Make Dox
Creative Documentary Film Festival 3rd Edition, Day 4
The precious MakeDox Volunteers MakeDox would not have been what it is if it weren’t for the enthusiasm of the volunteers who are an inextricable part of the festival crew. This year there are 25 of them. What comes first are of course the guests. Arrange their transport, help them find some of the city spots, get them a coffee or refreshments… You could find several of our charming and smiling volunteers behind the two MakeDox booths offering souvenirs, T-shirts, wooden onion-shaped earrings or DVD’s of some of the festival films… As the film screening ends, every night the volunteers amass the chairs, pick up the cigarette butts… and arrange the chairs again the following day. The writers among the volunteers follow every festival event, cover the workshops and the talks under the fig tree, note down the reactions of the audience, the answers of the guests, translate…
18 June 2012
photo: Gallina Strackova
They do this every day starting before noon and checking out after midnight … but everything is easier when duty goes hand in hand with pleasure.
Creative workshop for animation “Civil disobedience” in animated movies Animated films telling modern and real stories of the youngsters in the Balkans and Sweden will be created on the animation workshop which is being held as part of this year’s Creative Documentary Film Festival “MakeDox”. The leader of this interesting and thought-provoking workshop, Sanjin Pejkovikj said that the workshop is about creating animated films that will find their way to the young people from this region and Sweden who would express their opinion regarding the human rights and the civil disobedience. This workshop aims at treating specific topics like the human rights as well as at creating and producing films, at making animation. However, the most important thing for us is to gather these young people from Macedonia,
Kosovo, Bosnia and Serbia and give them space to just talk, enjoy socializing with each other and realize that their differences are smaller and less important than their similarities. The goal is to encourage these young people to work in the field of film and create better future by violating the laws that oppress them- said Sanjin Pejkovikj. He added that the animated films will tell stories from the everyday life, stories of real people that will be presented through animation. This workshop is also coordinated by Anna Clara Åhrén and Alex Veiteh. Focusing at the Western Balkans, this one is the fourth workshop the Swedish Institute “Balkan Creative Force” is financially supporting. The whole idea, Pejkovikj recalls, began back in 2009 when he held the first workshop in Jajce, Bosnia and Herzegovina. As we grew up, we realized that there was something particularly interesting about the smaller film festivals in the region. We find them quite attractive
because they are dealing with very interesting issues and representing at the same time an alternative to the official policy, the official history and the official story of former Yugoslavia - Pejkovic explained. The animated films that will be created by these young people will be screened at MakeDox 2012 on June 21 at CTC and on June 22 at Kurshumli an after the last day screenings and the official award ceremony. photo: Aneta Shemkovska
Meanwhile under the fig tree…
photo: Gallina Strackova
Film festivals are not about taking a seat and watching movies without making a move. That’s what you do when you go to at the cinema on a regular day. Film festivals are something else, something much more profound and meaningful. Yes, I think we all know it – it’s the art of making new friends, meeting someone alike or taking part in brilliant discussions that pop up out of nowhere and exchanging ideas or emotions… Although at first sight, Kurshumli an is nothing more than just
an ancient yard filled with chairs, candles and big screen, there is something else that lurks behind it all. In the MakeDox world we call this place the Fig Tree. It is where one feels the beauty and joy of simply hanging around with friends. It is where you can meet literally everybody, from eminent guests and “celebrities” having a glass of wine to the dear festival pet, the dog Pitu. Officially, this place is reserved for the organized discussions that take place every day at 6.00 p.m. but, of course that isn’t as serious as it sounds. The very essence of this magical place is the common chit-chat, the relaxed atmosphere (enriched by the delicious meals prepared in the MakeDox kitchen) and the smiling faces. It is the moving force of the MakeDox, the place where new multilayered lives have began and have yet to begin.
Anthology of tears The Ten Kilo Onion Sack When I saw the sack of onions you brought from the market I thought Oh, just how much are we going to cry this winter? photo: Gallina Strackova
Ronit Bergman (1964)
MakeDox and its Guests A cozy festival for all ages! I imagined something like this, I was hoping for something like this and I think I got almost the perfect sense of what this is. Amazingly cozy festival where a lot of young and old people are doing something that they want and love to do. Dealing with film, film festivals, meeting new people, and they are doing it without pressure. There is no pressure, everything is laid back. And I really enjoy this feeling that everything seems natural and the films are great, but at the same time people are hanging out talking to each other. It very relaxed and laid back feeling. And that is what I felt about Skopje in general, so this kind of festival is possible only in places that can give this sort of energy, this sort of feeling. It’s my first time being here and I will surely try to come back because I really enjoy all those events that don’t have red carpet, celebrities and shit like that. Everything is about film, meeting real people behind the films and people who are just watching films. Some are tough films, some are lighter: in the end, it’s about storytelling and creative documentaries and this is really a festival for me.
MakeDox and Us Bar counter, chairs, microphone, onion stamp, film – that’s MakeDox! Terra Ferro Seliskar
The onion is not a film, it’s a documentary! Kiro Sopov
Sanjin Pejkovikj I was a jury member last year and I totally felt in love with the festival – great film selection, great audience, incredible screening location at Kurshumli An and absolutely unforgettable meetings with the festival organizers and the guests under the fig tree. Hana Kulhankova, Director of One World IFF I had a fantastic time at MakeDox. The atmosphere, the friendly staff and the outdoor screenings were amazing! Thanks also to the great film selection and the interesting discussions under the big fig tree this festival was the best one for me last year!
The moment when you come to realize again why you’re in love with this city, why you cannot be without the people here and the people out there who make you discover and fall for the city again with the same excitement and wonder they felt when they met it for the first time… From that moment on you start believing again, working, taking the trouble, living… That moment is MakeDox. ! Ruse Arsov
Agneta Mogren, Director of Tempo Film Festival
Program 19.06.2012 (Tuesday)