Macedonia will be part of the official selection of the 69th Cannes Film Festival through the Film Agency of Macedonia and the Sisters and Brother Mitevski Production, which were involved in the making of Cristi Puiu’s Sierra Nevada.
For the first time ever, Macedonia has entered the official selection of the Cannes Film Festival through this coproduction.
“This is a great day for Macedonian cinema. There’s no author, producer, actor, filmmaker in the world who would not want to be in Cannes, in any of its selections. Unfortunately, Cannes knows very little about our cinematography. I believe this achievement, i.e. this coproduction will open the doors of Cannes for us,” said film producer Labina Mitevska, adding that a deal had been concluded with Sierra Neveda’s producers two years ago at the Cannes Film Festival.
Macedonia being part of an official selection in Cannes is a great achievement for Macedonian cinema, said Director of the Film Agency Mimi Gjorgoska-Ilievska.
“I’m sincerely delighted every time we have the excuse to celebrate the art of film. I’m exalted when one of the reasons for celebration is the Film Agency,” its Director noted.
Sierra Nevada is coproduced by five countries, including Romania, France, Macedonia, BiH and Croatia with financial support provided by Eurimages.
Romanian director Cristi Puiu is considered one of the greatest filmmakers in Europe. His debut feature Stuff and Dough was premiered in 2001 at the Cannes Film Festival. In 2004 he scooped the top prize for a short movie at the Berlin Film Festival.
Sierra Nevada is Puiu’s fourth film in Cannes but the first one to have entered the official selection. It tells the story of a family reunion raising many interesting aspects and issues of everyday life in Romania.