“The International Cinematographers’ Film Festival ‘Manaki Brothers’ is one of the most significant projects of the Macedonian Film Professionals Association (MFPA). Organizing this 47th edition is both a distinct honor and a profound responsibility for us, as the festival is one of the most important cultural events in our country, and over the years, we have successfully built a globally recognized brand,” stated Marija Dimitrova, President of the MFPA.

Dimitrova emphasized that the festival holds immense vital importance for filmmakers, highlighting the unique opportunity it provides to meet, network, and connect with today’s master cinematographers, such as Darius Khondji, Roger Deakins, and many other leading visionaries.

“The festival also offers a platform to present our films to both global audiences and local film lovers, and I am confident that this year’s selection will feature remarkable Macedonian films,” Dimitrova added, expressing her gratitude to the North Macedonia Film Agency as the primary supporter enabling the organization of this world-class festival.

Dimitrija Doksevski, Director of the ICFF “Manaki Brothers,” noted that statistically, the 47th edition shapes up to be the most ambitious in the festival’s history. “I am thrilled that we are approaching our 50th anniversary with such dignity and that the festival grows year by year, solidifying its status as a key cultural event not only regionally but globally. To illustrate this, I am proud to announce that Academy Award winner Wally Pfister, our last year’s laureate, is returning to Bitola this year to serve as a jury member,” Doksevski revealed.

Doksevski officially announced the recipient of the prestigious Golden Camera 300 Award—Hollywood’s visual genius, Dan Laustsen.

“From September 19 to 25, Bitola will play host to the global film elite, spearheaded by one of the greatest visual masters of our time. He is a two-time Oscar nominee, but undoubtedly number one in the hearts of true cinema lovers. Laustsen is a Danish cinematographer whose four-decade career has left an indelible mark on contemporary world cinema. As an active member of both the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) and the Danish Society of Cinematographers (DFF), Laustsen is renowned for his distinct visual language that seamlessly blends European artistic sensibility with Hollywood’s technical precision,” Doksevski noted.

Born on June 15, 1954, in Aalborg, Denmark, Laustsen began his formal artistic journey studying fashion photography. He soon transitioned to moving images, graduating from the National Film School of Denmark in 1979. His early work in Scandinavian cinema earned him critical acclaim and laid the foundation for his signature style—defined by deep atmosphere, high contrast, and a strategic use of light. Laustsen’s global success is largely rooted in his long-term creative partnerships with prominent Hollywood auteurs, most notably Guillermo del Toro and Chad Stahelski. His collaboration with Guillermo del Toro yielded some of the most visually stunning masterpieces of the 21st century: The Shape of Water (2017), Nightmare Alley (2021), and Frankenstein (2025). Within Chad Stahelski’s body of work, Laustsen served as the visual architect of the cult action franchise John Wick (specifically chapters 2, 3, and 4), redefining the standards for complex action cinematography and neon-noir aesthetics. For his exceptional contributions, Laustsen has received numerous international accolades, including Academy Award nominations for The Shape of Water and Nightmare Alley. His uncanny ability to transform narratives into immersive visual experiences positions him among the most influential cinematographers today. Macedonian audiences and film professionals will now have the rare, exclusive opportunity to come face-to-face with this living legend.

Regarding the festival program, Doksevski announced a record-breaking number of submissions—surpassing 600 films for the first time in the festival’s history. This year’s lineup will also feature educational workshops for local and international students led by an eminent cinematographer from Belgium, sessions with Macedonian filmmakers Marija Dzidzeva and Fejmi Daut, as well as Erasmus-related program workshops.

The Director of the North Macedonia Film Agency, Sasko Potter Micevski, expressed great pleasure in continuing the long-standing collaboration with the ICFF “Manaki Brothers.”

“This year, the festival has received increased financial backing from the Film Agency in the amount of 12 million MKD, up from 9 million MKD last year. The Film Agency strongly believes in the brand built by the MFPA and all the directors of the ‘Manaki Brothers’ festival. It is also an immense success that the festival recently received a recognition award from the British Society of Cinematographers (BSC) in England, an organization comprising world-class cinematographers who regularly visit and follow our festival,” Micevski stated, concluding that the Film Agency takes great pride in the ICFF “Manaki Brothers”—an exceptional brand that successfully unites the Film Agency, the MFPA, the Cinematheque of Macedonia and the City of Bitola.