journey leads to profound introspection.
In his acceptance speech, Đorđević addressed the current turmoil in Serbia, where violent clashes between anti-government protesters and police have erupted in response to the administration of pro-Moscow President Aleksandar Vučić. These protests, which began following a tragic railway station collapse that resulted in 16 fatalities, have escalated as citizens decry corruption and governmental negligence. "I dedicate this award to my mother, and to all the mothers in Serbia who are worried for their children facing violence and arrests on the streets," he stated, highlighting the festival’s role in amplifying social issues through cinema.
The Best Documentary Feature award went to Our Time Will Come, directed by Ivette Löcker. This film follows the journey of an interracial couple, Siaka from Gambia and his wife Victoria, as they strive to build a life together in Austria. Their story explores the challenges of cultural differences and societal obstacles while they attempt to create a shared future.
Ivana Mladenović received the award for Best Director for her film Sorella di Clausura. The Best Actress award was shared by the talented ensemble cast of Fantasy, directed by Kukla, which includes Sarah Al Saleh, Aline Juhart, Mina Milovanović, and Mia Skrbinac. Andrija Kuzmanović won the Best Actor award for his performance in Yugo Florida.
This year’s festival featured an astounding array of films, with four competitive sections showcasing 15 world premieres, six international premieres, 28 regional premieres, and two national premieres, totaling 50 films vying for the Heart of Sarajevo awards. Festival director Jovan Marjanović and his team successfully brought the stars to Sarajevo, with Willem Dafoe, Stellan Skarsgard, Ray Winstone, and Italian filmmaker Paolo Sorrentino receiving the Honorary Heart of Sarajevo.
Additionally, the festival featured curated retrospectives of the works by Russia-born director Ilya Khrzhanovsky and Paolo Sorrentino, further enriching the cinematic experience for attendees.
Winners of the 31st Sarajevo Film Festival:
- Honorary Heart of Sarajevo: Willem Dafoe, Ray Winstone, Stellan Skarsgård, Paolo Sorrentino
- Heart of Sarajevo for Best Feature Film: Wind Talk to Me, directed by Stefan Đorđević
- Heart of Sarajevo for Best Director: Ivana Mladenović, Sorella di Clausura
- Heart of Sarajevo for Best Actress: Sarah Al Saleh, Aline Juhart, Mina Milovanović, Mia Skrbinac, Fantasy
- Heart of Sarajevo for Best Actor: Andrija Kuzmanović, Yugo Florida
- Heart of Sarajevo for Best Documentary Film: Our Time Will Come, directed by Ivette Löcker
- Special Jury Award: In Hell With Ivo, directed by Kristina Nikolova
- Special Mention: I Believe the Portrait Saved Me, directed by Alban Muja
- Heart of Sarajevo for Best Short Documentary Film: The Men’s Land, directed by Mariam Bakacho Khatchvani
- Heart of Sarajevo for Best Short Film: Winter in March, directed by Natalia Mirzoyan
- Special Mention: Eraserhead in a Knitted Shopping Bag, directed by Lili Koss
- Heart of Sarajevo for Best Student Film: Tarik, directed by Adem Tutić
- Best Youth Perspectives Award: DJ Ahmet, directed by Georgi M. Unkovski
- Special Award for Promoting Gender Equality: God Will Not Help, directed by Hana Jušić
The Sarajevo Film Festival continues to be a vital platform for filmmakers and a beacon of cultural dialogue, showcasing the power of cinema to address pressing social issues while celebrating artistic talent.
