SKOPJE, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) — As autumn takes hold in the Balkans, nighttime temperatures plunge and chilly autumn winds bring gusts of cold air. Yet inside the Cinematheque of North Macedonia in Skopje, the hall was packed and brimming with warmth. A grand feast of Chinese cinema has ignited the enthusiasm of people in North Macedonia.
The 12-day First Chinese Film Festival, spanning five cities, kicked off here. Jointly organized by the Chinese Embassy in North Macedonia and the EU–China Film Festival Organizing Committee, the festival features eight outstanding contemporary Chinese films and a collection of award-winning short films by young Chinese directors.
October 5, Ambassador Jiang Xiaoyan (center) poses for a group photo with guests attending the First Chinese Film Festival in Bitola, North Macedonia. Xinhua News Agency photo, provided by the Chinese Embassy in North Macedonia
On the opening day, Erdjan Demir, Minister for Roma Affairs of North Macedonia; Hysni Ismaili, former Deputy Speaker of Parliament; diplomatic envoys accredited to North Macedonia; heads of international organizations; academicians of the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts; film professionals; media representatives; sinologists; and enthusiasts of Chinese culture gathered in large numbers. In her address, Chinese Ambassador to North Macedonia Jiang Xiaoyan described China's achievements in developing its film industry with the goal of building a strong film nation. She noted that people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and North Macedonia have become increasingly close in recent years, with vibrant interactions between film and television talents and arts education institutions of both sides. She expressed the hope that North Macedonian audiences will gain a true, comprehensive, and multi-dimensional understanding of China through the rich and diverse Chinese film productions featured at this festival.
Yuan Mengqian, Secretary-General of the China-EU Film Festival (EUCNFF), said that North Macedonian audiences’ enthusiasm for Chinese films exceeded expectations. Films can transcend language and cultural differences and build the most direct emotional connections between people. She expressed the hope that this film festival will serve as a starting point to bring more Chinese films closer to North Macedonian audiences and to promote more sustained exchanges and cooperation between filmmakers and film institutions of the two countries.
The opening film, The Sun Rises on Us All, a Venice Film Festival selection, was in such high demand that tickets were hard to come by, and the screening hall was packed to capacity. With safety as a priority, staff made emergency arrangements and temporarily added some extra chairs, but demand still could not be fully met—many enthusiastic film fans stood through the entire film. After the screening, the audience was still reluctant to leave, engaging in lively discussions, sharing their impressions, and lingering long after the credits rolled.
On October 5, audience members watch a film at the First Chinese Film Festival in North Macedonia, held in Bitola. Xinhua News Agency photo, provided by the Chinese Embassy in North Macedonia.
An audience member from North Macedonia who had made a special trip of nearly three hours by car from Ohrid could hardly contain his excitement: “Finally, we can watch Chinese films in a cinema in North Macedonia, and eight of them are being screened together this time. The people of North Macedonia have a strong interest in China’s profound culture, and I sincerely hope that more Chinese films will enter North Macedonian cinemas in the future.”
Another audience member said, “I was originally worried that I wouldn’t understand Chinese films, but the emotional resonance was so genuine. I want to thank the organizers for preparing Macedonian subtitles specially, which made us feel respected and cared for. Although North Macedonia and China are thousands of miles apart, the magic of the screen has brought us closer and enabled us to understand each other.”
Since the opening, North Macedonian audiences’ enthusiasm for the screenings has continued to grow. Vesna Ivanovikj-Castarede, Head of Office for UN Women North Macedonia, all members of the youth organization Pagoda, and many film fans have shown up punctually every day without missing a single screening. The Bitola Cultural Center switched to a larger screening hall specially, and the mayor and his wife came to watch the films.Several North Macedonian directors and producers have actively discussed with their Chinese counterparts how to use the film festival as an opportunity to promote mutual learning between the two countries’ film industries .
Director Tian Yan of When the Night Meets Light interacted with the audience after the screening, sharing the stories behind the film and calling for greater attention to adolescent mental health as a global issue, which prompted deep reflection and lively discussion. Renowned sinologist Igor Radev actively recommended films for the festival and served as an interpreter for the exchange activities. After the screening of Like A Rolling Stone, the audience burst into warm applause, with many moved to tears. Choking up, they said the film reminded them of their own mothers and expressed the hope for more powerful, deeply moving Chinese films of this kind.
The festival also arranged special screenings for young people in North Macedonia, including the Chinese-style animated film Into the Mortal World, enabling them to experience the Eastern aesthetics and unique charm of Chinese cinema up close.
As Chinese films are screened successively across North Macedonia, more Chinese stories will leave a vivid and lasting impression on this autumn.
Source: Xinhua