SARAJEVO - Woody Harrelson took the stage at the Sarajevo Film Festival’s packed masterclass on Tuesday, turning what could have been a standard career retrospective into a warm, raucous evening that frequently circled back to one name: Rob Reiner. The actor, best known to audiences for his role in Now You See Me, spent a significant portion of the session praising the director who gave him his big-screen breakthrough.
Harrelson, 65, was visibly animated as he recalled working with Reiner on the 1990s romantic comedy Hunky Heroes, a film that cemented his leading-man status. "Rob is just brilliant," the actor told the audience, leaning into the microphone with a grin. "He has this rare ability to make you feel like you’re the only actor in the world, even when the set is chaos. He directs with his heart, and you can’t fake that." The comment drew a wave of applause from the festival crowd, which packed the auditorium to near capacity.
The masterclass, held at the Bosnian Cultural Centre, was structured as a freewheeling conversation rather than a formal Q&A. Harrelson touched on his early days in television, his transition to film, and the unpredictable nature of Hollywood stardom, but he kept returning to the theme of directorial trust. He described Reiner as a "collaborator in the truest sense," someone who never imposed a rigid vision but instead drew out performances through honest dialogue. "He’d pull me aside and say, 'What do you think this guy is feeling here?' And he really meant it. He wanted my take. That’s rare," Harrelson added, shaking his head.
The tribute was not just nostalgic sentiment. Harrelson wove Reiner’s influence into a broader lesson for the aspiring filmmakers in the room. He argued that the best directors are the ones who listen, and he credited Reiner with teaching him that acting is less about hitting marks and more about being present. "Rob taught me that the camera doesn’t lie, but it also doesn’t need you to do tricks. He wanted truth, and he made you brave enough to find it," he said.
The Sarajevo appearance marks a rare public event for Harrelson, who has been selective about festival appearances in recent years. His presence at the masterclass, which ran nearly 90 minutes, was noted for its energy; he frequently stood up, gestured wildly, and even mimicked Reiner’s distinctive speaking style to laughter. At one point, he recalled a particularly tense scene in Hunky Heroes where Reiner stopped filming mid-take to whisper a single note. "He said, 'Remember, he’s not angry at her. He’s scared of losing her.' That was it. That changed the whole performance," Harrelson recounted.
While much of the conversation centred on the past, Harrelson also fielded questions about his current projects. He confirmed he remains attached to a sequel in the Now You See Me franchise, though he offered no production timeline. He also joked about his reputation for taking on eccentric roles, saying, "I guess I like characters who are a little off the map. Rob was the first person to let me be that weird."
The evening was moderated by a local film critic, who steered the discussion toward the festival’s theme of resilience in cinema. Harrelson responded by tying that idea back to his own career, noting that his early rejection letters could paper a wall. "You keep going because you love the work. That’s the only reason. Rob Reiner didn’t hire me because I was a safe bet. He hired me because he thought I was interesting. That’s the kind of risk you have to take as an artist," he said.
The Sarajevo Film Festival, now in its 31st edition, has become a key stop for international stars, but this year’s lineup has been notably intimate, with several masterclasses replacing traditional red-carpet premieres. Harrelson’s session was among the most anticipated, and it did not disappoint. Festival director Jovan Marjanović introduced the actor as "a friend of the festival and a true champion of independent spirit," a description Harrelson seemed to embrace.
As the masterclass wound down, Harrelson took one more moment to single out Reiner. "I’ve worked with a lot of people, but Rob is the one I call when I’m stuck. He’s the guy. He’s brilliant," he said, before stepping off the stage to a standing ovation. The evening ended with Harrelson lingering in the auditorium, shaking hands and posing for photos with fans, a gesture that felt as spontaneous as the conversation itself.
No release dates or new projects were announced during the masterclass, and Harrelson gave no indication of when he might next sit in front of a camera. But for the audience in Sarajevo, the night belonged to a veteran actor’s gratitude - and to the enduring legacy of a director who apparently still knows how to make an actor feel seen.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter