01/08/2025 - The Bosnian festival will celebrate the English actor and his contribution to the film industry

After Italian filmmaker Paolo Sorrentino (read news) and Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgård (news), the 31st Sarajevo Film Festival has announced that English actor Ray Winstone will be honoured with the Honorary Heart of Sarajevo Award.

Jovan Marjanović, director of the Sarajevo Film Festival, praised Winstone, saying “he is an actor who has captivated audiences for five decades with his great talent and undeniable presence. With honesty and intensity that resonate far beyond the screen, he has given us many unforgettable characters."

One of the UK’s most prolific actors, Ray Winstone has marked over forty years in the industry. From blockbusters to independent films, Ray’s film credits are extensive - most recently including Stephen Moyer's indie A Bit of Light, James Marsh’s heist drama King of Thieves [+see also:
trailer
interview: James Marsh
film profile] and Marvel’s Black Widow. In December 2007, he received the Richard Harris Award for outstanding contribution at the British Independent Film Awards, in recognition of his many iconic roles; from his debut in Alan Clarke’s 1979 drama Scum, to his starring roles in Ken Loach’s Ladybird, Ladybird, and Martin Scorsese’s The Departed. He will next be seen in the second series of Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen, following its smash-hit first series for Netflix last year.

The Honorary Heart of Sarajevo, established in 2005, recognises individuals who have made exceptional contributions to cinema and supported the development of the film industry.