Sarajevo Honorary Heart — Asghar Farhadi (2026)

Asghar Farhadi received the Honorary Heart of Sarajevo at the 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival (14–21 August 2026) in a packed National Theatre Sarajevo. Festival director Jovan Marjanović presented the award. The audience gave Farhadi a standing ovation before he spoke.

On the red carpet before the ceremony, Farhadi was asked about the award. His answer was short:

“Between the Oscar and the Heart of Sarajevo, tonight I would choose the Heart of Sarajevo.” — Asghar Farhadi, red carpet interview, Klix.ba, August 2026

On stage he said this was his second visit to Sarajevo, eight years after he presided over the 24th SFF Competition jury in 2018. He thanked the festival team and the thousands of people who come to watch films. After the ceremony, the audience stayed for a screening of A Separation.

In a separate interview with The Hollywood Reporter during the festival, Farhadi spoke about the state of cinema and the war in Iran. “I don’t believe cinema is dying,” he said. “Some people say cinema is dying, but no. I think cinema is still going, is still alive.” He expressed particular hope for filmmakers from South America and Iran.

The 32nd edition paired the Heart with a full Tribute to retrospective. Seven of his films screened: The Past, Parallel Tales, The Salesman, A Separation, A Hero, About Elly, and Fireworks Wednesday.

Farhadi is the Iranian director of About Elly (2009), A Separation (2011), and The Salesman (2016). He has won the Oscar for Best International Feature Film twice. His debut feature Dancing in the Dust won best actor at the Moscow International Film Festival and best film from the Russian Film Critics’ Association. The Past (2013) won best actress at Cannes for Bérénice Bejo. Everybody Knows (2018), starring Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem, opened the 71st Cannes Film Festival. In 2012 Time named him one of the hundred most influential people in the world.

He is the second Iranian director on the Honorary Heart roll, after Jafar Panahi (2011).

Also honoured in 2026

• Diego Luna Actor, director and producer
• Emily Watson Actress
• Emir Hadžihafizbegović Actor
• Woody Harrelson Actor, screenwriter, director and playwright

Sources & further reading

• SFF — 32. Sarajevo Film Festival: Počasno Srce Sarajeva i program Posvećeno Asgharu Farhadiju (announcement, EN)
• The Hollywood Reporter — Asghar Farhadi to Receive Honorary Heart of Sarajevo (July 2026)
• Klix.ba — Asgharu Farhadiju dodijeljeno Počasno Srce Sarajeva: Ova nagrada ima posebno značenje (ceremony report, August 2026)
• Heart of Sarajevo — Wikipedia (Honorary Heart section)