Emir Kusturica emerged from the 1978 graduating class of Prague’s FAMU to reshape Balkan cinema. Born in 1954 in Sarajevo, he combined his formal education with a penchant for absurdist narratives and rhythmic musical integration. Throughout a prolific career, he navigated the complex intersections of Yugoslav history, Romani culture, and international festival recognition, establishing himself as a director, screenwriter, and musician.
Early Career and Education
Kusturica attended the Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague after earlier studies at Druga Gimnazija. Upon returning to Yugoslavia, he held a teaching position at the Academy of Performing Arts in Sarajevo from 1981 to 1988. His debut feature, Do You Remember Dolly Bell?, secured the Golden Lion for Best First Work at the Venice Film Festival in 1981.
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His second feature, When Father Was Away on Business, won the Palme d'Or at the 1985 Cannes Film Festival. He continued to gain acclaim for Time of the Gypsies, which earned him the Cannes Best Director Award in 1989. In 1993, he received the Silver Bear in Berlin for Arizona Dream, followed by a second Palme d'Or in 1995 for the epic Underground.
Music and Cultural Projects
Beyond film, Kusturica is an active musician, serving as a guitarist for Emir Kusturica & The No Smoking Orchestra. His interest in music led to the documentary Super 8 Stories in 2001. In the mid-2000s, he developed the village of Drvengrad in the Mokra Gora region of Serbia, initially constructed as a set for his film Life Is a Miracle, which now hosts the annual Küstendorf Film Festival.
Academic and Institutional Roles
Kusturica has served in various administrative and honorary capacities, including President of the Jury at the Cannes Festival in 2005. He held a teaching position at Columbia University's Graduate Film Division and maintains memberships in the Academy of Sciences and Arts of the Republika Srpska and the Association of Writers of Serbia.
Fast facts
- Born: 1954, Sarajevo
- Citizenship: France, Serbia, Yugoslavia
- Languages: German, Czech, Serbian, Bosnian
- Religion: Serbian Orthodox Church
- Notable Award: Palme d'Or (1985, 1995)
- Notable Award: Golden Lion (1998, 2016)
- Notable Award: Order of St. Sava (2018)
- Residence: Drvengrad, Serbia
Questions readers ask
What is Emir Kusturica's primary residence?
Since the mid-2000s, his primary residence has been in the village of Drvengrad, located in the Mokra Gora region of Serbia.
Has he won awards at the Cannes Film Festival?
Yes. He won the Palme d'Or twice, for When Father Was Away on Business (1985) and Underground (1995), and the Best Director Award for Time of the Gypsies (1989).
Achievements
- Knight of the Legion of Honour — 2010
- Palme d'Or — 1985
- César Award for Best Film from the European Union — 2005
- Worked as actor, film producer and film director
