Woody Harrelson Arrives in Sarajevo: To Receive Honorary Heart at the Festival's 32nd Edition
The celebrated actor, a three-time Oscar nominee, joins a list of laureates including Emily Watson, Asghar Farhadi, and Diego Luna.
The celebrated actor, a three-time Oscar nominee, joins a list of laureates including Emily Watson, Asghar Farhadi, and Diego Luna.
The organizers of the Sarajevo Film Festival announced on August 3, 2026, that legendary American actor Woody Harrelson will be awarded the Honorary Heart of Sarajevo. The recognition for outstanding contribution to the art of film will be presented to him during the festival's 32nd edition, taking place from August 14 to 21, 2026.
Harrelson thus joins previously announced recipients of this prestigious award in 2026: actress Emily Watson, who also serves as the festival jury president, acclaimed Iranian director Asghar Farhadi, and Mexican actor Diego Luna, whose name was also recently confirmed. As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, this honor celebrates Harrelson's "outstanding contribution to the film industry and exceptional acting career."
The director of the Sarajevo Film Festival, Jovan Marjanović, enthusiastically announced the arrival of the famous actor. "Woody Harrelson is one of those actors you believe in even in the most improbable roles, while at the same time you can easily imagine him as someone you'd hang out with every day. That incredible effortlessness of acting existence is actually the hardest thing to achieve in front of the camera, and he pulls it off film after film," Marjanović told 24sata.
He added that Harrelson's talent, charisma, and boldness serve as an inspiration to future generations and that it is an honor for the festival to present him with this award. Harrelson's arrival and recognition further cement the Sarajevo Film Festival's status as one of the key cultural events in the region.
As part of paying tribute to Harrelson, audiences at the 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival will have the opportunity to watch a film that connects him to Sarajevo and Bosnia in a special way. It is the 1997 drama "Welcome to Sarajevo," directed by Michael Winterbottom. The film premiered at Cannes and was also part of the program at the festival's 3rd edition that same year.
This poignant work, in which Harrelson plays one of the lead roles, explores the war in Bosnia in the mid-90s and focuses on the role of journalists in its media coverage. It is based on the book "Natasha's Story" by journalist Michael Nicholson. The screening will take place at the Coca-Cola Open Air Cinema as part of the Open Air program.
Woody Harrelson, whose body of work spans four decades, is one of the most versatile actors of his generation. He has been nominated three times for the prestigious Academy Award: for Best Actor in "The People vs. Larry Flynt" and for Best Supporting Actor in "The Messenger" and "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri." He also delivered a notable performance in Ruben Östlund's Palme d'Or-winning film "Triangle of Sadness."
He is an Emmy Award winner for his iconic role as Woody Boyd in the series "Cheers," and has also left his mark on television with roles in "True Detective" and "The White House Plumbers." His directorial work includes "Lost in London," the first feature film shot in a single continuous take and broadcast live to cinemas, for which he served as writer, director, and star. On stage, he has appeared on Broadway in the revival of "The Rainmaker" and in London in productions of "On an Average Day" and "The Night of the Iguana." He also directed the off-Broadway production of his own play "Bullet for Adolf," which he co-wrote with Frankie Hyman.
Audiences will soon be able to see Harrelson in the lead role of the series "Brothers" on Apple TV+, where he stars alongside Matthew McConaughey. The series is set to premiere on September 23, 2026. Additionally, he stars alongside Kristen Stewart in Quentin Dupieux's film "Full Phil," which premiered at Cannes this year.
He recently finished filming the Netflix movie "The Cackling of the Dodos," in which his co-star is Sam Rockwell, and is currently producing a documentary about the iconic concert venue Armadillo World Headquarters in Austin. With this impressive body of work, Harrelson continues to affirm his status as one of the most enduring and respected artists in the contemporary film industry.
