21 august 2024 : SARAJEVO – Renowned Hollywood actor, director, and producer Meg Ryan received the Honorary Heart of Sarajevo at the Sarajevo Film Festival on Tuesday evening, in recognition of her significant contributions to the film industry.
Ryan was among four distinguished filmmakers honored with this accolade, joining US and Palestinian directors Alexander Payne and Elia Suleiman, as well as American actor and producer John Turturro.
Festival director Jovan Marjanović remarked, “This award acknowledges her exceptional contributions to cinema and her remarkable talents,” as he presented Ryan with a silver heart-shaped trophy.
In a symbolic gesture, Ryan hosted a special screening of her beloved 1998 romantic comedy “You’ve Got Mail” at an open-air cinema, the same venue where it premiered at the festival in 1999.
During a masterclass led by Oscar-winning Bosnian director Danis Tanovic, Ryan discussed her latest project, “What Happens Later,” which she directed, wrote, and co-starred in alongside David Duchovny, and which was also featured at the festival.
She shared that her journey into acting began as a means to finance her journalism studies, describing herself as an “untrained actress.”
“I approached it with a beginner’s mindset, which I now recognize as invaluable; there is a certain naivety and innocence that is essential for an artist,” she reflected.
The Sarajevo Film Festival, which spans from Vienna to Istanbul, was established by a group of film enthusiasts during the final stages of the Bosnian war three decades ago. This year, it will showcase a total of 240 films.