16th edition of the Sarajevo Film Festival

Council of Europe sponsors Best Movie Award

The Award “Heart of Sarajevo" for the best film, presented on the occasion of the international Sarajevo Film Festival, is being sponsored by the Council of Europe for the third consecutive year as part of its action to promote European artistic production. This international cultural event, held for the first time in 1995 at the height of the siege of the Bosnian capital, seeks to support and further regional cinema and authors. It will run from 23 to 31 July 2010 .

Short and full-length films by young directors from Eastern and Southern Europe are screened at the Festival, together with independent productions. The festival is a professional platform for the seventh art in a region where the Council of Europe is very active. The issues addressed by the contending works quite often tie in with the values upheld by the Organisation. Many are furthermore co-financed by the Council of Europe’s Eurimages support fund for European cinema.

''Tilva Ros'' wins Council of Europe sponsored top prize at 2010 Sarajevo Festival

Serbian director Nicola Lezaic’s "Tilva Ros" won the Council of Europe sponsored award as the best feature movie of the 16th Sarajevo Film Festival. Nicola Lezaic received a heart-shaped award – the "Heart of Sarajevo"- and a cash prize of 25,000 Euros provided by the Council of Europe. The movie is set in Bor, Serbia. What used to be the biggest copper mine in Europe has become nothing more than a hole, witnessing daily protests by the miners against the privatisation of their workplace. The story follows two young skateboarders who spend their summer holidays in the rising tension of the protests. Marko Todorovic, the young Serbian actor who plays one of the skateboarders, also won the award for Best Actor. Mirela Oprisor, star of the Romanian film "Tuesday, After Christmas" won the award for Best Actress. "Tilva Ros" was selected from 9 films from the region which competed in the features’ programme of the Balkans’ largest film forum.

Euronews report

The Council of Europe at the 2010 Sarajevo Festival

In 2010 the Council of Europe promoted freedom of expression with a series of events aimed at the local population, including school children and university students.

A new film on freedom of expression: ''Free to be you''

The ''Free To Be you'' film was launched at the Sarajevo Film Festival. The Council of Europe’s new film on freedom of expression was shown at the start of all screenings at the festival.

Watch the film