Angelina Jolie honoured at 'Cinema for Peace' Gala.
- 12 years ago
She's only just taken seat in the director's chair and already Angelina Jolie is in line for her first award.
Partner Brad Pitt seemed more than happy to leave the stage to her, having just flown in from London where he had been nominated for a BAFTA award.
The Hollywood star, known for action films like "Lara Croft" and "Salt" sparkled in Berlin at the Cinema for Peace gala where she received an honorary prize for her directorial debut "In the Land of Blood and Honey".
Recognized for sending a strong message against war and genocide - the film turns to the subject of the mass rapes that took place in the Bosnian war in the early 1990s.
Jolie, who used local actors for the film, said the award was for them.
SOUNDBITE: Angelina Jolie, actress and director of 'In the Land of Blood and Honey', saying (English):
"This award especially tonight, being given to this cast for coming together in a sign of unity, is not just so we have a film that looks back but a cast and a project that look forward to a more prosperous future in the region and that is what we all really want."
The film has drawn criticism from Bosnian Serbs, who claim it is a biased retelling of the war and portrays them as the sole villains.
Cinemas in Bosnia's Serb Republic have so far refused to screen it.
But not so on the Muslim Bosniak side
SOUNDBITE: Angelina Jolie, actress and director of 'In the Land of Blood and Honey', saying (English):
"We're actually opening the film in Sarajevo on Valentine's Day and I couldn't think of anything better."
About 5,000 people are expected to attend the debut in the Bosnian capital.
Jolie is well-known for her humanitarian work. In her role as UN Goodwill Ambassador she regularly attends field missions around the world.
Kathi Urban, Reuters
Partner Brad Pitt seemed more than happy to leave the stage to her, having just flown in from London where he had been nominated for a BAFTA award.
The Hollywood star, known for action films like "Lara Croft" and "Salt" sparkled in Berlin at the Cinema for Peace gala where she received an honorary prize for her directorial debut "In the Land of Blood and Honey".
Recognized for sending a strong message against war and genocide - the film turns to the subject of the mass rapes that took place in the Bosnian war in the early 1990s.
Jolie, who used local actors for the film, said the award was for them.
SOUNDBITE: Angelina Jolie, actress and director of 'In the Land of Blood and Honey', saying (English):
"This award especially tonight, being given to this cast for coming together in a sign of unity, is not just so we have a film that looks back but a cast and a project that look forward to a more prosperous future in the region and that is what we all really want."
The film has drawn criticism from Bosnian Serbs, who claim it is a biased retelling of the war and portrays them as the sole villains.
Cinemas in Bosnia's Serb Republic have so far refused to screen it.
But not so on the Muslim Bosniak side
SOUNDBITE: Angelina Jolie, actress and director of 'In the Land of Blood and Honey', saying (English):
"We're actually opening the film in Sarajevo on Valentine's Day and I couldn't think of anything better."
About 5,000 people are expected to attend the debut in the Bosnian capital.
Jolie is well-known for her humanitarian work. In her role as UN Goodwill Ambassador she regularly attends field missions around the world.
Kathi Urban, Reuters