Vladimir Samoilovski is the best Macedonian cinematographer from the middle generation of cinematographers, film authors, with impeccable skill in knowing all the processes of creating a film. His visual creation and professional collaboration with directors and actors is highly respected, both in Macedonia and in the region, but also beyond. His passion for the profession and curiosity allow him to collaborate on film productions on several continents. He has collaborated with a number of eminent names in the directing field, both from Macedonia and from the former Yugoslavia. Here we would mention: Trajce Popov, Branko Gapo, Dimitrije Osmanli, Stole Popov, Karpo Godina, Vladimir Blazhevski, Kole Angelovski, Meto Popovski, Milcho Manchevski, but also directors and screenwriters from the younger generation such as Darko Mitrevski, Aleksandar Popovski, Svetozar Ristevski, Marija Apchevska, Teona Strugar-Mitevska, Vardan Tozija, Arben Thaci, Kastriot Idrizi, Dimitar Orovcanec, Lavinija Sofronievska and many others.
With his skill in dealing with the most unsuitable locations and in the harshest weather conditions, he brought their films to the desired results. Vlatko Samoilovski has an impressive number of film productions in his almost 50-year career. His professional portfolio contains nearly 100 feature films, documentaries, short films, TV dramas, TV series, and shows. He comes from a family of film workers, so at a very young age he delved into the secrets of film magic and the technology of TV and film cameras. He was inspired by his father, the veteran of Macedonian and Yugoslav film cinematography, Misho Samoilovski, in whose films he collaborated as a camera operator.
Vladimir Samoilovski was born in Skopje, in 1953. His career as a film worker and professional film collaborator began in 1976 when he was employed at the production company Vardar Film (those were the times!!!!!!), first as an assistant cameraman and later as a cameraman-turntable. As an assistant cameraman, he collaborated on the films “Verdict” (1977), “Dae” (1979), “Lead Brigade” (1980), “Time Flows” (1980), while as a cameraman he worked on “Hi-Fi” (1987), “Tattoo” (1991), “Angels of the Waste” (1995), “Before the Rain” (1994), and as a director of photography he revealed his talent in the films: “Macedonian Saga” (1993), “Light Gray/Devil in the Heart” (1993), “Clock” (1997), “Farewell to the 20th Century” (1998), “Hoffman 13” (2000), “Veta” (2000), “Illusion” (2004), “Stay Straight” (2005), “Behind the Dark” (2007), “Mothers” (2010) “Bardo” (2012), “Return” (2015), “Running/Amok” (2016) “Ambi” (2017), “North Pole” (2021), “M”, “Disappeared”, “Kill the Children First” (2024). In his long-standing professional dedication to film photography, Samoilovski has developed into that miracle worker, master of light and dark, who, like an alchemist, through the camera and with his natural talent and instinctiveness, turns even the most complex film stories into interesting, and some scenes into unforgettable and retold to this day. While working on 35mm, his warm gamma is recognizable especially in “Macedonian Saga” for which in 1993 at the IFK “Manaki Brothers” he received two awards, the Bronze Camera 300 in competition and the Camera 300 award for best debutant. His exceptional talent as a director of photography is also seen in the dystopian and “Nostradamusian” film “Farewell to the 20th Century”. In this film, Samoilovski and his camera are like one of the characters, active, ready for dialogue, open, yet emanating and prophetically enigmatic. Despite its complexity, this project immediately raises the question: How was this filmmed!? It was, because Vlatko gave his all.
This film has been unfairly neglected, both by the chroniclers of film art, the film critics and promoters of Macedonian cinematography, who rarely mention it, thus it has somehow been forgotten, although it has a lot to offer in all segments of film production. The chamber scenes in the film “Illusion” take us into the warm, but also difficult life drama of the protagonists. Samoilovski creates a special relationship with the actors and creates an atmosphere of real actions. Vladimir Samoilovski undoubtedly fits into the stereotype of the best film masters of world film photography, who are distinguished by their silent magnificence, meekness and perseverance. Invisible, but very much present on the film set and afterwards. There are only a few such people left, and Vlatko, I would say, is the only one in this region. When digital technology catches up with film, it readily and steadfastly welcomes it and surrenders to all the challenges that this new technology offers. When you watch Vladimir Samoilovski’s films, you immediately notice that he is building his own school of shot placement. He is the invisible interlocutor for many actors, who do not forget to thank him even on the most famous festival red carpets. His admirers, friends and dear collaborators were actors with rich film and theater careers such as: Meri Boškova, Ljupka Džundeva, Milica Stojanova, Josif Josifovski,Aco Jovanovski Јовановски, Ratka Radmanovich, Meto Jovanovski, Nenad Stojanovski, Kiril Ristoski, Dancho Chevreski, Bata Zhivoinovich, Branislav Lechic, Petar Bozhovic, Neda Arneric, Zharko Laushevic, Mira Furlan, Rade Sherbedzija, Mirjana Jokovic, Dragan Bjelogrlic, Mitko Apostolov, Petar Arsovski, Katerina Kocevska, Sofija Kunovska, but also actors from the youngest generation. Along with world-famous and award-winning cinematographers Fedon Papamajkl, Gjokan Tirjaki, Samoilovski was a member of the international jury of the 37th IFK “Manaki Brothers” in 2026 in Bitola. In each correspondence I have with Papamichael, he never forgets to write to me: Say hello to our Vladimir!
Vladimir Samoilovski considers his meetings with Sam Peckinpah to be exceptional, unrepeatable. Especially the collaboration with the cinematographer, Oscar winning cinematographer and one of the most influential film authors, the Iranian-French director of photography Darius Khondji on Manchevski’s film “Before the Rain”.
Directors of all generations, and today especially from the younger generation, have the utmost respect for Vlatko and always choose him to work with. Vlatko is the heart of the film story, he is ready to help in everything that happens both in front of and behind the cameras. He is always readdy to give advice in the production and post-production of the film.
We are happy that Vladimir Samoilovski is our winner of the special award “Golden Mane” for exceptional contribution to the art of cinema at the 10th anniversary edition of the Kinenova IFF.
With him, we are proud of Macedonian film.
Gena Teodosievska, MSc, Film Critic
Artistic Director of IFF Kinenova