Strumica, 30 July 2024 (MIA) – The 19th Asterfest International Film Festival opens on Thursday in Strumica with the screening of the Croatian short drama film “The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent”.

Directed by Nebojša Slijepčević, the 30-minute film won the Short Film Palme d'Or at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. The film dramatizes the Štrpci massacre of 1993, when 24 Bosniak Muslims were pulled off a train by the Serbian White Eagles paramilitary group and massacred.

Macedonian director and screenwriter Antonio Mitrikeski will be presented with the Aster award at the opening ceremony, which recognizes his whole body of work and cinematic aesthetics. 

In addition to “The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent”, 12 short films will be vying for the top award, which will be decided by a three-member international jury. 

The 19th Asterfest festival will be taking place in Strumica until August 5 under the motto “Cine-reality ‘24”. The award-winning films will be showed at the closing ceremony. The event is financed by the Municipality of Strumica. 

Photo: Asterfest