MANAKI FILM FESTIVAL 2009

The 30th Anniversary Celebration of the Manaki Brothers Festival took place in its home town of Bitola, Macedonia, this year festooned in pink, a reminder of the appointment of its first female Festival Director, Labina Mitevska.
The week was an outstanding success for film lovers and organisers.
Imago celebrated this special occasion by holding a “Master Class” with London born Cinematographers Peter Suschitzky ASC and Billy Williams OBE BSC. A packed audience were generous in their appreciation of these two cinematographers both of whom were presented with Life-time Achievement Awards, elegant miniatures of the original camera a Bioscope no300 manufactured the Urban Trading Company of London and Paris.
The actual camera, bought in London in 1905 by the brother Yanaki and used to shoot the first documentary in the Balkans, was viewed by Billy Williams who recalled that his father would have used a similar camera when he began his career. (see photo).
Earlier in the Festival another British cinematographer, Anthony Dod Mantle DFF BSC was given a special Golden Camera 300 for his outstanding contribution to the film art.

Also receiving an award for her outstanding contribution to world cinema was Spanish actress Victoria Abril.
The jury Chaired by Peter Suschitsky , also included Russian cinematographer Yuri Klimenkon, Serbian Director,Slobodan Sijan, and academic Minas Balalchev , viewed twelve films in competition before finally awarding the Golden Camera to Natasha Braier for her cinematography on The Milk of Sorrow/La Teta Asustada, a Spanish/Peruvian co-production. They described her work as a courageous and original point of view. Tom Stern AFC ASC won the Silver Camera for his “very accomplished work on Tsar”, a Russian production and the bronze was awarded to Stefanie Fountaine for her “skill with the visual tone of The Prophet”. The audience Award went to Gigante with its young Uruguayan cinematographer, Arauco Hernandez-Holz, a film which had already notched several European prizes. The official programme selector was the artistic director, Blagoja Kunovski
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The Festival has been revitalised. The Macedonian Film authorities are raising funds to build a new cinema in Bitola where the first one in the Balkans was started by the Manaki Brothers in 1921. Is the imposing statue of Milton Manaki, standing with his camera 300 outside the Cultural Centre the only one in the World to commemorate a Cinematographer? Answers to his question would be appreciated.

At the closing ceremony the delight of the audience that the Festival had been restored to Bitola was demonstrated by the applause for a speaker who mentioned his admiration for courage and determination for its citizens who had demonstrated in pouring rain at the previous years’ Festival closing in Skopje. The Award to Billy Williams was presented by the President of Macedonia, Dr Gjorge Ivanov .
People power had seen the 2009 Festival return to its’ home: to where visitors from many lands are able to enjoy the kindnesss and hospitality of the people of Macedonia, along with the sixty films and a variety of other events to help the appreciation of film.
The Imago Tribute was presented to the Festival Director, Labina Mitevska, to commemorate thirty years of contribution by the Manaki Brothers Festival in furthering an understanding of the art of Cinematography.

Imago would like to express its thanks for the selfless assistance of Gwyn Evans, colourist at the Hat Factory and Torquil Dearden, Editor, in the preparation of the Film Reels for Peter Suschitsky and Billy Williams.
 

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