Macedonian movies have had their ups and downs. Considering that Macedonian cinema comes from a country of less than 2 million people, it’s fascinating the success that it has had. There aren’t many small countries with such an enormous worldwide success.
In this blog post, I’ll address the best Macedonian movies. Before we begin, you should know that this Macedonian movie list is made according to my tastes.
Before the Rain
The most acclaimed Macedonian director, Milcho Manchevski, has made some of the best Macedonian movies ever, including Before the Rain. It’s the first Oscar-nominated film from Macedonia, and it also won numerous awards worldwide.
It intertwines three stories that explore themes of hate and love through war and human relationships. He reminds us how unresolved history repeats, haunting us no matter where we are in the world. The circular structure of this film makes the story even more magnetic.
Director: Milcho Manchevski
Screenwriter: Milcho Manchevski
Leading Cast: Rade Serbedzija, Katrin Caltridge, Labina Mitevska, Grégoire Colin
Major Nominations: Oscars, Venice Film Festival, Stockholm Film Festival, David di Donatello Awards, São Paulo International Film Festival, etc.
Housekeeping for Beginners
Goran Stolevski was rejected by the Macedonian Film Agency for You Won’t Be Alone, but after its success, he got support for Housekeeping for Beginners.
In this movie, one of the main characters, Dita, never needed to be a mother. However, she’s forced to raise her girlfriend’s two daughters. Faced with a challenge, a story begins about a family struggle and how to stay together. What makes it even more important is that it addresses queer themes, which is a challenge in the traditional Macedonian society.
Director: Goran Stolevski
Screenwriter: Goran Stolevski
Leading Cast: Anamaria Manrica, Dzada Selim, Alina Serban, Mia Mustafi, Samson Selim
Major Nominations: Venice Film Festival, European Film Awards, Chicago International Film Festival, Pula Film Festival, Manaki Brothers Film Festival, etc.
Tattoo
Tattoo addresses the bizarreness of repressive systems and the struggle of marginalized people. The story happens during the fall of Yugoslavia, as the leading character, even though innocent, is taken to prison.
Stole Popov comments on repressive societies, while it’s also funny. It has a cult status in Macedonia to the point of people casually quoting lines from this film. The cast is also remarkable, combining excellent Serbian and Macedonian actors. Undoubtedly, one of the most avant-garde movies that ever came out of Macedonian cinema.
Director: Stole Popov
Screenwriter: Zivojin Pavlovic, Mirko Kovac, Stole Popov
Leading Cast: Meto Jovanovski, Ljiljana Medjesi, Stole Arandjelovic, Svetozar Cvetkovic, Aleksandar Caminski, Jordanco Cevrevski, Zoran Cvijanovic, Jovica Mihajlovski, Kiril Pop Hristov.
Major Nominations: Montenegro Film Festival, Filmski Susreti, Manaki Brothers Film Festival, Film Screenplay Festival in Vrnjacka Banja, etc.
Honeyland
This Oscar-nominated documentary impressed people all across the globe, which put directors Ljubomir Stefanov and Tamara Kotevska on the map.
The story is about Hatidze Muratova, arguably the last female bee hunter in Europe. She tries to keep the nature around her intact, but nomadic beekeepers arrive and threaten her land. Honeyland is a story of modesty, greed, nature, and dedication, all in one.
Directors: Tamara Kotevska and Ljubomir Stefanov
Screenwriters: Tamara Kotevska and Ljubomir Stefanov
Leading Cast: Hatidze Muratova
Major Nominations: Oscars, European Film Awards, Sundance Film Festival, Sarajevo Film Festival, Hong Kong International Film Festival, etc.
Black Seed
When it comes to Macedonian movies, Black Seed by Kiril Cenevski is one of the most important films ever. It’s about Macedonian soldiers imprisoned by a Greek army during the Greek Civil War who are abused and accused of being communists.
Interestingly, it also subtly addresses homosexuality, which was a precedent in 1971, especially in Yugoslavia. It’s one of the most-watched Macedonian movies of all time.
Director: Kiril Cenevski
Screenwriters: Kiril Cenevski and Tasko Georgievski
Leading Cast: Darko Damevski, Aco Jovanovski, Risto Siskov, Pavle Vujisic, Vojislav Miric, etc.
Major Nominations: Moscow International Film Festival, Pula Film Festival, Laceno d’oro – Festival internazionale del cinema, etc.
Secret Ingredient
The only full-length fiction film by Gjorce Staverski so far, but if he continues to walk in this direction, a great career awaits.
It’s a story about a son who makes a cake with stolen marijuana to relieve his father from his cancer pain. However, the situation becomes alarming when criminals search for their drugs while people come to get the recipe for the “healing” cake. One of the main reasons Secret Ingredient attracted attention, aside from its quality, is its unconventional plot that’s dramatic yet funny.
Director: Gjorce Stavreski
Screenwriter: Gjorce Stavreski
Leading Cast: Blagoj Veselinov, Anastas Tanovski
Major Nominations: Mostra de València-Cinema del Mediterrani, Santa Barbara International Film Festival, Palm Springs International Film Festival, Beijing International Film Festival, etc.
The Great Water
The most famous and awarded film by Ivo Trajkov, The Great Water, is also taught in high schools in Macedonia.
The story is based on the novel of the same name by the legendary writer Zhivko Chingo. It addresses themes of ideological indoctrination, the suspension of religious practices, and the personal struggle of children in political turmoil. The main character’s recollections portray the impact of authoritarianism on identity and the resilience of the human spirit.
It’s not an easy film to watch; however, it’s undoubtedly a masterpiece.
Director: Ivo Trajkov
Screenwriters: Vladimir Blazevski and Ivo Trajkov
Leading Cast: Saso Kekenovski, Verica Nedeska, Mitko Apostolovski, Maja Stankovska, Meto Jovanovski, etc.
Major Nominations: Camerimage, Mostra de València-Cinema del Mediterrani, etc.
God Exists, Her Name Is Petrunya
Teona Strugar Mitevska is the leader of female directors in Macedonia. Her best movie so far, God Exists Her Name Is Petrunya, made a domestic and international boom.
It’s about a young woman who participates in a patriarchal and traditional men-only ceremony, triggering revolt but not giving up. Moreover, it’s a story about rebellion, dignity, and fighting patriarchy. She did it in such a realistic way that some people couldn’t even believe it was not a documentary.
Director: Teona Strugar Mitevska
Screenwriters: Elma Tataragic and Teona Strugar Mitevska
Leading Cast: Zorica Nusheva, Labina Mitevska, etc.
Major Nominations: Berlin International Film Festival, Pula Film Festival, Edinburgh International Film Festival, BRIFF, etc.
Happy New Year
Also directed by Stole Popov, Happy New Year is a drama set in the politically charged atmosphere in Yugoslavia during the Informbiro period.
The narrative centers on two brothers with different paths: Dragoslav, who returns from the Soviet Union only to be unjustly accused of espionage, and Kosta, who remains apolitical. It addresses ideological conflict, socio-political tension, personal freedom, and the oppressive nature of political paranoia. Like in Tattoo, Popov uses the local spirit of society to create an authentic story that still has a cult status.
Director: Stole Popov
Screenwriter: Gordan Mihic
Leading Cast: Svetozar Cvetkovic, Vladislava Milosavljevic, Meto Jovanovski, etc.
Major Nominations: Pula Film Festival, Screenfest, Filmski Susreti, Film Screenplay Festival in Vrnjacka Banja, Manaki Brothers Film Festival, etc.
Willow
Last but not least, Willow by Milcho Manchevski intertwines three stories: one set in medieval times and two in contemporary Macedonia. Each story focuses on women confronting motherhood challenges.
In the medieval tale, a couple turns to a mystical woman to conceive, agreeing to a scary condition. The modern narratives explore issues like in vitro fertilization, disability, and adoption, highlighting the emotional and societal pressures faced by women. Manchevski addresses tradition, bodily autonomy, and the complexities of maternal desire through time.
Director: Milcho Manchevski
Screenwriter: Milcho Manchevski
Leading Cast: Sara Klimoska, Natalija Teodosieva, Kamka Tocinovski, Nenad Nacev, Nikola Risteski
Major Nominations: Raindance Film Festival, Mostra de València-Cinema del Mediterrani, Fantasporto, Cinequest San Jose Film Festival, etc.
Final Words on the Best Macedonian Movies
We’ve come to the end of our list of the top Macedonian movies. This small country, with a small production, continues to evolve and achieve significant success in the worldwide cinema industry.
From cult classics like Tattoo and Before the Rain to Housekeeping for Beginners, Macedonian movies are an authentic view of human struggles. If you love films with a deeper meaning and multiple layers, begin watching these films as soon as possible.
Also, don’t forget to follow Macedonian cinema to discover new films from this small yet impressive filmmaking country!
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