Ray Winstone at Sarajevo: British cinema at a crossroads

Ray Winstone used a masterclass at the Sarajevo Film Festival to reflect on a career spanning five decades while signaling the broader tensions facing British cinema. Receiving the festival’s Honorary Heart of Sarajevo award, the UK actor discussed the changing economics of filmmaking, the pull of American franchises, and the ongoing debate over how actors are cast in the digital age. He also shared vivid memories from collaborations with directors such as Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg and Gary Oldman, and offered a candid account of a recent experience with Marvel’s Black Widow.

Winstone argued that the industry has become more of a business focused on selling tickets, noting that franchises and tentpole titles increasingly dominate screens at the expense of culturally British films. “It’s all about selling tickets,” he said, adding that Marvel and similar franchises have a place but often squeeze out the space for more character-driven, culturally specific work he believes actors need. He also touched on the role of social media in casting, saying that if you’re not on social platforms, you can be sidelined as studios chase a ready-made fanbase. “If you’re not on social...