Sarajevo Film Festival opens in Bosnian capital

The 28th Sarajevo Film Festival (SFF) opened on Friday with the film Triangle of Sadness by award-winning Swedish film director Ruben Ostlund. 

Prior to the screening of his latest film which won him the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Festival three months ago, Ostlund received the Honorary Heart of Sarajevo Award as a recognition of his contribution to the art of film, Xinhua reports.

"I am very happy to be back in Sarajevo," said Ostlund at the opening ceremony, adding that the film festival is a great opportunity to see movies from a different perspective and have both the audience and colleagues in the same room.

The film, for which Ostlund also wrote the script, is a satirical dark comedy that pictures Carl and Yaya, a couple of models who go through the excitement of Milan Fashion Week before joining the super-rich elite on an exclusive yacht cruise in the Caribbean.

Bad weather, seasickness, and an epidemic of food poisoning followed by a shipwreck turn paradise into a nightmarish experience, and into a metaphor for the end of decaying Western civilization.

Harris Dickinson, Charlbi Dean and Woody Harrelson are among the stars of the movie.

The 28th SFF will last until Aug. 19, presenting the audience with 235 movies from 62 countries and regions in 19 program categories, including feature films, feature-length documentaries, short fiction and documentary movies and student films.

Over the past 28 years, SFF grew into one of the biggest festivals in Southeast Europe.

People stand near the red carpet during the opening ceremony of the 28th Sarajevo Film Festival in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on Aug. 12, 2022.

People attend the opening ceremony of the 28th Sarajevo Film Festival in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on Aug. 12, 2022.

Director of the Sarajevo Film Festival Jovan Marjanovic (R, Front) poses for a photo during the opening ceremony of the 28th Sarajevo Film Festival in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on Aug. 12, 2022.

People light their phones during the opening ceremony of the 28th Sarajevo Film Festival in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on Aug. 12, 2022.