BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA: Sarajevo film festival opens

Ten films from Bosnia, Croatia, Macedonia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Hungary and Turkey will compete this year for the 25,000 euro (34,000 U.S. Dollars) 'Heart of Sarajevo' award. The jury will be chaired by British Oscar-winning actor Jeremy Irons. Some industry big names will also present their latest films. U.S. documentary director Michael Moore will show his provocative 'SiCKO' about the U.S. health care system and American greed on the festival's last day. French Oscar-winner Juliette Binoche will present 'Breaking and Entering' by director Anthony Minghella, and U.S. actor Steve Buscemi will present his film 'Interview'. Bosnia's soul-searching film "It's Hard to be Nice" directed by Srdjan Vuletic opened the festival. The film, co-produced by Bosnia, Slovenia, Serbia, Germany and Britain, is about a man trying to escape the criminal milieu in which he lives and keep his family together, looking always for the good in himself and others. Film selector Elma Tataragic said: "This year we had a record number of film-makers. Only ten films have entered the final competition. So this year we will have three regional, five international and two world premiers." Director of the festival Mirsad Purivatra said: "I wish to say only one thing. We did our best to have the best festival edition ever." Turkey is showing three films for the first time since the festival was launched by a group of enthusiasts at the end of 1992-95 Bosnian war.

ITN Source | August 18, 2007

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