Skopje, 21 October 2024 (MIA) – “Murderess”, a film by Greek director Eva Nathena won the top prize of the Kinenova International Film Festival, which closed Sunday evening with an awards ceremony held at the Biljana Belichanec culture center in Skopje.

“I feel this award as a bridge between our countries because art can do what most politicians can’t. I dedicate this award to our bridge and I hope it will make us feel closer in the future,” Nathena said receiving the award. 

The best direction award went to Croatian director Andrej Korovljev for his film “Hotel Pula”. 

Iranian filmmaker Navid Mihandoust, who wrote and directed “Café”, won the award for best screenplay. 

“My film is an attempt to talk about one of the basic human rights, which is freedom of expression. Unfortunately, this is banned in my country to many people. I thank the jury and the festival for this award,” said Mihandoust’s message, read by his sister Neda, who received the award on his behalf after Mihandoust was sentenced to three years in jail.

“48 Hours” by Azadeh Moussavi won the award for best short film.

Addressing Kinenova’s closing ceremony, the festival’s director Nebojsha Jovanovikj called this year’s ninth edition “the best so far.”

Austrian film director, writer and producer Ulrich Seidl received the lifetime achievement award at the opening night of the Kinenova International Film Festival on October 15, which also saw the premiere of Goce Cvetanovski’s “John Vardar against the Galaxy” - the first feature animated film in North Macedonia. 

Photo: Kinenova