The 30th Sarajevo Film Festival will take place from August 16th to August 23rd, 2024. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to film and his exceptional acting, screenwriting, and directing talent, John Turturro will receive the Honorary Heart of Sarajevo 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 respected film artists 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 the craft, versatility, and ability to bring depth and authenticity to every character he embodies has made it a pleasure to watch him every time he appears on screen,” said Jovan Marjanović, director of the Sarajevo Film Festival.
John Turturro studied at SUNY in New Paltz and at the Yale School of Drama. He has worked with numerous renowned directors, appearing in Spike Lee’s films “Do the Right Thing” and “Jungle Fever,” Martin Scorsese’s “The Color of Money,” Robert Redford’s “Quiz Show,” Francesco Rosi’s “The Truce,” 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 has starred in several of their films. For his leading role in the Coen brothers’ film “Barton Fink,” he won the Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival and the David di Donatello award. He also appeared in their films “Brain Donors,” “Miller’s Crossing,” and “The Big Lebowski,” where he played the iconic character Jesus Quintana. Turturro reprised Quintana in 2020 in “The Jesus Rolls,” a film he wrote, directed, and starred in.
He won the Camera D’Or award at the Cannes Film Festival for his directorial debut, the film “Mac.” Other films he has worked on as a director/screenwriter include “Illuminata,” “Romance & Cigarettes,” “Passione,” “Fading Gigolo,” and “The Jesus Rolls.”
In television, Turturro was nominated for a SAG award for his role as Howard Cosell in “Monday Night Mayhem” and was again nominated for “The Bronx is Burning.” He won an Emmy for his guest role on the series “Monk” and received Golden Globe and SAG award nominations for HBO’s “The Night Of.” He can be seen in the second season of Apple’s series “Severance.”
During the 30th Sarajevo Film Festival, John Turturro will also conduct a masterclass, providing insight into his rich career and success. He will also be present at the screening of the acclaimed Coen brothers’ film “Barton Fink,” where he played the title role.
The 30th Sarajevo Film Festival will take place from August 16th to August 23rd, 2024.
