Emir Kusturica, Serbian film director. Biography

Emir Kusturica is a Serbian film director and actor who has won awards at major European film festivals, including two Palme d'Ors at the Cannes Film Festival. In addition to his film work, he is also known as a book author and a member of the folk-rock band The No Smoking Orchestra.

The director was born on November 24, 1954 in Sarajevo, the capital of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Yugoslavia (now the independent state of Bosnia and Herzegovina). By nationality he is Bosnian, but he said that there were also Orthodox Serbs in his family. At the same time, the director's parents are Muslims. His father worked in the Ministry of Information of the Republic, and his mother was engaged in housekeeping and raising children.

At the age of 18, Kusturica went to Prague and entered the Faculty of Film and Television at the prestigious Academy of Performing Arts. Then he created his first films, including his graduation film "Guernica" about the story of a Jewish boy based on the story of Yugoslav writer Antony Isakovic.

After returning to his homeland after his studies, Kusturica continued shooting. In 1981, released his first feature film "Do You Remember Dolly Bell?". This debut work brought him a prize at the International Festival in Venice.

World popularity Kusturica brought the film "Daddy on a Business Trip" about the era of political repression in Yugoslavia, which was released in 1985. For her director was awarded at the Cannes Film Festival and nominated for an Oscar. Three years later came out the movie "Time of the Gypsies", after which Kusturica was recognized as the best director.

Among his other famous films - "Arizona Dream", "Underground", "Black Cat, White Cat", "Life as a Miracle," "Testament", "Along the Milky Way" and others. In total, Kusturica has made several dozen feature films and documentaries.

Recently released his documentary "People of Christ. Our Time" about the persecution of the canonical Orthodox Church in Ukraine. He is currently working on his first Russian-language film based on Dostoevsky's novel Crime and Punishment. Filming will take place in the summer of 2025 in the Krasnodar region.

By the way, Kusturica is a great admirer of Russian literature. In his interviews, he often said that he has a special relationship to Russian culture, and Russian people consider brotherly people. He has also stated his desire to obtain Russian citizenship and become a Russian director, noting that he feels comfortable in Russia.

Back in 2005, Kusturica converted to Orthodox Christianity. A few years later, he became a laureate of the Patriarch Alexy II award for the promotion of Christian values and outstanding work to strengthen the unity of Orthodox peoples.

The director is married and has two children. His wife Maja is co-owner of Rasta Films, which produces Kusturica's films. Son Stribor is a musician. He is a drummer in the band The No Smoking Orchestra and acts in his father's films. In one of them he appeared not only as an actor, but also as a composer. Daughter Dunya writes screenplays. In 2023, she became the face of the Kustendorf Film Festival, which is held annually in the ethno-village of Drvengrad, located on the border between Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.