The 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival, the largest film festival in Southeastern Europe, opens

The 79th Locarno Film Festival concluded with a historic moment as the Romanian film You Don’t Belong Here directed by Florin Șerban claimed the prestigious Golden Leopard award. This marked the first time a Romanian film has won the top prize at the festival, which took place from July 1 to July 11, 2026, in Locarno, Switzerland. The film, titled Nu e locul tău aici in its native language, was among 17 entries competing in the international competition, and the jury led by Belgian director Fabrice Du Welz awarded it for “powerful script, original vision and exceptional control over cinematic language.” The prize includes a cash reward of 75,000 Swiss francs, split between the director and producer. You Don’t Belong Here is a family drama spanning more than two and a half hours, following Marius, a doctor and head of a small Romanian hospital, who raises his son Ioan after the death of his wife. His carefully ordered world begins to unravel when he learns that the police suspect his son of murder. The film received additional recognition, with the jury awarding special mention to young actor Teodor Butănescu for his portrayal of Ioan, marking one of his first major roles. In addition to the Golden Leopard, other notable awards were announced during the festival. The Brazilian-German film The Riverbank, directed by Mateus Farias and Enock Carvalho, received the Special Jury Prize. The film follows Izaquiel, a maintenance worker who discovers the secret of fisherman Jeremias, leading to a story exploring attraction, violence, self-discovery, and social tensions. The jury praised the film for its “unique energy,” blending elements of erotic horror with the traditions of Brazilian political cinema. South Korean director Hong Sang-soo was named Best Director for his film Nowhere to Lay My Eyes. The family drama tells the story of siblings visiting their mother on the island of Jeju, where she runs a popular restaurant. Hong, one of South Korea’s most recognizable auteurs, regularly participates in major European film festivals. Actors Kim Min-hee and Monica Bellucci each received acting awards. Since 2023, the Locarno Festival has eliminated gender-based categories for acting honors, instead presenting awards for best acting performance. Kim Min-hee was honored for her role in Nowhere to Lay My Eyes, while Monica Bellucci received recognition for her performance in Ketticè, directed by Italian filmmaker Giovanni Tortoriello. Additional special mentions went to Xavier Bergeron for his role in the Canadian film Nobody's Violence and Teodor Butănescu for his work in You Don’t Belong Here. Meanwhile, the 32nd Sarajevski Film Festival opened in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on August 14, 2026. The festival, the largest in Southeast Europe, kicked off with the world premiere of Očetnjava, a historical drama directed by Oscar-winning Polish filmmaker Pawł Pawlikowski. The film marks the end of Pawlikowski’s trilogy on the Cold War, following his acclaimed works Ida and Cold War. Očetnjava premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, where Pawlikowski won the Best Director award. Set in 1949, during the height of the Cold War, the film explores the relationship between German writer and Nobel laureate Thomas Mann and his daughter Erica. As they travel through devastated Germany, from Frankfurt under American occupation to Weimar under Soviet control, the father and daughter confront personal and political divides. Upon returning home after 16 years in exile in the United States, Thomas Mann must navigate both the divided nation and the deep rift within his own family. Pawlikowski expressed his belief that the film naturally belongs at the Sarajevo Film Festival, noting its deep engagement with history and conflict, themes still relevant in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He stated, “This film naturally belongs at the Sarajevo Film Festival, as it is deeply rooted in history and conflict, concepts that remain alive in the memory of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The festival offers an ideal setting for its screening. My relationship with the Sarajevo Film Festival dates back decades.” The Sarajevo Festival featured 16 films across different programs, including a series with Slovenian participation, reflecting the growing presence of Slovenian filmmakers. Among the entries was Vse, kar je narobe s tabo, a Slovenian film directed by screenwriter and director Urša Menart. The intimate drama explores friendship, emotional displacement, and longing for closeness, receiving its world premiere at the festival. Other notable entries included Dua, a Kosovar film directed by Blerta Basholli; Everytime, an Austrian film by Sandra Wollner; Parallel Role, a Georgian film by Ane Urušadze; and Does Not Belong Here, a Romanian entry directed by Florin Șerban. The jury for the Best Feature Film category consisted of British actress Emily Watson, Croatian director Igor Bezinović, Slovak actress Sara Klimoska, director of the European Film Academy Matthijs Wouter Knol, and Greek director Athina Rachel Tsangari. The festival also showcased documentaries such as Ko pridem ven, directed by Slovenian filmmaker Metod Pevč, and Planina, a minority co-production by Biljana Tutor and Petra Glomazić. In the category of short dramatic films, the Slovenian animated short Kozmonavti by Lea Černić also competed for the Heart of Sarajevo award.