The Heart of Sarajevo for Emily Watson

Her film Breaking the Waves (Lomeći valove), directed by Lars von Trier, was also screened at the festival to mark the 30th anniversary of its premiere. This year, Watson also served as president of the jury for the Competition Programme, and on August 19, she held a masterclass at the Bosnian Cultural Center.

“This festival has its spiritual heart in the right place. Of all the film festivals in the world, this is the one that has that,” Watson said as she accepted the award to a standing ovation from the audience at the National Theatre.

She has built her career through a series of roles that have left their mark on contemporary cinema:

- Breaking the Waves (1996) - European Film Award for Best Actress; Academy Award nomination

- Gosford Park (2001)

- The Theory of Everything (2014)

- Anna Karenina (2012)

- Chernobyl (HBO, 2019) - Emmy and Golden Globe nominations

- The Little Things (2021) - Silver Bear for Best Supporting Performance, Berlinale

- Hamnet (2025)

- Dune: Prophecy (HBO Max)

For her contribution to the dramatic arts, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2015. That same year, she also received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the San Sebastián International Film Festival.