EMIR KUSTURICA

Festival President

Born in 1954 in Sarajevo. Serbian director, actor, musician and producer. Graduated in film directing at the prestigious Academy of Performing Arts (FAMU) in Prague in 1978. During his studies, he was awarded several times for his short movies including “Guernica” (1978), which took first prize at the Student’s Film Festival in Karlovy Vary. Author of nine films, several television and short films, he also plays guitar in a rock band. Among his many prizes, he has received two Golden Palms for “When Father Was Away on Business” (1985) and “Underground” (1995) in Cannes, as well as Best Director Award for “Time of the Gypsies” (1988); the Silver Bear (Special Jury Prize) in Berlin for “Arizona Dream” (1993), César Award and Golden Globe for “Life is a Miracle” (2006), Best First Work Award for “Do You Remember Dolly Bell?” (1981), Silver Lion for “Black Cat, White Cat”, Little Golden Lion for “On the Milky Road” (2016) at the Venice IFF. Nominated for Oscar. Since 2023 – President of the IDFF “Spirit of Fire”.