Macedonian producer and actress Labina Mitevska has won this year's Eurimage Award for International Co-Productions from Eurimage and the European Film Academy. Mitevska was the guest of honor at the gala reception of the 37th European Film Awards in Lucerne, where she personally received the award.
"I can very rarely speak Macedonian. Thank you for this. 25 years ago, I was the first female producer for a long time, and my sister Teona was the first director. It took us years and years to prove ourselves in a very macho Balkan society. We were women and we wanted change – to prove that film is not only and exclusively for male film professionals. We wanted to make European co-productions with the inclusion of more women and most importantly, we wanted to make uncompromising films. It was not easy and it still is not. But we believed that art, film would change the world. Today, we also believe that film will change the world, will give us a different perspective on the world," said Labina at the European Film Awards ceremony.
This award, according to the jury, is being presented to Mitevska as a tribute to the gift of a family production, passionately dedicated to European cinematography.
The Eurimages International Co-Production Award is awarded by the European Film Academy in cooperation with Eurimages, together with the Council of Europe's Fund for the Support of Culture.
This award confirms the key role of co-productions in strengthening international exchange and represents an award of national interest for Macedonian cinematography.
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