British actress Emily Watson will serve as jury president at the 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival, and also receive the fest’s Honorary Heart of Sarajevo award.
“Twenty years after her last visit to Sarajevo, we are truly delighted to welcome Emily Watson back to the festival — this time not only as the recipient of the Honorary Heart of Sarajevo, but also as President of the Competition Jury,” said festival director Jovan Marjanović.
“An actress whose talent, intelligence and dedication to the craft have left a profound mark on contemporary cinema, Emily Watson has, throughout her remarkable career, moved audiences and critics alike with performances of extraordinary emotional precision and strength.” He added: “I believe the filmmakers in this year’s programme will be just as excited as we are to know that she will be watching their work in Sarajevo.”
A two-time Oscar nominee, Watson is one of the U.K.’s most prolific actors. She most recently starred as Mary Shakespeare in the adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s novel Hamnet, which would go on to win the BAFTA for outstanding British film.
Other notable film credits include Lars von Trier’s Breaking the Waves, A24’s God’s Creatures, Small Things Like These with Cillian Murphy, Netflix drama Steve, as well as Gosford Park, Punch-Drunk Love, Miss Potter and The Theory of Everything.
On television, she has starred opposite Olivia Williams and Mark Strong in HBO Max’s Dune: Prophecy as well as in Chernobyl with Jared Harris and Stellan Skarsgard, The Dresser, and Apple Tree Yard. Watson also boasts extensive theatre credits including a slew of productions with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
The 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival will run from August 14-21 2026.
