Skopje, 16 May 2024 (MIA) — To celebrate its 50 years of promoting the French language and culture in the country and contributing to the cultural exchange between North Macedonia and France, the French Institute in Skopje is organizing a series of events under the motto "Excellence and Innovation," director Hugo Bechtel told MIA.

"For us, this anniversary is a great moment because the French Institute is the oldest foreign institution here in Skopje and in North Macedonia. In a way, this is a confirmation of the long-term friendship connecting France and North Macedonia," Bechtel said.

The 50th anniversary events will start on Friday evening at MNT with the dance performance "Mosaic" by France's Käfig Dance Company choreographed and directed by Mourad Merzouki. The performance is also a part of Dance Fest Skopje 2024 and it will close this year's festival.

Another event in the series is the upcoming screening of the film that opened this year's Cannes festival, Quentin Dupieux's "The Second Act" (2024) starring Léa Seydoux and Louis Garrel. The film will be shown on June 5 at Cineplexx. The screening will be a pre-premiere for the entire Balkan region, Bechtel said.

The program will end on June 28 with street theater performances on Macedonia Street.

In the past 50 years, the Institute has established itself as an educational center but has also organized numerous cultural events, including film screenings of new French productions as well as lectures and visits by renowned French authors and intellectuals. mr/