Alexander Payne to Receive Honorary Heart of Sarajevo Award at 30th Sarajevo Film Festival

Alexander Payne, whose most recent film “The Holdovers” picked up five Oscar nominations and one win, will receive the Honorary Heart of Sarajevo Award at the 30th Sarajevo Film Festival, in recognition of his “outstanding contribution to the art of film.”

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Payne’s longtime collaborator Jim Taylor, with whom he shared the 2005 adapted screenplay Oscar for “Sideways,” will join him at the festival, which runs Aug. 16 to 23. Payne will present a special screening of “Sideways,” which earned five Academy Award nominations.

Payne also will hold a masterclass, which will be “an opportunity for the film enthusiasts to learn from him about film production, directing, screenwriting, and other key aspects of his career,” according to a statement from the festival.

Payne’s eight feature films have been nominated for 24 Oscars, including four times for best picture and three times for director. He has won twice for adapted screenplay, and “The Holdovers” won supporting actress this year.

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His films also include “Citizen Ruth” (1996), “Election” (1999), “About Schmidt” (2002), “The Descendants” (2011), “Nebraska” (2013) and “Downsizing” (2017).

Festival director Jovan Marjanović said: “It feels fitting to award Alexander Payne with the Honorary Heart of Sarajevo, not only because he loves Sarajevo, but also because in the center of all his stories are people with a big heart. As a director who possesses a remarkable ability to blend humor and poignancy, he has made an indelible mark on contemporary cinema. His insightful storytelling and keen eye for human emotions continue to inspire filmmakers around the world.”

Payne’s first encounter with Sarajevo was in 2005, when he presented his films in the “Tribute to” program at the 11th Sarajevo Film Festival.

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