Honorary Heart of Sarajevo awarded to Oscar winner Alexander Payne

(Patria) - The "Honorary Heart of Sarajevo" award at the jubilee 30th Sarajevo Film Festival (SFF) was presented to the renowned American director, screenwriter, producer, and two-time Oscar winner Alexander Payne, for his exceptional contribution to the art of filmmaking.

The American filmmaker, who first visited Sarajevo back in 2005, was presented with the Honorary Heart of Sarajevo this evening at the Coca Cola Open Air Cinema. His award-winning film "Sideways," which was also screened at SFF in 2005, was shown on this occasion.

As part of the 30th Sarajevo Film Festival, Payne also held a masterclass today in a packed hall of the Bosnian Cultural Center. The two-time Oscar winner spoke about his rich career, directors he admires, his vision of film, and Westerns.

The grandson of Greek immigrants, Alexander Payne grew up in Nebraska, USA. He studied history and Spanish literature at Stanford University before earning a master's degree in film directing from UCLA. His eight feature films have been nominated for a total of 24 Oscars, including four nominations for Best Picture and three for Best Director. He has won the award for Best Adapted Screenplay twice, and his latest film, "The Holdovers," won the award for Best Supporting Actress this year.