Sarajevo Film Festival: Angelina Jolie becomes Sarajevo honorary citizen

Angelina Jolie has become an honorary citizen of Sarajevo at the city’s film festival, in recognition of her film In the Land of Blood and Honey about Bosnia’s 1992-1995 war.

Angelina Jolie’s directorial debut, In the Land of Blood and Honey, tells the story of a Bosnian Muslim woman’s love for a Bosnian Serb man during the war.

“This means so much to me. My heart is in this city,” said a tearful Angelina Jolie when given her award.

Angelina Jolie has become an honorary citizen of Sarajevo at the city's film festival

She said her experience making the film had been life-changing.

“The time I spent and the people I met in Bosnia have changed me forever,” she said.

“I can’t tell you how much it means to me to be named an honorary citizen of Sarajevo, a city so dear to my heart.”

The honor was announced in April.

It was presented to her by the prime minister of the Sarajevo Canton, Fikret Music.

In the Land of Blood and Honey, which features stark scenes of rape, executions and other war crimes, was first screened in Sarajevo last December.

Some Bosnian Serbs called for the film to be banned, saying it portrayed them as villains, but others said they wanted the film to be shown.

It was nominated for a Golden Globe earlier this year for best foreign language film.

Angelina Jolie was also attending the Sarajevo Film Festival to promote young talent in Bosnia.

The festival began during the Bosnian War and has gone on to become one of the largest in Europe.