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Emily Watson To Lead Jury At 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival

The five-member panel unites festival executives, auteurs, regional talent to decide the Heart of Sarajevo, underlining Sarajevo’s role connecting regional cinema with Europe’s festival circuit.

Overview

  • Festival organizers announced the jury on Wednesday, July 22, naming Emily Watson as president of the competition panel.
  • Watson will be joined by Matthijs Wouter Knol, Athina Rachel Tsangari, Igor Bezinović and Sara Klimoska as the five jurors who will judge the feature competition.
  • The 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival is scheduled for August 14–21, 2026, with the jury set to award the Heart of Sarajevo prizes at the closing ceremony on August 21.
  • Jurors bring distinct industry credentials: Knol has led the European Film Academy since 2021, Tsangari is a leading figure of the Greek New Wave with Harvest premiering at Venice in 2024, Bezinović’s Fiume o morte! won the European Film Award for best documentary, and Klimoska has participated in Talents Sarajevo and Berlinale Talents and earned a prior Heart of Sarajevo nomination.
  • The selection reinforces Sarajevo’s role as a regional showcase that links Balkan filmmakers with broader European festival and awards networks and could raise visibility and distribution opportunities for competing films.