Mediterranean and Balkan Film Festival “Across the Lake” opens in Macedonia

The fifth edition of the Mediterranean and Balkan film festival “Across the Lake” runs from July 8‑15, 2026 in the Macedonian towns of Dojran, Strumica and Gevgelija. The program highlights contemporary Iranian cinema and includes a special focus on “Country in Focus: Iran”.

Actor Toni Naumovski, born in Sydney and a graduate of the Lee Strasberg Institute, receives the Meto Jovanovski award for his international contributions. The opening film is the Cypriot short “Hold onto Me” by director Mirsiini Aristidou. The lineup features 49 films from the region and beyond, including Bulgarian, Belgian, Serbian and Iranian titles, as well as a student slate of 13 short films from Macedonian universities. Workshops on artificial‑intelligence in filmmaking and author‑driven cinema are scheduled, alongside a panel discussion on the future of Iranian film. Over 100 guests are expected, and the festival also hosts cultural events such as a children’s program and a Macedonian‑Croatian co‑production screening.