IT
Cinema as a tool for dialogue and connection: this is the spirit that will guide the 13th edition of the Giffoni Macedonia Youth Film Festival, taking place from September 26 to October 1 at its traditional venues in Skopje, the Youth Cultural Center (YCC) and the Cinematheque of North Macedonia.
Organized by Giffoni in partnership with Planet M, directed by Darko Basheski, the initiative is co-financed in Italy by the Directorate-General for Cinema and Audiovisual of the Ministry of Culture, with support from the Italian Youth Agency and the Embassy of Italy in Skopje.
The official opening ceremony is scheduled for September 26 at 8:00 p.m. at Cinema Frosina, with the presence of the Italian Ambassador to Skopje, Paolo Palminteri. The evening will begin with the screening of Forever with You (Io non ti lascio solo) by director Fabrizio Cattani.
This year’s edition will welcome over 400 young jurors from Macedonia, Italy, Switzerland, Denmark, Romania, Serbia, Kosovo, and Montenegro. Divided into three age groups – junior, cadets, and senior – the young participants will play a central role as the festival’s jury. Representing Giffoni will be Sarah Lucrezia Carotenuto, Carlo Alberto De Feo, Vincenzo Pio Di Donato, Guglielmo Di Maio, Francesco Ferrara, Angela Luisi, Lara Luisi, Francesca Mammone, Rodolfo Marrandino, and Matteo Scordamaglia, accompanied by Marica Lamberti, Giuseppe Tedesco, and Martina Mongillo. The production team will be represented by Giovanni Cerri, while Davide Russo, Head of Institutional Relations, will also attend. The Project Manager of Giffoni Macedonia is Marco Cesaro, Head of the Special Projects Department.
Over the five days, participants will engage in screenings, discussions, masterclasses, and creative workshops. Seven artistic paths will be dedicated to short films, comics, photography, and performances. Eight professional-led workshops will guide participants through hands-on learning in cinema, art, and photography, with a focus on equipping young people with both technical expertise and expressive tools. From scriptwriting to directing, from illustration to visual language, and with innovative crossovers among artistic disciplines, the program will serve as a dynamic creative hub where experimentation and collaboration take center stage.
On September 30, jurors will take part in Young Europeans meet the Italian Youth Agency, a dedicated event with Italy’s national agency for youth programs. The agency promotes participation, inclusion, talent, and creativity through European opportunities available to young people.
Further highlights include encounters with emerging filmmakers and professionals. Directors Bojan Vasilev and Besa Tuša will present their works, while young documentarists from DocuSprouts—an initiative of the MAKEDOX school—will showcase three projects. Researcher and educator Teodora Milevska will introduce the documentary Girls Don’t Cry, leading a conversation on female empowerment and the role of new generations. The film 101% – Who Controls Your Choices?, produced with the support of the Italian Postal Police, will offer a forum on cybersecurity and data protection, attended by two representatives of the police force.
Sustainability will also be a key focus, thanks to cooperation with the non-profit organization PAKOMAK, which will oversee recycling and waste management, turning the festival into an educational and virtuous experience for its young audience.
The closing ceremony will be held on October 1 at 7:00 p.m., showcasing the final works created during the festival—from short films to visual performances—while celebrating the creativity, passion, and energy of the participants. At the conclusion, twelve jurors will be selected to take part in the 56th edition of the Giffoni Film Festival in 2026.
“Giffoni Macedonia was founded in 2013 by Claudio Gubitosi, and in thirteen years it has succeeded not only in reinforcing cultural and social ties between Italy and Macedonia but also in becoming a true point of reference for young people,” said Darko Basheski, Director of Planet M. “Many have discovered Italy, its language, and culture through this initiative, with some even choosing to continue their studies there. Today, Giffoni Macedonia is no longer just a festival—it is a cultural hub for the Balkans, symbolizing the desire to build bridges and friendships across generations. It is a seed that keeps growing, nourished by cinema and by the ambition of young people to imagine and create a better future together.”