Skopje, 17 December 2023 (MIA) - The special program of the Kinenova international film festival began Saturday at the Cinematheque with a screening of the film "Cafe" by Iranian filmmaker Navid Mihadoust.

The filmmaker's sister, Neda Mihandoust, addressed the event via video, Kinenova said. 

She noted that the story of "Cafe" is similar to what happened to her brother in Iran. 

"Law enforcement authorities in Iran called my brother to cooperate with them, asking him to be in contact with renowned Iranian journalist and women's rights activist Masih Alinejad, about whom he made a film in 2009. He refused to cooperate with them and instead tried to buy some more time with the justice system and make the film "Cafe", which was one of his dreams to show all the injustice happening in his country Iran," Neda Mihandoust said.

She also read the statement of her brother, filmmaker Navid Mihandoust, given specially for the occasion to the Macedonian public and audience. 

"I am very happy that you are watching my film in Skopje, the capital of Macedonia, for which I express my gratitude to Nebojsha Jovanovikj for organizing the special screening for my film "CAFE". I love and admire art in the sense that it is a bridge to communicate with educated and open-minded people around the world, a bridge that transcends national and language barriers. I have mixed feelings at the moment as my film is being screened before you despite the fact that its director is jailed in Tehran. On the one hand, I am happy that my independent film continues its dynamic life outside the prison walls where its creator was jailed, and on the other hand, I am sorry that I missed the opportunity to enjoy the joy of communication and see the reaction of the Macedonian audience to my film. I hope that the day will come when no film worker and artist will be jailed anywhere in the world for making a film and expressing their opinion," said Mihandoust's statement. 

The special program continued over the weekend with a screening of the film "Femme" by Sam Freeman and Ng Choon Ping, and the films awarded at the 8th edition of the festival, including "20,000 Species of Bees" by Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren and "Klondike" by Marin Er Gorbach, will be screened in the coming week. 

Photo: Kinenova