News

Emily Watson to Receive the Honorary Heart of Sarajevo Tonight

Tonight, the prestigious Honorary Heart of Sarajevo will be presented to Emily Watson, celebrating an extraordinary career highlighted by her iconic, award-winning performance in Lars von Trier's BREAKING THE WAVES.

Tonight, the Honorary Heart of Sarajevo will be presented at the National Theater to Emily Watson, one of the world's most acclaimed actresses with a series of award-winning film, television, and theater roles. In addition to receiving this prestigious recognition, Emily Watson is presiding over the Competition Programme - Feature Film jury at the 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival, and will also hold a Masterclass on Wednesday, August 19, at 10 am.

A gala screening of Lars von Trier's film Breaking the Waves, starring Watson in the lead role, will also take place tonight at the National Theater. That performance earned her the European Film Award for Actress of the Year, the Evening Standard British Film Award for Most Promising Newcomer, the London Film Critics' Award for Best British Newcomer of the Year, the Los Angeles Film Critics Association's New Generation Award and the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress. She also received Best Actress award nominations for the Academy Awards, Golden Globes and BAFTA Film Awards for this role.

Her notable film credits also include A24’s God’s Creatures opposite Paul Mescal, Small Things Like These alongside Cillian Murphy, for which she was awarded the prestigious Silver Bear for Best Supporting Actress at the Berlinale, Netflix drama Steve, A24 fantasy epic The Legend Of Ochi, opposite Willem Dafoe, Finn Wolfhard and Helena Zengel, Richard Eyre’s BBC production of King Lear, On Chesil Beach, Hilary and Jackie, Gosford Park, Punch-Drunk Love, Red Dragon, War Horse, The Book Thief, Testament Of Youth, Everest, Multiple Award-Winning The Theory Of Everything, Molly Moon, Anna Karenina, Belle, Some Girl(s), Cemetery Junction, Miss Potter, The Water Horse, The Corpse Bride, Angela’s Ashes, The Boxer, and Metroland.

Emily’s television credits include Chernobyl alongside Jared Harris and Stellan Skarsgård, The Dresser, Apple Tree Yard, ITV mini-series Too Close, HBO’s interactive drama The Third Day opposite Jude Law and Naomie Harris, The BBC/PBS adaptation of Little Women and the Emmy nominated drama series Genius.Emily’s theatre credits are extensive, including many productions with the Royal Shakespeare Company. In 2002, she received critical acclaim for her starring roles in Uncle Vanya and Twelfth Night at the Donmar Warehouse. The shows ran concurrently, and were both directed by Sam Mendes.

Last year Emily was awarded the prestigious Richard Harris Award at the 2025 BIFAs, which recognised her outstanding contribution to British film. Other accolades include the Joseph Plateau Honorary Award at Gent Film Festival (2024), the Lifetime Achievement Award at the San Sebastian International Film Festival (2015) and the Best Actress BAFTA award (2011) for her role in Appropriate Adult.