KINENOVA’s 11th edition, under the motto “At First Light”, opens on 14 October with Miroslav Terzić’s Three Weeks Later

A new decade. A new festival path.

“The KINENOVA International Film Festival is beginning a new decade — I would say a new stage in its existence. At this 11th edition, held under the motto AT FIRST LIGHT, we illuminate the new stretch of the road that KINENOVA is building,” festival director Nebojsha Jovanovikj said at today’s press conference.

He explained that the festival’s visual identity represents a broad concept of experiencing cinema, becoming conscious of the instinct to create and supporting those beginning to explore the power of moving images — the seventh art.

“We are witnesses to, and part of, a world in which dramatic interethnic and interfaith conflicts unfold at every turn. Humanity stands on the brink of a major global war. In such a world, a film festival has a serious responsibility and calling: to raise awareness, encourage dialogue and, through powerful films and distinctive artistic voices and messages, open questions and contribute to awakening and stronger reason. A serious film festival supported by public funds can be a form of play, as art is, but it cannot be street entertainment for a close circle of people, or a means of obtaining material benefit, influence or self-promotion. KINENOVA has demonstrated precisely this. Although we pay the price of our independence, with support from the responsible institution stagnating, support for our mission from filmmakers and artists around the world grows every day. We expect it soon to become tangible through direct support from international funds,” Jovanovikj emphasised.

Opening with Three Weeks Later

He announced that this year’s main programme brings six outstanding works of world cinema, films that will continue to spark discussion and questions about the particularly relevant stories and themes they address.

“As every year, the selection was not designed around a theme. Yet perhaps subconsciously, intuitively, as our visual concept suggests, once the whole programme was assembled I realised that it was dominated by a subtle feminine, humanistic view of the world: a feminine sensibility and, consequently, a focus on almost every kind of vulnerable group. The programme includes THREE WEEKS LATER by Miroslav Terzić, IN THE SHADOW by Salem Salavati, YESTERDAY THE EYE DIDN’T SLEEP by Rakan Mayasi, FANTASY by Kukla Kesherović, KURAK by Erke Dzhumakmatova and THE SHOES OF MY FATHER by Hristo Simeonov,” Jovanovikj announced.

The festival will open officially on 14 October at Frosina Cinema in the Youth Cultural Centre (MKC), with the latest film by Miroslav Terzić, known to KINENOVA audiences for his earlier film STITCHES.

“This film was by no means chosen at random to begin KINENOVA’s new festival story. The festival has consistently maintained an engaged approach to cinema. We believe we must make a strong, direct contribution to opening dialogue and discussion about the most pressing and serious social problems affecting life in our country. For this edition, the thematic focus is violence among young people. Terzić’s film, which opens KINENOVA, is a powerful social drama through which the director undertakes a serious, profound psychological deconstruction of Serbian society, immersed in apathy and a deep corruption of consciousness. Among those bearing the consequences are the most vulnerable — the young secondary-school students who should carry society’s bright future. As Terzić says of the experience of making this significant film, a process of reliving the traumas of the young people appearing in it: ‘The film is not about bullying, but about violence becoming an everyday language of expression for young people.’ This is extremely concerning,” Jovanovikj concluded. He also announced KINENOVA’s collaboration with the Municipality of Kisela Voda through the children’s workshop “Film Smart, Leave a Mark”, mentored by Marija Dzidzheva.

Bringing cinema closer to residents

The Mayor of Kisela Voda, Beti Stamenkoska Trajkoska, also addressed the press conference. She expressed satisfaction with the collaboration and said that “At First Light” sends a strong message about new ideas in culture — a concept the municipality continually turns into reality.

“Through our partnership with the festival, our cinemas will host its programme. The Municipality of Kisela Voda contributes directly to creating conditions for promoting cinema. We provide concrete support to young filmmakers and bring contemporary cultural content closer to residents. This is not just a phrase, but our strategic goal. We are particularly pleased that, after the official opening at Frosina Cinema, the festival’s film programme moves to our municipality,” Stamenkoska Trajkoska said. She noted that two cinemas now operate successfully in the municipality: one in Kisela Voda and another at the Cultural Centre in Drachevo, which opened a few months ago.

The mayor emphasised that this enables genuine decentralisation and a wider reach for the arts, giving residents an exclusive opportunity to experience outstanding cultural events in their immediate surroundings.

“KINENOVA’s quality and standing are confirmed by the arrival of internationally acclaimed laureate Emin Alper, who will attend this year’s edition at the height of his career. This is a tremendous honour for the festival and for Skopje, and gives us another reason to be proud supporters of this event,” Stamenkoska Trajkoska said. She highlighted support for the children’s workshop, attended by pupils selected through the municipality’s public call.

Film Smart, Leave a Mark

The workshops will take place on 5, 6 and 7 October, mentored by director Marija Dzidzheva. The initiative gives young people an opportunity to develop their creativity, discover film as a means of expression and turn their ideas into short film stories.

“By investing in culture and young people, we create space for new ideas, new authors and new cultural values. Culture is an investment in the future, and the Municipality of Kisela Voda will continue to be its strong supporter,” Stamenkoska Trajkoska said.

Mentor Marija Dzidzheva said that creating and designing a workshop around sensitive subjects such as peer violence, bullying and cyberbullying is always a new challenge.

“Primary-school children, popularly known as Generation Alpha, were born with mobile phones, which contribute to increasing violence among young people. Through short lessons on film history, the first films, the basics of film language, storytelling, screenwriting, filming and editing, they will work in teams to create several films that will then be screened at KINENOVA. The idea is to see the problems from their perspective. I am very pleased that both the festival and the municipality recognised the importance of this subject and are responding from an early age. As adults, we do not know what is happening; through their point of view, we will discover their worlds,” Dzidzheva said.

Courageous filmmakers and sincere stories

“At the 11th KINENOVA International Film Festival, we will have significant filmmakers and sincere film stories — powerful and outspoken,” said Gena Teodosievska, the festival’s artistic director.

“Every festival team, organiser and selector tries to reach new audiences through its programmes. Award-winning films from major festivals attract audiences everywhere. But how can we encourage audiences to see the film of a young or new author who has only just entered the land of ‘wonders’? We have not developed a sufficiently critical basis for categorising festivals here. Digital platforms are taking over the role of cinemas because Macedonia lacks a cinema network. There is no strategy for a visual cinematic experience and education — perhaps only on paper. In reality, people go to the cinema only for a good action film or a blockbuster promoted well in advance through a carefully designed marketing campaign,” Teodosievska said.

She noted that KINENOVA has moved beyond the conventional Macedonian festival framework and worked hard to secure its place on the European and international map of festivals devoted to new auteur cinema.

“Unfortunately, this has been achieved with very modest resources, meaning the festival is more undervalued than properly recognised. This year’s budget is humiliating for all of us who have spent years organising and promoting genuine cinematic values. Unlike several festivals that received extraordinary and, in my opinion, undeservedly high budgets — festivals that for years offered a row of films followed by two rows of entertainment, with people who have never been on a film set, let alone participated in production or post-production — KINENOVA alone received the same funding as last year. Yet it is the only festival in Macedonia dedicated to young, courageous filmmakers who are not afraid to raise the most urgent and difficult questions, or offer unexpected answers through their cinematic language. Their narratives inspired us this year to welcome a selection from one of Europe’s two most significant short film festivals: the festival in Drama, Greece, with ‘Drama IFF Travels to KINENOVA’, featuring six short films. Next year, that festival celebrates half a century since its foundation, and KINENOVA intends our collaboration to continue. Over the past decade, through strict rules and a high-quality programme, Drama has secured qualification status for films in its main competition for the European Film Awards, the Oscars and, this year, the BAFTAs. This is what happens when you have support from the city, residents, relevant state and government institutions, and highly qualified organisers with professional knowledge of film production and art. I do not want to remind everyone of what we have — and what we really lack,” Teodosievska emphasised.

Albania in focus. Honouring Emin Alper.

Teodosievska announced that Albania is this year’s Country in Focus.

“We will present A SHELTER AMONG THE CLOUDS by Robert Budina, LEAVING EDEN by Gent Permeti and DANCING WITH THE CLOUDS by Pluton Vasi. We have a selection of six short films in the international programme. In honour of our laureate Emin Alper, we bring audiences his debut feature, BEYOND THE HILL. In 2012, it received a Special Mention for best debut film and the Caligari Film Prize from the independent jury at the 62nd Berlinale. It subsequently won awards at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards, the Special Jury Prize in Sarajevo, and awards at festivals in Karlovy Vary, Taipei, Palić and elsewhere. Emin Alper will be joined by his long-time collaborator, editor Özcan Vardar,” Teodosievska concluded.

KINENOVA is supported by the North Macedonia Film Agency and the Municipality of Kisela Voda.