In recognition of his exceptional contributions to the film industry and his remarkable talent as an actor, director, and screenwriter, John Turturro will receive the Honorary Heart of Sarajevo Award at the 30th Sarajevo Film Festival.
Never forgetting his Brooklyn roots, Turturro has made a global impact with his versatile work, making him one of the most revered filmmakers today.
„We decided to do the right thing and give our Heart to John Turturro. With a career spanning over four decades, he has delivered unforgettable performances in a diverse range of roles. His dedication to his craft, versatility, and ability to bring depth and authenticity to every character he embodies have made him a joy to look at every time he enters the scene,” says Jovan Marjanović, director of Sarajevo Film Festival.
John Turturro has studied at SUNY New Paltz and the Yale School of Drama. He has worked with a number of acclaimed filmmakers, appearing in Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing and Jungle Fever, Martin Scorsese’s The Color of Money, Robert Redford’s Quiz Show, Francesco Rosi’s La Tregua, Robert De Niro’s The Good Shepherd, Tom DiCillo’s Box of Moonlight and Nanni Moretti’s Mia Madre.
In 2004 he starred in Secret Passage, a historical drama by Bosnian director Ademir Kenović.
As a frequent collaborator with Joel and Ethan Coen, Turturro starred in several of their films. For his lead role in the Coen brothers’ Barton Fink, he won the Best Actor Award at the Cannes Film Festival and the David Donatello Award. He also appeared in their films O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Miller’s Crossing and The Big Lebowski, where he played the iconic character Jesus Quintana. In 2020 Turturro reprised Quintana in The Jesus Rolls, a film he wrote, directed and starred in.
He received the Camera D’Or Award at the Cannes Film Festival for Mac, his directorial debut. Other films as director/ writer include Illuminata, Romance & Cigarettes, Passione, Fading Gigolo, and The Jesus Roles.
On Television, Turturro was nominated for a SAG Award for his portrayal of Howard Cosell in Monday Night Mayhem and again nominated for The Bronx is Burning. He won an Emmy Award for his guest appearance on Monk and was nominated for a Golden Globe and a SAG Award on HBO’s The Night Of. He will be seen on season 2 of Apple’s series Severance.
During the 30th Sarajevo Film Festival, John Turturro will conduct a masterclass, offering insights into his extensive career and craft. Additionally, he will make a special appearance at a screening of the Coen brothers’ acclaimed film Barton Fink, where he starred in the titular role.
The 30th Sarajevo Film Festival will take place from August 16 to 23, 2024.
Previous Recipients of the Honorary Heart of Sarajevo Award include:
Mark Cousins (2023), Lynne Ramsay (2023), Charlie Kaufman (2023), Jesse Eisenberg (2022), Ruben Östlund (2022), Sergei Loznitsa (2022), Paul Joseph Schrader (2022), Wim Wenders (2021), Michel Franco (2020), Mads Mikkelsen (2020), Tim Roth (2019), Isabelle Huppert (2019), Alejandro González Iñárritu (2019), Paweł Pawlikowski (2019), Nijaz Hastor (2018), Nuri Bilge Ceylan (2018), Oliver Stone (2017), John Cleese (2017), Wolfgang Amadeus Brülhart (2016), Stephen Frears (2016), Robert De Niro (Lifetime Achievement Award, 2016), Benicio Del Toro (2015), Atom Egoyan (2015), Agnès B. (2015), Danis Tanović (2014), Gael García Bernal (2014), Béla Tarr (2013), Roberto Olla (2013), Branko Lustig (2012), Emil Tedeschi (2011), Jafar Panahi (2011), Angelina Jolie (2011), Dieter Kosslick (2010), Manfred Schmidt (2009), Cat Villiers (2008), Steve Buscemi (2007), Mike Leigh (2006), Gavrilo Grahovac (2006), Marco Müller (2005).
Foto: Maarten de Boer
