Mexican star Diego Luna will receive the Honorary Heart of Sarajevo at the Bosnian film festival this year, in recognition of his “indelible” contribution to cinema.
He’ll also be presenting his latest directorial feature, a movie called Ashes, which had its world premiere in Cannes earlier this year. Also accepting the Heart of Sarajevo at the 32nd installment of the festival are British actress and Sarajevo jury president Emily Watson, as well as Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi.
Luna said on Monday: “It’s been many years since I’ve wanted to go to Sarajevo, so many colleagues have spoken beautifully about the festival and their personal experience there. I feel honored with the recognition of my work and very excited to share Ashes with the audience.”
Jovan Marjanović, director of the Sarajevo Film Festival, added: “A quarter of a century ago, Diego Luna won our hearts with his unforgettable performance in Y Tu Mamá También. We hoped then and know now that we were witnessing the emergence of an artist who would never cease to explore and surprise, moving seamlessly from major Hollywood productions to intimate human stories that reveal the richness of Latin American culture. Through his exceptional body of work, Diego Luna has left a profound mark on contemporary cinema, and it is our great honour to present him with the Honorary Heart of Sarajevo.”
Luna first captured international attention with his breakout performance in Alfonso Cuarón’s Y tu mamá también (2001), a role that established him as one of Mexico’s most compelling screen talents. This led to further collaborations across Mexico, Spain, the U.S., U.K., and Germany, working with directors such as Steven Spielberg, David Trueba, Gus Van Sant, Harmony Korine and Agustín Díaz Yanes.
Most recently, he starred in and executive-produced the Disney+ series Andor (2022), earning two Golden Globe nominations and two Critics’ Choice Award nominations for best actor for his work in both seasons. The series received widespread critical acclaim, including eight Emmy nominations for its first season and fourteen for its second season in 2025, including outstanding drama series.
As a director, Luna made his debut with the documentary J.C. Chávez (2007). His first narrative feature, Abel (2010), earned the Horizontes Latinos Award at the San Sebastián International Film Festival and a Mexican Academy Award for best screenplay, which he co-wrote. He later directed Mr. Pig (2016), which premiered at Sundance.
The Sarajevo Film Festival 2026 runs Aug. 14-21.
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