THE CEREMONY OF CONFERRING DANIS TANOVIĆ WITH UNIVERSITY OF SARAJEVO'S HONORARY DOCTORATE
On Wednesday 8 June 2011, the ceremony of conferring an honorary doctorate of the University of Sarajevo to Danis Tanović, director and only Oscar winner from B-H, Senior lecturer at the Academy of Performing Arts, University of Sarajevo, was held in the National Theatre, Sarajevo.
Honorary Doctorate of the University (doctor honoris causa Universitatis) of Sarajevo was conferred to Doc. Danis Tanović as a recognition for his outstanding contribution and support in the academic development of the University of Sarajevo, as a recognition of his artistic work, and as well as the promotion of art and culture of Bosnia and Herzegovina during the war and postwar years.
Rector Prof. Dr Faruk Čaklovica opened the ceremonial act of promotion, and on behalf of all professors, associates, employees and students of the University of Sarajevo and in his own behalf, wished a welcome to the first Bosnian Oscar winner and to all participants of the ceremony.
In his speech, Rector of the Sarajevo University, Prof. Dr Faruk Čaklovica said: “The fact that Danis Tanović, Senior lecturer at the Academy of Performing Arts, University of Sarajevo, respected director and scriptwriter, the first winner of Oscar from Bosnia and Herzegovina, the most referential artist when it is about received prizes for his films, including more than 60 international awards just for the film “No Man’s Land” is candidate for conferring the University of Sarajevo’s honorary doctorate, makes me particularly glad“.
Rector Čaklovica also stated that Doc. Danis Tanović presented in true artistic spirit the Bosnia and Herzegovina in all meridians and parallels of our planet, and that we could say with proud that he was considered as the classic of the European film art, being placed shoulder to shoulder with the most acclaimed artists in the world.
“And after "traveling - residing" in Europe and the world, Danis has returned to his country, his language, his people, not to the man's land. His artistic work, his knowledge and skills Senior lecturer Tanović transfers to students, continuing the mission of a director and screenwriter, and skilled educator in order to produce a new generation of artists who will, like him, promote our country, our only country- Bosnia and Herzegovina“ said Rector Čaklovica and added that he hoped that this ceremony of conferring a honorary doctorate would be a further encouragement to Danis Tanović's further success both in public and private life.
bearing in mind a fact that Mr. Danis Tanović before his fortieth year of life has become a classic of European cinema, that he contributed in the most important way to the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina to believe in themselves, their country, culture, arts and education, and that made famous Bosnia and Herzegovina on all continents and in the best light, the Academy of Performing Arts, University of Sarajevo had launched an initiative that Mr. Danis Tanović be awarded with an honorary doctorate of the University of Sarajevo, the initiative which was supported by the Teaching - Scientific Councils of the Musical Academy and the Academy of Fine Arts , and Faculties of Architecture and Philosophy.
Prof. Zijad Mehić, Dean of the Academy of Performing Arts submitted a candidate report and said in his address: “Danis Tanović has achieved the greatest success in the art of film in the history of Bosnian cinematography making him one of the most successful Bosnians of all time. What is represented by the Nobel Prize in Literature won by Ivo Andrić, or in chemistry, won by Vladimir Prelog, that is in the realm of film art the American Film Academy Award - Oscar. In addition to the Academy Award for feature film "No Man's Land " whose screenplay Danis Tanović wrote, he composed the music and directed the film, winning dozens of international awards, including the awards considered as the most important film recognitions that can be won by an individual: Best Screenplay Award at the Cannes Film Festival, the Golden Globe Award, the European Film Academy Award – Felix, the César Award -national film award of France and many other. Danis Tanović's film “No Man's Land“ is the most award-winning debut film in the history of world’s cinematography”.
Dean Mehić also reminded attendees that Danis Tanović was a Film Ambassador of the European Film Academy, a member of the American Film Academy, European Film Academy, the French Film Academy, awarded with the medal Knighthood of Order of Arts and Writing" and "Officer of Order of Arts and Writing" in France, he was a member of the official jury of the Cannes Film Festival, the winner of the Sixth April Award of the City of Sarajevo and winner of many other national and international awards.
About Danis Tanović and their work with him spoke director Dino Mustafić, actor Boris Ler and director Haris Pašović.
"The great thing for the BH art is giving of this high award to a director, author, who has his own attitude, whose films carry within themselves a deep anti-war content, humanistic dimension that the world might be better if we change ourselves," said director Dino Mustafić and added that the film was an artistic expression of the grand synthesis in which we recognized the merging of mind, spirit and talent. "Danis is an artist who has given his the best in every scene, every camera movement and choice of plan, a 'clear and condensed drop of the essence of his being'. He is conventional, yet modern - not at any price, but spontaneously, simply unconsciously out of a deep need"- said director Mustafić.
The University of Sarajevo’s Senate, on the 25th Session held on 26 January 2011, reached a decision to confer to Danis Tanović an honorary doctorate of the University of Sarajevo.
Prof. Dr Faruk Čaklovica, University of Sarajevo’s Rector conferred Mr. Tanović with this important award saying: “In the University of Sarajevo’s Golden Book of Honorary Doctors such as: Nobel Prize Winners Ivo Andrić and Vladimir Prelog, academician Meša Selimović, Vaso Butozan, Edhem Čamo, and others, the name of a fighter for Human Rights and Democracy Simon Wiesenthal, along with Prime Ministers of the Republic of Turkey and Malaysia Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Mahathir Bin Mohamad, the name of Danis Tanović, director and Senior lecturer at the Academy of Performing Arts, University of Sarajevo has been inscribed today”.
Doc. Danis Tanović, with words of gratitude for receiving the most prestigious award of the University of Sarajevo’s academic community said: “I have received many awards and recognitions all over the world, but the one I am receiving this evening has special importance because it is from my colleagues in my home town, the town where I grew up and studied. The fact that I am the first film director, who has been given this great honor, obliges me to dedicate myself to shift this brief address to the importance of arts and culture in our lives and society. Unfortunately today and in this age, many people find culture and art as unnecessary luxury, or have it identified with a cheap, meaningless fun. And so in this moment in front of you, I am making an appeal against the physical and intellectual violence, which mutilated our society that we fight with far greater commitment and by investing in culture and art. Arts and culture are not only the best ambassadors of our country - the culture and art are awaking the best in every man, in every one of us, the most humane in all of us. Art, the any form of art, is the best way for a man to share its personal experience with other people - but also to enrich his life with experiences of others”.
