Emir Hadžihafizbegović received a Special Jury Award at the Niš festival

NIŠ, (Patria) - At the 53rd Film Festival in Niš, Emir Hadžihafizbegović received a Special Mention  (special award) from the jury for his role in the film „Žaba“.

The award was given by the jury consisting of: Bojana Maljević, actress; Ana Sofrenović, actress, and Tihomir Stanić, actor. The Niš festival is one of the most prestigious festivals in the region, with screenings taking place at the Niš Fortress which can accommodate nearly 3,000 visitors. The screening of the film „Žaba“ was completely full.

Regarding the award he received, Emir Hadžihafizbegović said:

- This award is particularly dear to me because the Niš festival is perhaps the only festival in the region that awards prizes exclusively for acting achievements. That award always comes in synergy with the jury and the audience of Niš, and when, after the screening of the film „Žaba“, along with Mirsad Tuka and Vlasta Vlaisavljević, the actors who play with me in the film, I came out for applause, where all three of us received ovations from the audience, I expected that an award was possible.

After film festivals in Mostar, Florence, and New York, I have now received my fourth award for the role of Zeko in the film „Žaba“, and each time I share it with Aleksandar Seksan, Mirsad Tuka, Moamer Kasumović, and Elmir Jukić. „Žaba“ is a joint success both in theatre, after ten years of performances, and in film, and there would never have been any award if it hadn't been for the dedication of all of us to that great text by Dubravko Mihanović.

I would like to thank the jury and the audience of Niš once again for recognizing the strong cinematic and anti-war message that was sent to the world through the film „Žaba“. I am also pleased that during the festival, I was presented with the Golden Seal of the City of Niš award by the musicians and orchestra „Crne mambe“, who accompanied the great artist Šaban Bajramović for years, and their producer Radiša Sarić.

The award was presented as a thank you for organizing the celebration of the 80th anniversary of Šaban Bajramović's birth, which we held in 2016 at Kamerni teatar 55. At that time, we organized an exhibition of Šaban Bajramović's photographs, showed a documentary film about him, held a round table with prominent ethnomusicologists from the region, and concluded everything with a masterful concert by the orchestra „Crne mambe“. Once again, I thank them on my behalf, and on behalf of Kamerni teatar 55 - said Hadžihafizbegović.