SARAJEVO, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- French actress Isabelle Huppert has received on Sunday the Honorary Heart of Sarajevo, the highest award at the 25th Sarajevo Film Festival (SFF), for her exceptional contribution to the art of film.

Huppert was given the award by SFF director Mirsad Purivatra during the solemn ceremony at the National Theater.

During her speech, she emphasized that the decision to award her by this award touched her and made her proud.

Huppert, who has won numerous awards including two Cannes best actress awards, for "Violette" and "The Piano Teacher", said that for her, the SFF is much more than just a festival.

"It is a great honor for me to be here because Sarajevo is the embodiment of the idea of cosmopolitanism," Huppert said during her speech, adding that Sarajevo is the center of Europe.

She added that SFF is more than a celebration of what Sarajevo is, its life and creativity.

Huppert, who is visiting Sarajevo for the first time, said it is very special for her to be here, and concluded her speech by saying "Sarajevo, mon amour" (Sarajevo my love)."

Huppert made her movie debut in 1971 and soon became one of the top actresses of her generation, giving fine performances in important films, and had an extremely productive collaboration with Claude Chabrol, who cast her in several movies, including Violette (1978), in which she played a woman who murdered her parents.

She won critical and popular acclaim for memorable roles in films "The Piano Teacher", "White Material" and "Greta", and Oscar nomination in 2017 for her performance in "Elle".

Also, Huppert, who was the President of the Jury for the 62nd Cannes Film Festival, won two Venice Film Festival Best Actress Awards for "Story Of Women" and "The Ceremony".