Farhadi Warns Media and Politicians Against Emphasising Cultural Differences

While accepting a Heart of Sarajevo honor at the Sarajevo Film Festival, Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi lamented the tendency of media and politicians to foreground cultural differences, arguing that this practice erodes the recognition of common human feelings. He referenced Japanese directors Yasujirō Ozu and Akira Kurosawa as examples of artists whose work transcends cultural gaps because it centers on humanity. Farhadi used the tragic bombing in Afghanistan, which killed ten children, to show how narratives often portray such victims as fundamentally different.

He emphasized that love between mothers is the same everywhere, even if its expression varies, and that local, truth-based cinema can achieve universal appeal. The director also warned that the pursuit of fame and box-office success can create distance between artists and audiences, urging creators to prioritize the filmmaking process over accolades. Finally, he praised British director Mike Leigh and expressed a desire to continue making films for the rest of his life.