Sandra Wollner’s ‘Everytime’ Wins Best Film in Sarajevo, Ana Urushadze Crowned Best Director
Sandra Wollner's film "Everytime" has won the top prize for best narrative feature at the 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival, taking the Honorary Heart award and 16,000 Euros. The Austrian director's film, starring Birgit Minichmayr, follows a mother and her two remaining children as they travel to Tenerife to cope with the death of their eldest daughter; the jury, led by Emily Watson, praised it as a "mesmerically elastic and transcendental grief-soaked ghost story."
Georgian filmmaker Ana Urushadze won best director for "Supporting Role", earning 10,000 Euros, while Eva Kostić took best actress for her role in "17", winning 2,500 Euros. The festival, which closed on Friday night with a restored screening of Danis Tanović's "No Man's Land", also honoured veteran Bosnian-Herzegovinian actor Emir Hadžihafizbegović with a further Honorary Heart for his contribution to cinema, joining previous recipients Watson, Diego Luna, Woody Harrelson and Asghar Farhadi.
In short
- Sandra Wollner's "Everytime" named best film at Sarajevo Film Festival
- Ana Urushadze wins best director for "Supporting Role"
- Eva Kostić takes best actress; Emir Hadžihafizbegović honoured for career contribution
Explained simply
The Sarajevo Film Festival is a major film event in south-east Europe, showcasing films from the region and beyond. Its awards recognise work in several categories, including narrative feature, directing and acting.
Sandra Wollner is an Austrian filmmaker, and Ana Urushadze is a Georgian director. The awards are named Honorary Hearts; the festival also gives them to people recognised for their contribution to cinema.
The festival provides a platform for filmmakers to reach audiences and receive international attention. Its selections and awards can bring wider interest to films and to the countries and communities represented in them.