There are only a few film festivals in the world that evaluate the creative work of the cinematographer as a key figure in the artistic development of film and cinema. The oldest among them is the International Cinematographers Film Festival “Manaki Brothers†– held annually in Bitola in the Republic of Macedonia.
The Festival has remarkable contents, which gets enriched from year to year and is attractive to film professionals as well as to film aficionados from all over the world.
The main part of the Festival’s programme belongs to “CAMERA 300†– Official Competition of Long Feature Films from the most recent European and world production, whose cinematographers contend for the Golden, Silver and Bronze “CAMERA 300”, awarded by the Festival’s International Jury composed of five members.
Accompanying to “CAMERA 300†are the Short Film Program, Student Program, “BIOSCOPâ€, “IN FOCUS†and other. In the frames of the Festival, usually are organized workshops, seminars and debates.
Our Festival also grants a Life Achievement Award Golden “CAMERA 300†to the most outstanding and leading world cinematographers. Up to now our laureates in the Club of Greats were: Michael Ballhaus, Vittorio Storaro, Vadim Ivanovic Jusov, Raoul Coutard, Tonino Delli Colli, Miroslaw Ondricek, Henry Alekan, Freddie Francise, Jerzy Wojcik, Sven Nykvis.
This unique professional film event in the Republic of Macedonia has developed into one of the most specific in the rich family of the world film festivals. The large presence in Bitola of foreign cinematographers, actors, producers, directors, critics, publicists, and other film professionals associated from the entire world of cinema became more and more evident at the Festival.