Doјран Opens 5th “Through the Lake” Balkan‑Mediterranean Film Festival

The 5th edition of the “Through the Lake” Balkan and Mediterranean film festival opened on 10 July in the amphitheatre at Doјran, North Macedonia. The opening ceremony featured the Cypriot feature film “Hold On to Me” directed by Mirshini Aristidou and the Macedonian short “Worms” by Rоza Simonska, followed by a concert by the band Peppermint. The festival’s official selection includes co‑productions from Cyprus, Denmark, Greece and the United States, and awards the “Meto Jovanovski” prize to actor Toni Naumovski for outstanding artistic achievement.

In addition to the main programme in Doјran, screenings are held in Strumica and Gevgelija, showcasing Iranian films and a slate of short‑film productions. This year’s focus is on Iran, with four contemporary Iranian films and a panel discussion on the future of Iranian cinema, featuring studio director Merdad Hamnei, filmmaker Agim Abdula and film scholar Damjana Ivanovska. The jury, comprising Mirislav Mitić, Eleonora Veninova and French representative Emily Richel, will select the winners from 16 short films (10 domestic, six foreign) and a range of student works.