Oscars 2025: Bosnia and Herzegovina Pick Danis Tanovic’s ‘My Late Summer’ as Best International Feature Contender

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As a cinephile with a soft spot for international cinema and a deep appreciation for the art of storytelling, I can hardly contain my excitement over the upcoming release of “My Late Summer”. Having followed Danis Tanović’s career since his groundbreaking win at the 2002 Oscars for “No Man’s Land”, it is truly heartening to see him return to his roots with this new Bosnian production.

In 2025, Bosnia and Herzegovina have chosen “My Late Summer,” a movie directed by Academy Award-winning director Danis Tanović, to represent them in the competition for the Best International Feature Film at the Oscars.

This year’s opening film at the Sarajevo Film Festival, a blend of comedy and drama, centers around Maja (portrayed by Anja Matković), a spirited woman in her late thirties. She embarks on a journey to a secluded island to settle a family inheritance disagreement, but instead encounters lingering issues from her past. Initially, her mission is about acquiring wealth, but it evolves into a personal exploration of identity and seeking forgiveness as she becomes enamored with the captivating island setting and its peculiar inhabitants. An unexpected romance also unfolds amidst this transformation.

Propeller Film collaborated with Tangaj Production, Obala Art Centar, Baš Čelik, and Tramal Films to produce the film titled “My Late Summer“.

Though primarily recognized for his work in Bosnian cinema, Emir Kusturica has also ventured into English-language films. Some of these include the 2020 crime thriller “The Postcard Killings” starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Famke Janssen, and Cush Jumbo, as well as “Triage” from 2009, in which Colin Farrell plays a war photographer.

As a dedicated admirer of cinema, I must acknowledge that Emir Tanović has left an indelible mark on the prestigious Oscars. In fact, he stands as the sole Bosnian director to claim the Academy Award, achieving this feat with his powerful anti-war drama “No Man’s Land” in 2002. His subsequent work, the docudrama “An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker,” which garnered two Silver Bears at the Berlin Film Festival, even made the Oscar shortlist although it did not secure a nomination. Interestingly enough, Jasmila Žbanić is the only other Bosnian director to have been nominated for an Academy Award, with her poignant film “Quo vadis, Aida?” reaching the final 5 in 2021.

Here are the important dates to remember for the upcoming international feature film awards:

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2024-10-03 13:54