Meg Ryan Honored at Sarajevo Film Festival, Reflects on Career

Meg Ryan, renowned American actress and filmmaker, was bestowed with the Honorary Heart of Sarajevo at the 29th Sarajevo Film Festival on August 20, 2023. The award recognizes her significant contributions to cinema over her four-decade career.

Ryan, born on November 19, 1961, was not the sole recipient of this prestigious accolade. Fellow honorees included American directors Alexander Payne and John Turturro, as well as Palestinian filmmaker Elia Suleiman. Festival director Jovan Marjanović presented Ryan with a silver heart-shaped trophy, emphasizing her exceptional talents and impact on the film industry.

As part of the celebration, Ryan introduced a special screening of her 1998 romantic comedy "You've Got Mail" at an open-air cinema. This location held particular significance, as it was the same venue where the film first graced the festival's screens in 1999. "You've Got Mail," directed by Nora Ephron and co-starring Tom Hanks, is based on the 1937 Hungarian play "Parfumerie" by Miklós László.

During a masterclass moderated by Oscar-winning Bosnian director Danis Tanović, Ryan shared insights into her career journey. She revealed that her entry into acting was initially a means to finance her journalism studies, describing herself as an "untrained actress." Ryan reflected, "I had a beginner's mind, which I see now as a very valuable thing. There is a certain naivety, innocence that is important when you are an artist."

The actress, who has been nominated for three Golden Globe Awards, also discussed her latest project, "What Happens Later." This film marks Ryan's second directorial effort, which she also wrote and co-stars in alongside David Duchovny, best known for his role as Fox Mulder in "The X-Files" series.

The Sarajevo Film Festival, founded in 1995 during the siege of Sarajevo, has grown to become the premier film event in Southeast Europe. Now in its 29th year, the festival showcases 240 films and attracts over 100,000 visitors annually. It has hosted numerous celebrities over the years, including Robert De Niro, Angelina Jolie, and Brad Pitt, cementing its status as a significant cultural event in the region.

As the festival continues to bridge the gap between Eastern and Western cinema, Ryan's presence and recognition serve as a testament to its growing international influence and the enduring power of storytelling through film.