MIRJANA KARANOVIĆ

President of the Jury / Actress, Serbia

Mirjana Karanović has appeared in numerous films and plays, achieving unforgettable performances. Her debut in film came in 1980, with a lead in Srđan Karanović’s PETRIN VIJENAC (PETRIA’S WREATH). World fame came with the role of the mother in Emir Kusturica’s OTAC NA SLUŽBENOM PUTU (WHEN FATHER WAS AWAY ON BUSINESS). She has worked with many prominent Yugoslav and Serbian directors, such as Goran Marković, Lordan Zafranović, Boro Drašković, Žika Pavlović, Goran Paskaljević... One of her most memorable roles was the one of Esma in GRBAVICA, Bosnian directress Jasmila Žbanić’s debut feature and winner of the Golden Bear Award for Best Film at the Berlinale. For this performance, Mirjana Karanović has won a number of awards at festivals in Belgium, Spain and Kazakhstan, and also a nomination for the 2006 European Film Academy Award. She played Ruža in Andrea Štaka film DAS FRAULEIN, which won the 12th Sarajevo Film Festival Heart of Sarajevo Award for Best Film, as well as the Grand Prix at the Locarno Film Festival. Her theatre opus has been prolific and versatile, with several roles in both contemporary and classic theatre at the Yugoslav Drama Theatre, Zvezdara Theatre, Belgrade Drama Theatre, the HNK Rijeka and many others. Her performance in the cult production of “Helver’s Night” at the Sarajevo’s Chamber Theatre also won her several notable prizes. In 2008 she won the “Osvajanje slobode” (Winning Freedom) Award, an award presented to women whose work promotes and affirms the principles of human rights, rule of law, democracy and tolerance in society. Since 1995, she has also taught acting at Belgrade’s Academy of Arts, where she was appointed Dean in March 2009.