Abdulah Sidran dies: Poet, writer and screenwriter of world renown has passed away

(Patria) - Bosnian-Herzegovinian poet, writer and screenwriter Abdulah Sidran died today, March 23, at the age of 80, confirmed for the portal Radiosarajevo.ba.

He had been in serious health condition for several months.

He edited youth newspapers and magazines, and lecture forums. Until April 1992, he was employed at RTV Sarajevo as a 'leading dramaturge'.

He entered the literature of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 1960s, with poems and prose, in a generation of young writers often called the 'generation of 1968'. For his poetry books, he received literary and social awards (the April 6 Award of the City of Sarajevo, the Annual Award of the Association of Writers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Annual Award of the Publishing Company Svjetlost, the Zmaj Award).

Published during the war, his book of poetry Sarajevo Tabut was awarded the Freedom Award of the French PEN Centre.

Selections of his poetry, translated into German, French, and Italian, were published in Austria, France, and Italy (Insel bin ich, im Herzen der Welt, Cercueil de Sarajevo, La bara di Sarajevo). For the Italian bilingual edition, he received the 'Premio letterario 1996 della Fondazione Laboratorio Mediterraneo' award.

He was the screenwriter for the films Do You Remember Dolly Bell?, When Father Was Away on Business, directed by Emir Kusturica, and Kuduz by Ademir Kenović.

He was a member of the Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina and a master candidate in chess.