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Farhadi to receive honorary Heart of Sarajevo award
Farhadi returns to Sarajevo eight years after presiding over the Feature Film Competition jury in 2018, when his film 'Everybody Knows' was also screened in the festival's Open Air program. This year's edition will also honor British actress Emily Watson, who is set to chair the festival jury.
"It is difficult to overstate Asghar Farhadi's importance to world cinema," Sarajevo Film Festival Director Jovan Marjanović said. "His remarkable body of work reminds us that the most profound dramas are often hidden within everyday life. His films offer no easy answers but invite us to look more closely, listen more carefully and engage more deeply with life's complexities. We are honored to welcome Farhadi back to the festival."
Born in Iran in 1972, Farhadi began making short films after joining the Young Cinema Society in Isfahan in 1986. He later earned a degree in dramatic arts from the University of Tehran before completing a master's degree in theater directing.
His feature debut, 'Dancing in the Dust,' was followed by 'About Elly,' which earned him the Silver Bear for Best Director at the Berlin International Film Festival. Global recognition came with 'A Separation,' winner of more than 70 international awards, including the Academy Award and César Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
Farhadi later directed 'The Past' in France before returning to Iran for 'The Salesman,' which won Best Screenplay and Best Actor for Shahab Hosseini at the Cannes Film Festival and secured his second Academy Award. His 2021 film 'A Hero' received the Cannes Grand Prix, while his latest feature, 'Parallel Tales,' premiered at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival.