AGP Executive Report

Film & Culture: Macedonian director Arben Thaçi has begun shooting his second feature, Ajal, a contemporary drama about mortality, faith and family, filmed in Tetovo and the Šar Mountain region. Arts & Identity: Bosnian artist Amer Hadžić opened his solo exhibition WHATEVER at the Kavadarci Museum Gallery, mixing memory, architecture and pop-culture motifs to probe alienation and the digital world. Press Freedom: Bojana Davitkovska reflects on years defending journalists in North Macedonia, from the “Black Monday” era to today’s SLAPP lawsuits and online intimidation campaigns. International Cultural Spotlight: The 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival crowned Austria’s Everytime with the Heart of Sarajevo for Best Narrative Feature Film, while North Macedonia’s Eva Kostić won Best Actress for 17. Demography & Education: North Macedonia reports a steep drop in first-graders for 2026-27, with rural school closures expected as shrinking cohorts reshape the school network. Foreign Policy (Culture & Society): Skopje is pushing to deepen ties with Israel beyond politics, signing cooperation agreements that include education, culture and sports, alongside plans for direct flights. Human Rights (Regional): The European Court of Human Rights ruled in the Kavala case that Turkey must release the applicant and eliminate the consequences of violations.

North Macedonia–Israel Diplomacy: Foreign Minister Timčo Mucunski visited Jerusalem and pushed to deepen ties beyond politics, with new cooperation agreements covering education, culture and sports, plus talks on defense industry links, agriculture, water management, innovation, health, tourism and investment, including plans for direct flights to Skopje or Ohrid. Film & Culture: Skopje director Arben Thaçi has begun shooting his second feature, Ajal, a contemporary drama set in the Šar Mountain region, exploring mortality, faith, belonging and family conflict. Press Freedom: Bojana Davitkovska reflects on years defending journalists in North Macedonia, warning that today’s pressure increasingly comes through SLAPPs and coordinated online intimidation. Demographics & Schools: Education Minister Vesna Janevska reports a steep drop in first-graders for 2026–27, with rural school closures expected as cohorts keep shrinking. UNESCO & Lake Ohrid: UNESCO gave Albania and North Macedonia five years to strengthen protection of Lake Ohrid, warning that unchecked construction and pollution could threaten World Heritage status. Regional Arts Spotlight: The Sarajevo Film Festival crowned Austria’s Everytime with the Heart of Sarajevo for Best Narrative Feature Film, while North Macedonia’s Eva Kostić won Best Actress for 17. US Immigration Court Ruling: A US judge struck down Trump-era immigrant visa suspensions affecting 75 countries, including North Macedonia, restoring case-by-case processing.

Film Production in Skopje/Tetovo: Macedonian director Arben Thaçi has begun shooting his second feature, Ajal, a contemporary drama about mortality, faith, and family ties set around Šar Mountain, with filming in Tetovo and nearby villages plus planned international locations. Press Freedom Spotlight: Bojana Davitkovska reflects on years defending journalists in North Macedonia, from the “Black Monday” crackdown to today’s SLAPP suits and online intimidation campaigns. Demographic Pressure on Schools: Education Minister Vesna Janevska reports first-grade enrolment for 2026-27 is already far below last year, forcing fewer classes and potential closures of rural schools. Culture & Community Exhibitions: Bosnian artist Amer Hadžić opens solo show WHATEVER at the Kavadarci Museum Gallery, blending memory, architecture, and pop culture themes. Regional Arts Recognition: Sarajevo Film Festival awards crowned Sandra Wollner’s Everytime as Heart of Sarajevo Best Narrative Feature Film. Lake Ohrid Protection: UNESCO gives Albania and North Macedonia five years to strengthen safeguards for Lake Ohrid amid construction and pollution concerns. International Legal/People’s Mobility: A US federal judge struck down Trump’s immigrant visa suspension affecting 75 countries, including North Macedonia, restoring case-by-case processing.

Press Freedom & Courts: Bojana Davitkovska reflects on defending journalists in North Macedonia as pressure shifts from classic defamation suits to SLAPP cases and coordinated online campaigns. Demography & Education: Education Minister Vesna Janevska warns that first-grade enrolment for 2026-27 is already far below last year, with rural school closures looming as cohorts keep shrinking. Culture & Film: The 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival ends with Sandra Wollner’s “Everytime” winning the Heart of Sarajevo for Best Narrative Feature Film, while North Macedonia’s Sara Klimoska sits on the jury. Local Arts: Bosnian artist Amer Hadžić opens his “WHATEVER” solo exhibition at Kavadarci Museum Gallery, blending memory, urban culture and pop motifs. International Links: North Macedonia pushes to expand ties with Israel, signing education, culture and sports agreements and exploring direct flights. Heritage & Environment: UNESCO gives Albania and North Macedonia five years to strengthen protection of Lake Ohrid, warning that unchecked construction and pollution could threaten its status.

Press Freedom & Media: Bojana Davitkovska reflects on defending journalists in North Macedonia, from the “Black Monday” 2012 crackdown to today’s SLAPP suits and coordinated online intimidation. Education & Demographics: Education Minister Vesna Janevska warns that first-grade enrolment for 2026-27 is already far below last year, with rural schools facing closures as shrinking cohorts reshape class sizes. Culture & Community: Prespes 2026 festival kicks off with five days of culture, music and gastronomy, while Kavadarci Museum Gallery hosts Amer Hadžić’s “WHATEVER,” exploring identity, memory and the digital world. Arts & Film: Sarajevo Film Festival’s big winner is Sandra Wollner’s “Everytime,” taking the Heart of Sarajevo for Best Narrative Feature Film. Culture Through Food: A Balkan gastronomy symposium in Florina brings chefs from Albania, North Macedonia, Serbia and Greece together before the festival closes with a concert by Natassa Bofiliou. International Links: North Macedonia moves to expand ties with Israel, signing education, culture and sports agreements and discussing defense, tourism and direct flights.

Press Freedom Under Pressure: Bojana Davitkovska says North Macedonia’s journalists now face not just defamation suits, but SLAPP cases and coordinated online campaigns—after early crackdowns like “Black Monday” in 2012. Demographic Strain on Education: Enrollment for 2026-27 is already sharply down versus last year, with the country losing about 38% of first-graders over a decade—pushing class cuts and even rural school closures. US Immigration Policy Reversed: A New York federal judge struck down Trump’s blanket suspension of immigrant visa processing for 75 countries, including North Macedonia—restoring case-by-case screening. Culture & Film Spotlight: Sarajevo Film Festival’s top prize went to Sandra Wollner’s “Everytime,” while North Macedonia’s Sara Klimoska sat on the jury. International Cultural Ties: North Macedonia and Israel signed agreements covering education, culture and sports, with talks also pointing to direct flights and broader cooperation. Lake Ohrid Protection Deadline: UNESCO gave Albania and North Macedonia five years to rein in construction and pollution threats around the lake.

Culture & Diplomacy: North Macedonia is pushing to deepen ties with Israel beyond politics, with new cooperation agreements in education, culture and sports and plans to expand into defense, investment, tourism, agriculture and water management, including talks on restoring direct flights to Skopje or Ohrid. Art & Community: Bosnian painter Amer Hadžić opened his solo exhibition “WHATEVER” at the Kavadarci Museum Gallery in North Macedonia, presenting 28 works that blend memory, architecture and pop-culture motifs while probing identity and the digital world. Film Spotlight (Regional): The 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival wrapped with Austria’s “Everytime” winning the Heart of Sarajevo for Best Narrative Feature Film, while North Macedonia’s actress Eva Kostić was recognized for “17.” Heritage Watch: UNESCO has given Albania and North Macedonia five years to strengthen protection of Lake Ohrid after concerns over unchecked construction, pollution and tourism pressure. People on the Move: A US court struck down Trump’s suspension of immigrant visa processing for 75 countries, including North Macedonia, restoring case-by-case processing.

Human Rights Watch: The European Court of Human Rights rules in the Kavala v. Türkiye case that Türkiye must release Kavala, finding violations tied to free expression, assembly, fair trial, liberty, and degrading treatment. Culture & Education: August 25 marks the 200th birth anniversary of Nedelya Petkova, a Bulgarian National Revival educator and the first Bulgarian woman teacher in Sofia. Tech & Security in the Balkans: A “Digital Silk Road” analysis says Chinese telecom influence in the Western Balkans—including North Macedonia—remains hard to curb despite US and EU concerns over 5G risk. Foreign Policy Meets Lifestyle: North Macedonia’s FM pushes to expand ties with Israel beyond politics into education, culture, defense, investment, tourism, and water management, with direct flights a key goal. Art in North Macedonia: Bosnian artist Amer Hadžić opens his “WHATEVER” solo exhibition at the Kavadarci Museum Gallery, exploring identity, memory, and the digital world. Film Spotlight: Sarajevo Film Festival’s awards crown Sandra Wollner’s “Everytime” as Heart of Sarajevo for Best Narrative Feature Film, while CineLink project prizes highlight regional co-productions. Heritage Under Pressure: UNESCO gives Albania and North Macedonia five years to strengthen protection of Lake Ohrid against unchecked construction and pollution. Immigration & Mobility: US courts strike down Trump-era blanket suspensions of immigrant visa processing for 75 countries, including North Macedonia and Kosovo—an issue with direct family-life impact.

Sarajevo Film Festival Buzz: Sandra Wollner’s “Everytime” kept its winning streak, taking the Heart of Sarajevo for Best Narrative Feature Film at the 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival, with the jury praising its “grief-soaked ghost story” and also awarding it the CICAE prize. Regional Arts & Stories: The festival also highlighted North Macedonia’s presence through awards for “17” (Eva Kostić won Heart of Sarajevo for Best Actress) and Serbia’s “To Hold a Mountain” for documentary feature. Culture on the Ground: CineLink Industry Days wrapped with major development prizes, including the Eurimages Co-Production Development Award for Serbia’s “Wolf Days,” a folk-horror project about empowerment and patriarchal systems. Heritage Under Pressure: UNESCO gave Albania and North Macedonia five years to strengthen protection of Lake Ohrid, warning that unchecked construction and pollution could threaten its World Heritage status. Diplomacy & Identity: North Macedonia’s foreign minister announced expanded cooperation with Israel across defense, investment, tourism, water management, health, and education. Community & Youth: A Bulgarian-supported project will bring a mobile youth center to Taraclia’s villages in Moldova, aiming to boost participation in cultural and community life.

Sarajevo Film Festival: Austria’s Sandra Wollner won the Heart of Sarajevo for Best Narrative Feature Film with “Everytime,” also taking the CICAE Award, as the 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival wrapped at the National Theatre Sarajevo. Regional Culture & Media: The festival’s awards also highlighted North Macedonia’s presence, with actress Sara Klimoska on the jury and Eva Kostić winning for “17.” Heritage Under Pressure: UNESCO has given Albania and North Macedonia five years to strengthen protection of Lake Ohrid, warning that unchecked construction and pollution could threaten its World Heritage status. Immigration & Community Life: A US federal judge struck down Trump’s suspension of immigrant visa processing for 75 countries, including North Macedonia and Kosovo—an outcome welcomed by immigration advocates. Youth & Society: Serbia’s NEET rates are falling but remain higher than most EU states, with young women still more affected than young men. Diplomacy & Identity: Albania criticized a cultural event in Pustec where only North Macedonia’s anthem was played, calling it a protocol breach.

US Immigration Courts: A federal judge in New York struck down the Trump administration’s blanket suspension of immigrant visa processing for 75 countries, including North Macedonia, Kosovo, Albania and Bosnia—ruling the policy was “patently unlawful” and exceeded the State Department’s authority. UNESCO & Heritage: UNESCO gave Albania and North Macedonia five years to strengthen protection of Lake Ohrid after warnings over unchecked construction, wastewater pollution and tourism pressure that could threaten its World Heritage status. Sarajevo Film Festival: The 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival wrapped with Austrian director Sandra Wollner’s “Everytime” winning Best Narrative Feature, while North Macedonia’s Eva Kostić took Best Actress and Milcho Manchevski’s “Good People” continued to spotlight regional stories. Culture & Identity: Albania’s foreign ministry criticized an anthem omission at an event in Pustec attended by North Macedonia’s PM, while a North Macedonia-focused youth platform, Digital Student Voice, expands anonymous reporting on student life problems. Film Industry: CineLink Industry Days handed out development prizes, including Eurimages support for regional projects like “Wolf Days” and “The Taste of the Peach.”

CineFest Miskolc 2026: The 22nd CineFest Miskolc International Film Festival (4–12 Sept 2026) has announced its lineup and a new V4+ competition programme, with Igor Šeregi’s The Wedding / Svadba set to open the festival. Sarajevo Film Festival: Austria’s Sandra Wollner won Best Narrative Feature at the 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival with Everytime, while North Macedonian actress Eva Kostić took a Heart of Sarajevo prize for Supporting Role. Cultural heritage under pressure: UNESCO has given Albania and North Macedonia five years to strengthen protection of Lake Ohrid, warning that unchecked construction and pollution could threaten World Heritage status. Immigration policy overturned: A US judge struck down the Trump administration’s suspension of immigrant visa processing for 75 countries, including North Macedonia and Kosovo, calling the blanket nationality-based policy unlawful. Local culture & identity: Albania’s Foreign Ministry criticised an anthem omission at an event in Pustec attended by North Macedonia’s PM, reigniting Balkan nationalism debates. Film industry support: CineLink Industry Days at Sarajevo handed out development awards, including the Eurimages Co-Production Development Award for Serbia’s Wolf Days and North Macedonia’s The Taste of the Peach winning a CineLink award.

Immigration & Rights: A US federal judge in Manhattan struck down the Trump administration’s immigrant visa suspension for nationals of 75 countries, calling the policy “patently unlawful” and beyond the State Department’s authority—an order that also covers North Macedonia. UNESCO & Heritage Protection: UNESCO gave Albania and North Macedonia five years to strengthen protection of Lake Ohrid, warning that unchecked construction, pollution, and tourism pressure could threaten its World Heritage status. Film & Regional Culture: The 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival closed with Austria’s “Everytime” (Sandra Wollner) winning Best Narrative Feature, while North Macedonia’s Eva Kostić took Heart of Sarajevo for Best Actress. CineLink Industry Spotlight: CineLink Industry Days at Sarajevo handed out major development prizes, including the Eurimages Co-Production Development Award for Serbia’s “Wolf Days.” Local Community Life: A youth-led Digital Student Voice platform is turning anonymous student messages into a way to spotlight systemic problems in North Macedonia’s higher education. Culture & Identity in the Balkans: Albania’s foreign ministry criticized an anthem omission at a Pustec event attended by North Macedonia’s PM, while Prime Minister Edi Rama urged a non-nationalist response.

UN Visa Ruling: A US federal judge in Manhattan struck down the Trump administration’s suspension of immigrant visas for nationals of 75 countries, calling the policy “patently unlawful” and exceeding the US secretary of state’s authority; the list includes North Macedonia, alongside Nigeria and many others. UNESCO & Heritage: UNESCO has given Albania and North Macedonia five years to strengthen protection of Lake Ohrid after threats from urbanisation, illegal construction, and pollution, warning that World Heritage status could be at risk. Film Festival Spotlight: The 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival wrapped with Austria’s Sandra Wollner winning Best Narrative Feature for “Everytime,” while North Macedonian actress Eva Kostić took home Heart of Sarajevo for Best Actress. Cultural Industry: CineLink Industry Days at Sarajevo handed out major development awards, including the Eurimages Co-Production Development Award for Serbian project “Wolf Days,” and featured Macedonian director Milcho Manchevski discussing his documentary “Good People” about the Kočani nightclub tragedy. Local Culture & Identity: Albania’s PM Edi Rama criticized an anthem omission at an event in Pustec attended by North Macedonia’s PM, saying Albania should not answer nationalism with nationalism.

Sarajevo Film Festival Buzz: At the 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival, the Honorary Heart of Sarajevo went to actor Emir Hadžihafizbegović, while Sandra Wollner’s “Everytime” won the Heart of Sarajevo for best narrative feature, praised for its “cinematic grace” and grief-soaked ghost-story atmosphere. CineLink Industry Days: CineLink wrapped at Sarajevo with major development prizes, including the Eurimages Co-Production Development Award for Serbia’s “Wolf Days” and a North Macedonia-linked win for “The Taste of the Peach.” Kočani Documentary Spotlight: Macedonian director Milcho Manchevski discussed “Good People,” a documentary on the Kočani nightclub disaster, stressing survivors’ voices and an austere approach. Culture & Identity Tensions: Albania’s PM Edi Rama criticized a nationalist anthem dispute after only North Macedonia’s anthem was played at an event in Pustec, while Skopje’s PM visit also drew Foreign Ministry criticism from Albania. Migrant Rights Watch: A report says migrants can be readmitted from Hungary to Serbia in under 48 hours, raising concerns about access to asylum and legal help. Youth & Education in Focus: A new Digital Student Voice platform turns anonymous student messages into a way to spot patterns in higher education problems across North Macedonia.

Mediterranean Games Diplomacy: Taranto’s 20th Mediterranean Games are being framed as a “bridge between peoples,” with President Mattarella urging peace and dialogue as heads of state from Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Lebanon are set to attend the opening. Anthem & Minority Rights Row: Albania has criticised the omission of its national anthem at a cultural event in Pustec attended by North Macedonia’s PM, while Albania’s PM says the country shouldn’t answer nationalism with nationalism. Sarajevo Film Festival Spotlight: CineLink Industry Days wrapped with awards for regional projects, including North Macedonia’s “The Taste of the Peach,” and Macedonian director Milcho Manchevski discussed his documentary “Good People,” built around survivors of the Kočani nightclub disaster. New North Macedonia-Bulgaria Appointment: Career diplomat Krum Efremov is named as North Macedonia’s new ambassador to Bulgaria. Youth & Culture on the Ground: A Bosilegrad hiking event drew nearly 200 participants from Serbia, Bulgaria and North Macedonia, blending sport with local traditions and performances. Student Voices: Studentarija’s anonymous Digital Student Voice platform turns student stories into a way to flag recurring problems in higher education.