A record number of 266 films will be screened this summer at the 24th Sarajevo Film Festival (SFF), the festival director Mirsad Purivatra said on Monday in Sarajevo. The festival kicks off on August 10 and closes down seven days later.

“I think we created the best programme that gives an insight into the best things happening in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the region and the world,” Purivatra said.

This year's edition of the festival will open with the screening of the Cold War, a movie by Polish filmmaker and Oscar winner Pawel Pawlikowski.

The movie will simultaneously screen on the first festival evening at the Sarajevo National Theatre and will be presented by Pawlikowski himself at the festival's Summer Cinema, within the Open Air Programme.

Besides Pawlikowski, another Oscar winner, Asghar Farhadi, will be among the guests.

“I'd say that this year we have, as far as the Open Air is concerned, a programme that is mostly based on the best Cannes film and this year we saw a really fantastic Cannes (festival),” said Purivatra.

Two participants will get the Honorary Heart of Sarajevo award this year, he confirmed.

According to the organiser, the most popular of the festival's programmes – the Open Air Programme, will meet the requirements of the broad audience.

The eminent names in the world of film will select the winners in several categories. Iranian Farhadi will preside over the feature Competition jury.