topic of the month
New movie premieres in the local cinema, a film poster on the street, or a cozy Netflix night at home- movies and shows are a big part of our lives. Furthermore, Cinematography is an art that displays culture, social norms, and opinions. It is an essential medium for cultural exchange within countries and across borders. Local filmmakers catch regional and national interest topics, depicting conflicts, or try to unite communities. Therefore, one should pay special attention to local film productions. How did Macedonian film production start, and how is the industry doing today?
W
hen the first film was published in 1895 by the Lumiere brothers, film production was locally concentrated in Western Europe. This changed in 1905 when the photographers Milton and Yanaki Manaki traveled to London and bought their first film camera, an Urban Bioscope 300. They documented their first film, ‘The Weavers’, which is recognized as the first film in the Balkans. The National Archive of Macedonia preserves more than 17.000 photos and more than 1200 meters of film. Films, ranging from 60 seconds to more than 20 minutes, captured notable historical events of the Balkan region. The Manaki brothers have created a legacy, still recognized today. Their impact is noticeable in Macedonia and the whole Balkan area.
4 - VOICES
To honor the brothers, the Manaki Brothers Film Festival in Bitola, where the Golden Camera 300 Award, named after their first camera, is given out. Overall, Macedonia has a
‘Cinema is not only about making people dream. It’s about changing things and making people think.’ -Nadine
Labaki
rich history of cinematography. Today we can see
a significant rise in globally rewarding productions in Macedonia. Since ‘Before the Rain, ‘the first internationally recognized and Oscarnominated movie from 1995, Macedonia experiences growth in its film industry. Macedonianproduced or co-produced movies have aroused global interest. In recent years, movies about worldwide-thematized struggles like climate change and disruption of nature or feminist struggles have been awarded. This development is noticeable in the last few years of film production. The documentary ‘Honeyland, a film about climate change, biodiversity loss, and the exploitation of natural resources, is directed by Tamara Kotevska and Ljubomir Stefanov. Since its release in 2019, the film has been awarded at local festivals and
