Berlin – At the recent Sundance Film Festival, “DJ Ahmet,” a film directed by Georgi M. Unkovski, made a noteworthy impact after its world premiere, capturing the Special Jury Award for Creative Vision along with the Audience Award in the World Dramatic Competition. This double recognition has heightened interest in the production and catalyzed the first round of international sales by Berlin-based Films Boutique.
The drama has already been acquired by various international distributors including Madman Entertainment in Australia and New Zealand, September Film Distribution in Benelux, Films We Like in Canada, Filmin in Spain, Lev Cinema in Israel, Leopardo Filmes in Portugal, and Discovery in former Yugoslavia. Further negotiations are reported to be underway for additional territories.
Julien Razafindranaly, the head of sales at Films Boutique, expressed gratitude towards the film festival for serving as an effective launch platform. He reminisced about the memorable premiere night at the Egyptian Theatre, which set the tone for the film’s burgeoning success.
The narrative of “DJ Ahmet” is set in a secluded Yuruk village in North Macedonia, where a 15-year-old shepherd named Ahmet turns to music as a solace from his conservative upbringing and challenging personal relationships. Ahmet struggles with his father’s traditional expectations and experiences his first brush with love, complicated by his interest in a girl who is betrothed to another.
“Dj Ahmet” is a collaborative effort amongst multiple European production companies. Cinema Futura from North Macedonia led the production, with co-producers including Alter Vision and Analog Vision from the Czech Republic, Backroom Production from Serbia, 365 Films from Croatia, Film House Bas Celik from Serbia, and Sektor Film from North Macedonia.
The producers of the film include Ivan Unkovski and Ivana Shekutkoska, with co-producers Michal Kracmer, Veronika Kuhrova, Igor Kecman, Jelena Mitrovic, Katarina Prpic, Vladimir Anastasov, and Angela Nestorovska contributing to the project.
Funding and support for “DJ Ahmet” was sourced from multiple institutions across Europe, such as the North Macedonia Film Agency, Eurimages, Serbian Film Center, Czech Film Fund, Croatian Audiovisual Centre, and the SEE Cinema Network, highlighting the broad collaborative nature of this cinematic endeavor.
The success at Sundance and the swift move to international markets underscore “DJ Ahmet” as a significant contemporary film, blending cultural authenticity with universal themes of love, duty, and individual freedom. The film’s journey from a remote Macedonian village to the global stage at Sundance is a testament to the compelling storytelling and creative vision that resonates with audiences and critics alike.
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