The eighth edition of the International Short Film Festival “Filmaj” officially opened last night at the Crafts House in Kumanovo, bringing together filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts for a two-day celebration of short-form filmmaking.
The festival, taking place on May 27 and 28, features 16 short films from both domestic and international productions.
This year’s awards were decided by a jury composed of screenwriter and director Eleonora Veninova, actress Angela Stojanovska and director Gheorghe Todria.
The award for Best Macedonian Film was presented to “Island” (“Ostrov”), written and directed by Branko Kosteski.
The “Lazar Gjorgjevikj” Award for Best Director went to Bálint Kenyeres for the film “Performance,” while Gianluca Palma received the “Radislav Ristevski” Award for Best Cinematography for his work on “Enemy.”
Dian Weiss won the “Kozjak” Award for Best Screenplay for “Vultures,” while the festival’s highest distinction, the “FILMAJ” Award for Best Short Film, was presented to “Hippos,” written and directed by J.J. Lin.
The official selection also included three Macedonian productions: “Choice,” directed by Marko Crnogorski, “Rabbit” by Hanis Bagashov and “A Little Joke,” directed by Trifun Sitnikovski.
Among the other selected titles screened at the festival were “Welcome Home,” “Norheimsund,” “Dog and Wolf,” “Agapito,” “Ali,” “Coyotes,” “Chocolate Candy” and “High Voltage.”
The festival is organized by the Kozjak Photo Cinema Club with the support of the Kumanovo Foundation for Culture and Sports, as part of the Municipality of Kumanovo’s 2026 Cultural Events Programme.