Behind every
frame.

Teresa Vena studied history, art history, and Spanish philology in Geneva, Switzerland. She has worked across various contemporary art galleries and art historical institutions in Switzerland and Germany, and currently works as a project manager in the cultural sector and a curator for art and film. In Berlin, she served as a program consultant for a local cinema and founded several film festivals, including Film:Schweiz, dedicated to Swiss cinema, and Prachtige Films, focusing on cinema from Dutch-speaking countries. She co-runs the Christmas Film Festival and supports the Fantasy Filmfest as an editor. Vena contributes to various media outlets, as a cultural journalist and film critic focusing on cinema from Asia, Latin America, and Europe. Since 2022, she has served as co-editor-in-chief of Cinébulletin, covering film policies, production, and working conditions within the Swiss and international film industries. She serves as a jury member and program consultant for numerous international film festivals.

Фотографија доставена од организаторот / Photograph supplied by the organiser

Aleksandar Rusjakov
Born: 9 August 1977, Veles, Macedonia

Aleksandar Rusjakov is an acclaimed Macedonian writer, screenwriter, playwright, and director. A graduate of the Faculty of Dramatic Arts at the University "St. Cyril and Methodius" in Skopje (Department for Film and TV Directing), his prolific career seamlessly bridges visual cinema and literature. His extensive literary body of work includes the poetry books Unfinished Love Story, A Gulp of Delight from the Tears of Eternity, and 50 Sung Stories (winner of the prestigious Ante's Feather Award in 2023). His short fiction collections include Do You Love Me in the Rain? and Egosurfer, and his plays (Love Station, Athena with a Penis, Balkanibalism) have been widely performed across professional theatres. As a novelist, Rusjakov has achieved immense critical success with titles like The Thirteenth Month, Athena with a Penis, Sluttish Chronicles, The Albino Trip, and Milan – Liverpool 3 : 3. His acclaimed novel Hotel Between Two Wars won both the Pegasus Award for best unpublished novel (2021) and the renowned Racin Award for best novel of the year (2022).

A veteran of the screen, Rusjakov has written over a dozen short films, documentaries, and TV series, including 13 seasons of the animated hit One-eyed. His feature film credits include the acclaimed Lena and Vladimir, along with The Nuked Hill and Snow Man (both in post-production), and Travelers (in pre production).

Фотографија доставена од организаторот / Photograph supplied by the organiser

Nebojsha Jovanovikj is a Macedonian film director, screenwriter and producer. His work includes short fiction and documentary films, as well as mentoring youth film workshops. He is the founder and director of Kinenova, working to promote emerging filmmakers and international cultural exchange.

Gena Teodosievska is a television journalist, film critic and festival programmer. She served as programmer, artistic director and director of Manaki Brothers between 2008 and 2020. Her work spans production, film education and the international promotion of Macedonian cinema. She has served on numerous festival juries and is a member of the Macedonian section of FIPRESCI.