Emir Hadžihafizbegović wins Grand Prix at festival in Sombor

SOMBOR, (Patria) - At the international Film Festival of the Danube-Pannonian Region “Family of Nations” in Sombor, in competition with 10 films from Germany, Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Romania, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, BiH actor Emir Hadžihafizbegović received the Grand Prix for best male role and the „Celtiks“ statue for best actor of the festival.

This is Hadžihafizbegović's fifth award for the role of Zeko in the film "Žaba" (Frog), which he has won at five prestigious festivals to which the film "Žaba" was invited to the competition program. From Mostar to Florence and New York, to Niš and Sombor, Hadžihafizbegović is winning the hearts of audiences and respectable international juries. Hadžihafizbegović has won these five Grand Prix awards in less than a year.

With over 20 awards for best actor at world film festivals in 14 countries, Emir Hadžihafizbegović enters history as one of the most awarded, if not the most awarded, European actors. Festivals in Italy, Russia, Sweden, Belarus, South Africa, Germany, America, France, as well as awards in all former Yugoslav countries at numerous festivals, place Emir at the very top of European acting.

This was confirmed in 2014 when, at the largest and most significant European film festival in Venice, Hadžihafizbegović won the Golden Lion award for his role in the film "These Are the Rules", directed by Ognjen Sviličić.

The president of the Jury of the Festival of Danubian Countries, Radoslav Zelenović, who is also the long-time and renowned director of the Yugoslav Cinematheque, said regarding Emir Hadžihafizbegović's award for best actor of the festival.

- The jury had no dilemmas about awarding Emir Hadžihafizbegović for the role of Zeko in the film "Žaba" (Frog). The way he portrayed this role, his dedication to the character, and the credibility of his acting transformation rightfully earn him both this award of ours, and all the others he has received, and will receive, for this role.

I remember his role from the film "Veliki talenat" (Great Talent) by Nikola Stojanović from 1984, which already hinted at his brilliant career, and that talent has continued through all the more than 60 feature films he has made so far. And, this career has resulted in over 30 Grand Prix awards won at most world and regional film festivals. Emir has long outgrown our regional borders. He is an actor of not only European but world caliber whose career is just beginning to grow, and I am very happy and satisfied that Emir Hadžihafizbegović has won this award - said Zelenović.