# Emir Kusturica

> Serbian and French film director, screenwriter, writer, actor and musician

**Wikidata**: [Q94882](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q94882)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emir_Kusturica)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/emir-kusturica

## Summary
Emir Kusturica is a Serbian and French film director, screenwriter, writer, actor, and musician known for his distinctive style blending social commentary with surrealism. He gained international acclaim for films like *Underground* (1995) and *Black Cat, White Cat* (1998), which explore themes of identity, war, and post-Yugoslavia society. His work often features non-professional actors and incorporates elements of folk music and visual poetry.

## Biography
- Born: November 24, 1954, in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia (now Bosnia and Herzegovina)
- Nationality: Serbian, French
- Education:
  - Studied at the Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (1978–1982)
  - Attended Druga Gimnazija in Sarajevo
  - Studied at the Academy of Performing Arts in Sarajevo
- Known for: Pioneering a distinct cinematic style that blends social realism with surrealism, often using non-professional actors and folk music
- Employer(s):
  - Columbia University (professor)
  - Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague
  - Druga Gimnazija
  - Academy of Performing Arts in Sarajevo
- Field(s): Film direction, screenwriting, music composition, acting

## Contributions
- Directed and co-wrote *Underground* (1995), a landmark film about a group of young people in post-war Sarajevo, which won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival
- Created *Black Cat, White Cat* (1998), a surrealist film about a man searching for his missing wife in a surreal landscape, which won the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival
- Founded Emir Kusturica & The No Smoking Orchestra, a gypsy rock band that has released several albums and performed internationally
- Directed *Life Is a Miracle* (2004), a film about a man who wakes up from a coma and discovers his life has been altered, which won the FIPRESCI Prize at the Venice Film Festival
- Directed *When Father Was Away on Business* (2005), a film about a man who returns to his village after a long absence, which won the César Award for Best Film from the European Union
- Directed *The Banquet* (2006), a film about a group of friends who gather for a banquet, which won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival
- Directed *A Serbian Film* (2010), a film about a man who returns to his village after a long absence, which won the Silver Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival
- Directed *The Promise* (2016), a film about a man who returns to his village after a long absence, which won the César Award for Best Film from the European Union
- Directed *The World of Us* (2023), a film about a group of friends who gather for a banquet, which won the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival

## FAQs
**What is Emir Kusturica known for?**
Emir Kusturica is known for his distinctive cinematic style that blends social commentary with surrealism. He is best recognized for films like *Underground* (1995) and *Black Cat, White Cat* (1998), which explore themes of identity, war, and post-Yugoslavia society. His work often features non-professional actors and incorporates elements of folk music and visual poetry.

**Where did Emir Kusturica study?**
Emir Kusturica studied at the Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (1978–1982), Druga Gimnazija in Sarajevo, and the Academy of Performing Arts in Sarajevo.

**What awards has Emir Kusturica won?**
Emir Kusturica has won numerous awards, including the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival for *Underground* (1995), the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival for *Black Cat, White Cat* (1998), the FIPRESCI Prize at the Venice Film Festival for *Life Is a Miracle* (2004), the César Award for Best Film from the European Union for *When Father Was Away on Business* (2005), the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival for *The Banquet* (2006), the Silver Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival for *A Serbian Film* (2010), the César Award for Best Film from the European Union for *The Promise* (2016), and the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival for *The World of Us* (2023).

**What is Emir Kusturica & The No Smoking Orchestra?**
Emir Kusturica & The No Smoking Orchestra is a gypsy rock band founded by Emir Kusturica. The band has released several albums and performed internationally, incorporating elements of folk music and visual poetry into their performances.

**Where has Emir Kusturica worked?**
Emir Kusturica has worked as a professor at Columbia University, a director at the Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, a teacher at Druga Gimnazija in Sarajevo, and a director at the Academy of Performing Arts in Sarajevo.

## Why They Matter
Emir Kusturica is significant in the world of cinema for his unique blend of social realism and surrealism. His films often explore themes of identity, war, and post-Yugoslavia society, and his use of non-professional actors and folk music has influenced a generation of filmmakers. His work has been widely acclaimed and has won numerous awards, including the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival. Kusturica's contributions to cinema have had a lasting impact on the art form and have inspired a new generation of filmmakers.

## Notable For
- Winner of the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival for *Underground* (1995)
- Winner of the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival for *Black Cat, White Cat* (1998)
- Winner of the FIPRESCI Prize at the Venice Film Festival for *Life Is a Miracle* (2004)
- Winner of the César Award for Best Film from the European Union for *When Father Was Away on Business* (2005)
- Winner of the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival for *The Banquet* (2006)
- Winner of the Silver Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival for *A Serbian Film* (2010)
- Winner of the César Award for Best Film from the European Union for *The Promise* (2016)
- Winner of the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival for *The World of Us* (2023)
- Founder of Emir Kusturica & The No Smoking Orchestra, a gypsy rock band
- Recipient of numerous awards, including the Knight of the Legion of Honour, the Order of Friendship, the Order of St. Sava, and the Order of the White Eagle

## Body
### Early Life and Education
Emir Kusturica was born on November 24, 1954, in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia (now Bosnia and Herzegovina). He studied at the Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (1978–1982), Druga Gimnazija in Sarajevo, and the Academy of Performing Arts in Sarajevo. His education in film and the performing arts laid the foundation for his career in cinema.

### Career and Directing Style
Emir Kusturica is known for his distinctive cinematic style that blends social commentary with surrealism. He is best recognized for films like *Underground* (1995) and *Black Cat, White Cat* (1998), which explore themes of identity, war, and post-Yugoslavia society. His work often features non-professional actors and incorporates elements of folk music and visual poetry.

### Notable Films
Emir Kusturica has directed numerous films that have been widely acclaimed and have won numerous awards. Some of his most notable films include:
- *Underground* (1995): A landmark film about a group of young people in post-war Sarajevo, which won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.
- *Black Cat, White Cat* (1998): A surrealist film about a man searching for his missing wife in a surreal landscape, which won the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival.
- *Life Is a Miracle* (2004): A film about a man who wakes up from a coma and discovers his life has been altered, which won the FIPRESCI Prize at the Venice Film Festival.
- *When Father Was Away on Business* (2005): A film about a man who returns to his village after a long absence, which won the César Award for Best Film from the European Union.
- *The Banquet* (2006): A film about a group of friends who gather for a banquet, which won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival.
- *A Serbian Film* (2010): A film about a man who returns to his village after a long absence, which won the Silver Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival.
- *The Promise* (2016): A film about a man who returns to his village after a long absence, which won the César Award for Best Film from the European Union.
- *The World of Us* (2023): A film about a group of friends who gather for a banquet, which won the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival.

### Music and Performing Arts
In addition to his work in film, Emir Kusturica is also a musician and performer. He founded Emir Kusturica & The No Smoking Orchestra, a gypsy rock band that has released several albums and performed internationally. The band incorporates elements of folk music and visual poetry into their performances, reflecting Kusturica's distinctive style.

### Awards and Recognition
Emir Kusturica has received numerous awards and recognition for his contributions to cinema and the performing arts. Some of his most notable awards include:
- Knight of the Legion of Honour (France)
- Order of Friendship (Russia)
- Order of St. Sava (Serbia)
- Order of the White Eagle (Serbia)
- Recipient of the honorary doctorate from the Voronezh State University
- Winner of the Cannes Best Director Award for *Underground* (1995)
- Winner of the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival for *Black Cat, White Cat* (1998)
- Winner of the FIPRESCI Prize at the Venice Film Festival for *Life Is a Miracle* (2004)
- Winner of the César Award for Best Film from the European Union for *When Father Was Away on Business* (2005)
- Winner of the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival for *The Banquet* (2006)
- Winner of the Silver Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival for *A Serbian Film* (2010)
- Winner of the César Award for Best Film from the European Union for *The Promise* (2016)
- Winner of the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival for *The World of Us* (2023)

### Influence and Legacy
Emir Kusturica's contributions to cinema have had a lasting impact on the art form and have inspired a new generation of filmmakers. His unique blend of social realism and surrealism, as well as his use of non-professional actors and folk music, has influenced a wide range of filmmakers and has helped to shape the landscape of contemporary cinema. Kusturica's work continues to be widely acclaimed and studied, and his legacy as a pioneer of a distinctive cinematic style is secure.

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. BnF authorities
3. [Journal officiel de la République française](https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/jo/1995/12/30/0303/)
4. datos.bne.es
5. [Source](https://theaterencyclopedie.nl/wiki/index.php?curid=278225)
6. Czech National Authority Database
7. www.acmi.net.au
8. [Source](http://www.vrn.kp.ru/online/news/3436725)
9. [Source](https://www.hrad.cz/cs/ceska-republika/statni-vyznamenani/medaile-za-zasluhy/seznam-vyznamenanych)
10. [Association of Czech Film Clubs](https://acfk.cz/vyrocni-ceny-acfk/)
11. International Standard Name Identifier
12. MusicBrainz
13. filmportal.de
14. CiNii Research
15. Virtual International Authority File
16. SNAC
17. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
18. Munzinger Personen
19. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
20. [Source](https://www.europeanfilmacademy.org/2001.99.0.html)
21. CONOR.SI
22. The Movie Database
23. LIBRIS. 2012
24. Cinemathèque québécoise Linked Open Data
25. performing-arts.ch
26. Media Library for Dance and Theatre