EMIR KUSTURICA STRIPPED OF AWARD AT FILM FESTIVAL DUE TO SUPPORT FOR RUSSIA

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The Czech festival Febiofest has decided to strip Emir Kusturica, a Prague Film Academy (FAMU) alumnus, of the festival's Kristijan award because he accepted to lead the Central Academic Theatre of the Russian Army on the eve of Russia's attack on Ukraine.

The honorary president of the festival, its founder, director Fero Fenič, requested that Kusturica be stripped of the Febiofest award he received in 2017 for his contribution to world cinema.

Fenič stated that even in 2017 he was against Kusturica receiving the Febiofest award because Kusturica's tendency to admire and support totalitarian leaders means that, despite his talent as a director, he does not meet the ethical, moral, and democratic values and criteria to be awarded.

“These are the values we are committed to, and the festival was founded on them after the Velvet Revolution. No work of art can be separated from these values. The festival management did not listen to me then. Now I am again asking Febiofest to strip him of the honorary Kristijan award,” Fenič said.

The current director of Febiofest, Kamil Spačil, announced that he welcomes Fenič's initiative and that Kusturica will be stripped of the award, the Czech agency ČTK reports.

Fenič also called on other Czech festivals that have awarded Kusturica to also strip him of their awards due to his acceptance of Russian Minister Sergei Shoigu's offer to lead the Russian army's theatre.

In 2019, Kusturica was also decorated by Czech President Miloš Zeman with the Medal of Merit, N1 reports.