Robert De Niro opens Sarajevo film festival, gets top honour

Oscar-winning actor Robert De Niro opened the 22nd edition of Europe's Sarajevo Film Festival, where he was awarded with the fest's first lifetime achievement award. The 72-year-old 'Raging Bull' star received 'The Heart of Sarajevo', at the festival's opening night, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

"I will treasure this award. I don't think there is another city in the world that has shown such heart in the face of so much tragedy," De Niro said.A restored version of Martin Scorsese's 'Taxi Driver' was also screened at the festival.
The veteran actor said Sarajevo was created during war times to prevent the negative atmosphere by commemorating artistic values of the people. "It was born during a dark and dangerous time to counter the butchering of war with a celebration of art and humanity." The nine-day festival will feature world premieres of Ivan Marinovic's comedy drama 'The Black Pin' and Lukas Valenta Rinner's 'A Decent Woman'.