**Emir Kusturica (Sarajevo, 1954) is a celebrated Serbian director, known for his unique style and for having won the Palme d'Or twice at the Cannes Film Festival.**

International recognition came with *When Father Was Away on Business* (1985), his first triumph in Cannes. Significant works followed, such as *Time of the Gypsies* (1988), *Arizona Dream* (1993) and, notably, *Underground* (1995), which earned him his second Palme d'Or, a caustic epic on Yugoslav history. His success continued with *Black Cat, White Cat* (1998).

His cinema is characterized by vibrant magical realism, an almost baroque energy, and a narrative rich in eccentric characters and grotesque situations. He often explores themes related to Balkan identity, war, family, and music, creating an unmistakable, chaotic, and profoundly human cinematic universe.