Woody Harrelson to receive Honorary Heart of Sarajevo at Sarajevo Film Festival
Washington DC, August 3
Actor Woody Harrelson is set to be honoured with the Honorary Heart of Sarajevo at the 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival in recognition of his "outstanding contribution to the film industry and an exceptional acting career," Variety reported.
The festival announced that Harrelson will receive the prestigious honour during this year's edition, which will be held from August 14 to 21.
Sarajevo Film Festival director Jovan Marjanovic praised the actor's remarkable screen presence and versatility.
"Woody Harrelson is one of those actors you believe in even in the most improbable roles, while at the same time you can easily imagine him as someone you might spend time with every day," Marjanovic said, according to Variety.
"That remarkable ease of performance is, in fact, one of the hardest qualities to achieve on screen, yet he delivers it film after film. His talent, charisma and boldness serve as an inspiration to many future generations," he added.
The festival highlighted Harrelson's acclaimed performances in The People vs. Larry Flynt, The Messenger and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, all of which earned him Academy Award nominations. It also recognised his performance in Ruben Ostlund's Palme d'Or-winning film Triangle of Sadness.
To mark the occasion, the festival will screen Michael Winterbottom's 1997 film Welcome to Sarajevo, in which Harrelson stars alongside Stephen Dillane and Marisa Tomei.
The festival described the film as "a powerful examination of the war in Bosnia in the mid-1990s and the role of journalists in its media coverage." The film is based on journalist Michael Nicholson's book Natasha's Story.
The announcement follows confirmation that the festival will close with a newly restored version of Bosnian director Danis Tanovic's Oscar-winning No Man's Land, marking 25 years since its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. Bosnian actor Emir Hadzihafizbegovic will also receive the Honorary Heart of Sarajevo this year.
Harrelson will next be seen in Apple TV's Brothers, alongside Matthew McConaughey, which is set to premiere on September 23. He also stars opposite Kristen Stewart in Quentin Dupieux's Full Phil, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival this year, and recently wrapped filming Netflix's The Cackling of the Dodos with Sam Rockwell, according to Variety.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Nice to see the Sarajevo Film Festival honouring him, especially with the screening of 'Welcome to Sarajevo'. That film really captured the pain of the Bosnian war. Films like these connect us to history in a powerful way.
Woody is a fantastic actor, no doubt. But India's own film industry has so many deserving talents who never get this kind of international recognition at European festivals. Anyway, congratulations to him! 👏
I loved him in 'Three Billboards'! It's great that the festival is also remembering the war through these films. It's important for younger generations, especially in places like India where we don't always learn about these conflicts, to understand the human cost through cinema.
Woody is undoubtedly talented, but why does Hollywood always get the spotlight? Our Indian actors like Kamal Haasan or Mammootty have shown equal versatility, yet they don't get these honours. Still, respect to Harrelson for his craft.
Nice gesture by the Sarajevo Film Festival to honour both Woody and the legacy of the war films. The Balkans and South Asia have shared histories of conflict, so this is meaningful. And I must say, he was brilliant in 'The People vs. Larry Flynt'! 🎥
A well-deserved honour for a seasoned actor. I
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