Director

Emir Kusturica

1954

Who they are

Born: 24 November 1954, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Known for: When Father Was Away on Business, Time of the Gypsies, Arizona Dream

Emir Kusturica is a Sarajevo-born filmmaker, actor and musician. He is known for exuberant, darkly comic, music-driven films about Balkan life and history. One of the few directors to win the Palme d'Or twice, he became a leading figure of 1980s–90s European art cinema.

Where to start

When Father Was Away on Business (1985)Full guide
Family drama set in 1950s Yugoslavia that won him his first Palme d'Or and international fame.
Time of the Gypsies (1988)Log in to add it to the library
Romani-set fable of crime and fate that confirmed his lyrical, fantastical style.
Arizona Dream (1993)Log in to add it to the library
His English-language American debut, a surreal comedy-drama with Johnny Depp and Faye Dunaway.
Underground (1995)Full guide
Epic satire of Yugoslavia's 20th-century history; it won a second Palme d'Or and remains his best-known film.
Black Cat, White Cat (1998)In the library
Boisterous Romani crime comedy that revived his reputation and showcased his musical, anarchic energy.

Their films in the library

Awards

1981 Venice Film Festival: Golden Lion for Best First Work (Do You Remember Dolly Bell?)
1985 Cannes: Palme d'Or (When Father Was Away on Business)
1989 Cannes: Best Director (Time of the Gypsies)
1995 Cannes: Palme d'Or (Underground)
1998 Venice Film Festival: Silver Lion for Best Director (Black Cat, White Cat)

The full list · 51

1972Walter Defends SarajevoLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Omladinac
1978GuernicaLog in to add it to the libraryDirector
1978The Brides Are ComingLog in to add it to the libraryDirector
1979Buffet TitanicLog in to add it to the libraryDirector
1981Do You Remember Dolly Bell?Log in to add it to the libraryDirector
1985When Father Was Away on BusinessLog in to add it to the libraryDirector
1988Time of the GypsiesLog in to add it to the libraryDirector
1988Byzantine Empire '88Log in to add it to the libraryActor as Mangup u tramvaju
1993Arizona DreamLog in to add it to the libraryDirector
1995UndergroundLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Dealer · Director
1996Shooting Days: Emir Kusturica Directs UndergroundLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Himself
1998Black Cat, White CatLog in to add it to the libraryDirector
2000The Widow of Saint-PierreLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Joseph Auguste Néel
2000Emir KusturicaLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Himself
2001Super 8 StoriesLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self · Director
2003The Good ThiefLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Vladimir
2003Strawberries in the SupermarketLog in to add it to the libraryActor as General
2003Chaplin Today: The CircusLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self
2004Life Is a MiracleLog in to add it to the libraryDirector
2005Le court des grandsLog in to add it to the libraryDirector
2005Emir Kusturica and the No Smoking Orchestra - Live is a Miracle in Buenos AiresLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Himself
2006All the Invisible ChildrenLog in to add it to the libraryDirector
2006Secret JourneyLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Harold
2007Promise Me ThisLog in to add it to the libraryDirector
2007Le Temps des Gitans Punk OperaLog in to add it to the libraryDirector
2008Maradona by KusturicaLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self · Director
2009FarewellLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Sergei Grigoriev
2011Nicostratos the PelicanLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Démosthène
20127 Days in HavanaLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Actor (segment "Jam Session")
2012The WhirlLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Bogdanov otac
2012WalterLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Himself
2012Kusturica - Balkan's Bad BoyLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Himself
2013The ScapegoatLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Stojil
2013Balkan SpiritLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self - Director
2013Who Is This Kusturica?Log in to add it to the libraryActor as Himself
2014The Ice ForestLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Secondo
2014Words with GodsLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Monk (ep. "Our Life") · Director
2015The Legend of the Palme d'OrLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self
2016On the Milky RoadLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Kosta · Director
2016To Make a Comedy Is No FunLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self
2018CzechMate: In Search of Jiří MenzelLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self
2018Local Heroes - World TalentsLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Himself
2019Balkan LineLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Taxi driver
2019El Pepe: A Supreme LifeLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self · Director
2020Good Morning, the Wind BlowsLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self
2022Srpska: The Struggle for FreedomLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self
2022Scenes from the Life of BH FilmLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Himself
2023Dule Savić and the Silence in LondonLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Himself
2024"I Will Revenge This World With Love" - S. ParadjanovLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Himself
2025Chaplin: Spirit of the TrampLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self
2025How I Waited for the SunLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Himself

Filmography data from TMDB. The profile text is a draft written for Cinespective.