Ray Winstone: The Sarajevo Film Festival is different from any other festival that I have been to

Actor Ray Winstone, in recognition of his remarkable acting career and exceptional contributions to the art of cinema, was received the Honorary Heart of Sarajevo tonight at the National Theatre Sarajevo.

 

“Awards are funny things. And kind of most talked about. And what it does it kind of makes you think about the reasons why. I’ve been doing this for 50 years and it makes you think about the work you have done. And it’s not just the most popular things but also the smaller films. And what it does, if you’re lucky enough to work in this industry, it takes you to places that you will miss. You will meet people of those places. And that’s your education of the world. This Festival is very different from any other festival that I have been to. It was brought about 30 years ago when you had troubles. And what this spectacle is all about it’s bringing together those people who were fighting to make films. And I don’t think there is another festival in the world that has thought of that. And that makes me very proud to have this award. Thank you very very much”, said Ray Winstone.

 

Winstone was presented with the Honorary Heart of Sarajevo by Jovan Marjanović, director of the Sarajevo Film Festival.

 

“It is a great honor to be here and present the Honorary Heart of Sarajevo to a truly singular actor. For five decades, he has captivated audiences with a talent that is both extraordinary and deeply human. With honesty and intensity that reached far beyond the screen, he has given us some of the most unforgettable characters in cinema. From his early work in Scum to Sexy Beast, The Departed, The Proposition, which we are seeing tonight, and so many more, Ray’s performances have redefined what it means to portray strength, vulnerability, and truth on screen. Whether it is a blockbuster or an intimate British drama, there is always a raw intensity, a fire that makes his characters impossible to forget” said Jovan Marjanović. 

 

British actor Ray Winstone is one of the UK’s most prolific actors, having marked over forty years in the industry. From blockbusters to independent films, Ray’s film credits are extensive - most recently including Netflix film Damsel, British indie A Bit of Light, Marvel’s Black Widow and Working Title’s heist drama King of Thieves.

 

In December 2007, Ray 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 Franc Roddam’s Quadrophenia, Ken Loach’s Ladybird, Ladybird, and Martin Scorsese’s Academy Award winning epic The Departed. Winstone is also known for taking the lead role in Gary Oldman’s gritty biographical drama, Nil By Mouth, for which he won a British Independent Film Award for Best Actor and earned a BAFTA Award nomination. Considered one of the finest performances of his career, Ray starred opposite Ben Kingsley in Jonathan Glazer’s Sexy Beast. 

 

The presentation of the Honorary Heart of Sarajevo to Winstone was followed by a gala screening of the film THE PROPOSITION by John Hillcoat.