AGP Executive Report

Sarajevo Film Festival Spotlight: Macedonian director Milcho Manchevski brings the Pulse nightclub tragedy to the screen with “Good People,” aiming to give survivors a voice after the 2025 Kočani fire killed 63 and sparked nationwide venue-safety crackdowns. Gender Equality in Film: Sarajevo’s 32nd edition will feature a Special Award for Promoting Gender Equality, with a jury including Niamh McCormack and director Andrea Štaka, and a 7,500-euro prize for debut filmmakers. Local Arts & Culture: Sarajevo also hosts “The Bridge of Friendship” gala concert (free entry) with regional and US performers, including Balkan Philharmonic and the “Ilirikum” choir. Media & Streaming: Paramount’s “The F Ward” has been licensed to 100 territories, with SkyShowtime carrying it in North Macedonia and the wider Balkans. Sports (Arts-adjacent): Hibernian’s European run continues after a 0-0 draw in Skopje vs Shkendija, setting up a play-off vs Gent—while the club’s travel and recovery approach is highlighted as part of the story. Civic Tension: Skopje’s water scare panic over Rašče spring safety is met with a public tap-water demonstration by Mayor Orce Gjorgjievski.

Skopje Water Panic: Skopje’s bottled-water rush after rumours of tap contamination was met with a bold on-camera move by Mayor Orce Gjorgjievski, who drank from the tap and blamed opposition misinformation, while authorities pointed to controlled testing around the Rašče spring. Conference League Football: Hibernian advanced after a 0-0 draw with Shkendija in Skopje, setting up a play-off with Gent, as the club praised discipline and heat management in Todor Proeski Arena. Local Sports Talent: New Raiders centre back Richard Brown left for a 15-day trial with FK Skopje, continuing a small wave of Jamaican players linking up with Macedonian football. Film & Culture: Macedonian director Milcho Manchevski premiered “Good People” at Sarajevo Film Festival, a documentary giving Pulse nightclub survivors a voice after the 2025 Kočani tragedy. Women in Screen: Teona Mitevska and Céline Sciamma are launching “Sister Sister” at Sarajevo Film Festival, aiming to reshape women’s roles in film and TV across the region. Media Safety: EUalive condemned death threats against North Macedonia journalist Erol Rizaov, calling for investigation and protection of independent journalism. Regional Screen Industry: Sarajevo Film Festival also announced a Special Award for Promoting Gender Equality, with a jury and prize fund for debut filmmakers.

Film & Festivals: Macedonian director Milcho Manchevski brings “Good People” to the Sarajevo Film Festival, a documentary shaped by the 2025 Pulse nightclub fire in Kočani and built to give survivors a “voice.” Gender & Screen Industry: Sarajevo Film Festival’s Special Award for Promoting Gender Equality spotlights 14 debut films, while the “Sister Sister” initiative (with Teona Mitevska and Céline Sciamma) launches a bold regional think tank and roundtables on women’s authorship in film/TV. Sports (Skopje spotlight): Hibernian grind out a 0-0 draw with KF Shkendija in Skopje to reach the UEFA Conference League play-off, setting up a tie with Gent; the match also fuels local debate around the heat, pitch conditions, and Shkendija’s injury setback. Local Media & Safety: EUalive backs North Macedonia journalist Erol Rizaov after death threats tied to his commentary, urging authorities to investigate and prosecute hate-driven violence. Culture/Entertainment Industry: Paramount’s “The F Ward” lands licensing deals across 100 territories, including North Macedonia via SkyShowtime, expanding the medical drama’s reach.

Conference League Football: Hibernian held Shkendija to a 0-0 draw in Skopje’s heat to win 2-1 on aggregate and set up a play-off against Gent, with coach David Gray praising discipline and clean-sheet resilience. Local Sports Pipeline: New Raiders centre back Richard Brown has left for a 15-day trial with FK Skopje, continuing a small wave of Jamaican players linking up with Macedonian football. Film & Culture: Macedonian director Milcho Manchevski’s documentary “Good People” premiered at the Sarajevo Film Festival, giving survivors of North Macedonia’s 2025 Pulse nightclub fire a platform. Gender Equality in Cinema: Teona Mitevska (“Mother”) and Céline Sciamma are behind “Sister Sister,” a Sarajevo Film Festival initiative aimed at reshaping women’s roles across film and TV. Media Freedom: EUalive condemned death threats against North Macedonia journalist Erol Rizaov, urging authorities to investigate and protect independent reporting. Arts/Entertainment Tech: Xaoc Devices released the Skopje Dual Quantizer, a microtonal-focused module built for flexible sound design.

Sarajevo Film Festival Spotlight: North Macedonian filmmaker Milcho Manchevski’s documentary “Good People” premieres at the Sarajevo Film Festival, giving survivors of the 2025 Pulse nightclub fire in Kočani a platform—an urgent, survivor-led story shaped just weeks after the tragedy. Gender Equality in Cinema: The festival also launches a Special Award for Promoting Gender Equality, backing 14 debut films and featuring a jury that includes Niamh McCormack and director Andrea Štaka. Skopje Water Panic: Skopje residents rushed to buy bottled water after rumours of bacterial contamination; Mayor Orce Gjorgjievski publicly drank tap water, blamed misinformation, and pointed to controlled testing around the Rašče spring. EUalive Press Freedom: EUalive condemned death threats against journalist Erol Rizaov, urging authorities to identify perpetrators and protect independent reporting. Music & Stage: Deep Purple’s Ritchie Blackmore returned to the stage with the band, reigniting attention on classic rock legacies. Tech for Musicians: Xaoc Devices released the Skopje Dual Quantizer for microtonal setups, adding a new Skopje-named tool for electronic music makers. Football (Arts-adjacent): Hibernian advanced in Europe after a 0-0 draw with Shkendija in Skopje, setting up a play-off tie against Gent.

European Football Spotlight: Hibernian held firm in Skopje, drawing Shkendija 0-0 to progress 2-1 on aggregate and set up a Conference League play-off against Gent, with coach David Gray praising discipline and a hard-earned clean sheet in brutal heat. Local Media & Safety: EUalive backed North Macedonia journalist Erol Rizaov after death threats and ethnically targeted insults followed his column, urging authorities to identify perpetrators and act. Documentary & Film: Macedonian director Milcho Manchevski premiered “Good People” at the Sarajevo Film Festival, a documentary shaped by the 2025 Pulse nightclub fire in Kočani and aimed at giving survivors a voice. Culture & Screen Industry: Sarajevo Film Festival announced “Sister Sister,” a female-empowerment initiative featuring Teona Mitevska and Céline Sciamma, with roundtables and a manifesto to push for a more inclusive film and TV sector. Public Life & Trust: Skopje’s water scare sparked panic over alleged contamination; Mayor Orce Gjorgjievski publicly drank tap water and accused misinformation campaigns, while pointing to lab testing and strict spring controls. Music Moment: Ritchie Blackmore returned onstage with Deep Purple for “Smoke On The Water,” marking a rare reunion after decades apart.

Documentary Premiere: Macedonian director Milcho Manchevski’s somber doc “Good People” debuts at the Sarajevo Film Festival, giving Pulse nightclub survivors a platform after the 2025 Kočani tragedy. European Football: Hibernian held Shkendija to a 0-0 draw in Skopje to reach the UEFA Conference League play-off, setting up a tie with Gent; Shkendija’s coach says an injury to Marko Gjorgjievski “significantly disrupted” their plans. Arts & Industry: Paramount’s “The F Ward” has been licensed for 100 international territories, with North Macedonia included via SkyShowtime—another sign of regional streaming demand for festival-ready drama. Press Freedom: EUalive backs North Macedonia journalist Erol Rizaov after death threats tied to his political commentary, urging authorities to investigate and prosecute. Music Tech (Skopje): Xaoc Devices released the Skopje Dual Quantizer, aimed at microtonal musicians and built for flexible scale work. Local Life: Skopje’s bottled-water rush after water-safety rumours was met with a mayoral tap-water demonstration, as officials pushed back on claims and pointed to controlled spring safety.

Skopje Arts & Sport Spotlight: Hibernian held firm in the Todor Proeski National Arena, grinding out a 0-0 draw with Shkendija after a 2-1 first-leg win, and now set up a UEFA Conference League play-off with Gent—David Gray praised the discipline and the “big achievement” in brutal heat. European Night in Macedonia: The same tie is driving major local attention ahead of Thursday’s second leg, with coverage details and the severe-weather backdrop (35°C) adding to the buzz. Football Upset: Rangers were dumped out of the Europa League, leaving them to regroup for a Conference League play-off route instead. Local Media & Safety: Skopje’s bottled-water panic over alleged contamination was met by the mayor drinking from the tap and calling it misinformation, while officials pointed to controlled testing around the Rašče spring. Film & Culture: North Macedonia’s Teona Mitevska (“Mother”) and Céline Sciamma are among the voices launching “Sister Sister” at the Sarajevo Film Festival, aiming to reshape women’s roles in regional film and TV. Music Moment: Deep Purple’s Ritchie Blackmore returned to the stage for the first time in decades to play “Smoke On The Water.”

Conference League Spotlight (Skopje): Hibs head to North Macedonia for the Shkendija second leg on Thursday (Aug 13, 7pm) protecting a 2-1 lead from Easter Road, with the tie set against a severe 35°C weather alert and a Skopje backdrop packed with football history. Local City Life & Public Trust: Skopje’s bottled-water rush after rumours of contamination at the Rašče spring has sparked a mayoral “tap water” demonstration and accusations of opposition misinformation, with lab checks across dozens of locations. Film & Women’s Voices: Sarajevo Film Festival is launching “Sister Sister,” a female-empowerment initiative featuring North Macedonian filmmaker Teona Mitevska and aiming to reshape women’s roles across regional film and TV. Music Moment: Deep Purple’s Ritchie Blackmore returned to the stage for the first time in 33 years, joining Ian Gillan for “Smoke On The Water.” Arts Screening (UK): “DJ Ahmet,” a Sundance-awarded North Macedonia-set film about a shepherd finding freedom through electronic dance music, screens in Devizes on Aug 27.

Conference League Focus: Hibs head to Skopje for the second leg vs Shkëndija on Aug 13 (7pm BST/8pm local) with a 2-1 first-leg lead after Warren O’Hora’s late winner, while manager David Gray says creative spark Jamie McGrath and Callum Wright are back in the mix. Player Watch: Hibs’ Miguel Chaiwa remains a target for Celtic, with Hibs in no rush to sell (contract until May 2028) and interest also linked to possible talks elsewhere. Film & Screen Culture: North Macedonia’s Teona Mitevska and French director Céline Sciamma will launch “Sister Sister” at the Sarajevo Film Festival, aiming to reshape women’s roles in regional film and TV through roundtables and a manifesto. Local Arts Event: Devizes Film Club screens “DJ Ahmet,” a Sundance-awarded North Macedonia-set story about a teenage shepherd finding freedom through electronic dance music. Music Loss: Singer Djansever Dalipova, known for arabesque and Romani music, has died in Germany; her funeral is expected in North Macedonia. Sports-to-Arts Crosslink: Skopje’s junior European Cup 2026 saw Azerbaijan finish third with seven medals, highlighting the city’s growing role in regional youth sport.

Film & Festivals: Montenegro’s Herceg Novi Film Festival has unveiled the programme for its 39th edition (22–28 August), with FIAPF accreditation and a line-up featuring Marijana Janković’s Home and documentary winner To Hold a Mountain, plus Golden Mimosa competition titles from Slovenia and Serbia. Football (North Macedonia tie): Hibs head to Skopje for the Conference League second leg vs KF Shkendija with a 2–1 first-leg lead, while manager David Gray says key creators Jamie McGrath and Callum Wright are back in fitness for the push. Local Film Production: Macedonian director Marjan Gavrilovski has started shooting Ants / Mravki, a dark comedy drama backed by the North Macedonia Film Agency, tackling homophobia and a hidden police cover-up. Music & Education: A Skopje-based film music course has selected an LCM (UWL) composition student for FAME’s Institute training in orchestration and scoring. Tech for Musicians: Xaoc Devices has released the Skopje dual quantizer, aimed at microtonal setups and fast, hands-on composition. Public Safety: North Macedonia’s crisis center issued a code red warning for very high fire risk across eastern, central, and southern regions.

EU Talks & Politics: North Macedonia’s opposition SDSM says PM Hristijan Mickoski’s Brussels visit could hint at an EU negotiating breakthrough, tying it to the “French proposal” on constitutional changes and asking how the government will explain any shift to voters. Real Estate: Knight Frank’s index flags North Macedonia among the fastest-rising residential markets, with prices up about 16.7% year-on-year. Music & Film: Macedonian director Marjan Gavrilovski has begun shooting his third feature, Ants / Mravki, a dark comedy about a hidden police cover-up and homophobia, supported by the North Macedonia Film Agency. Tech for Creators: Xaoc Devices launched the Skopje dual quantizer, aimed at microtonal music workflows. Local Culture & Community: A “code red” fire warning is in place across eastern, central and southern North Macedonia as wildfire risk spikes with extreme heat. Sports (Regional Spotlight): Hibs’ European push continues with a Conference League tie against Shkendija, with North Macedonian links front and center.

EU Accession Politics: North Macedonia’s opposition says PM Hristijan Mickoski’s Brussels visit could signal a shift toward the “French proposal” for constitutional changes, while the government insists nothing is secret. Arts & Culture: Macedonian director Marjan Gavrilovski has started shooting his dark comedy feature “Ants / Mravki,” tackling homophobia and a hidden police cover-up. Film & Music: “DJ Ahmet,” a Sundance-award-winning Macedonian-set story about a shepherd finding freedom through electronic dance music, screens in Devizes on Aug 27. Local Arts Scene: Skopje’s film-music talent gets a boost as a student is selected for a prestigious FAME institute orchestral course in Skopje. Sports (Arts-adjacent): Hibs’ European run keeps North Macedonia in the spotlight as they face Shkendija in the Conference League, with the tie’s first leg in Edinburgh this week. Safety: A code red fire warning is issued for eastern, central, and southern North Macedonia after 25 wildfires in 24 hours.

Local Tech & Commerce: Iute Group is rolling out iuteMarket inside the Myiute app in Albania and North Macedonia, letting users browse, get recommendations, and buy products (from home appliances to fitness gear) without leaving the app, with financing and insurance tied in. Arts & Film: Macedonian director Marjan Gavrilovski has started shooting “Ants / Mravki,” a dark comedy drama backed by the North Macedonia Film Agency, about a retired detective uncovering a hidden case involving a murdered trans woman. Music & Training: Film-composition student Federico Crosato (UWL) was selected for FAME’s Institute’s Film Music Orchestral Course in Skopje, focusing on scoring and orchestral recording. Cinema in the Region: Devizes Film Club will screen “DJ Ahmet,” a Sundance-awarded Macedonian-set film about a shepherd who finds freedom through electronic dance music. Culture & Sports: Hibs’ European push continues as they prepare for Shkendija in the Conference League, with North Macedonian links in the matchup and build-up. Public Safety: North Macedonia’s Crisis Management Center issued a code red fire warning for very high wildfire risk across eastern, central, and southern areas.

Wildfire Alert: North Macedonia’s Crisis Management Center issued a “code red” warning for very high fire risk across the eastern, central and southern regions, citing worsening conditions and 25 wildfires recorded in the last 24 hours. Music Loss: Romani and arabesque singer Djansever Dalipova, 59, died in Essen after leukemia and a bone-marrow transplant; her funeral is expected in North Macedonia. Film Spotlight: Macedonian director Marjan Gavrilovski has begun shooting “Ants / Mravki,” a dark comedy about a retired detective uncovering a murder tied to homophobia. Local Screen Event: Devizes Film Club will screen “DJ Ahmet,” a Sundance-awarded film about a 15-year-old shepherd finding freedom through electronic dance music. Arts & Culture Calendar: Prespeia 2026 in Florina blends gastronomy, poetry and music, while Kosovo’s Etno Fest returns with “Memory” as its theme. Sports (North Macedonia connection): Hibs’ European push continues as they prepare for Shkendija in the Conference League, with North Macedonian opponents in the spotlight.

North Macedonia Film & TV: Macedonian director Marjan Gavrilovski has begun shooting his third feature, Ants / Mravki, a dark comedy about a retired detective uncovering a murder tied to homophobia and police cover-ups. Music & Culture: Singer Djansever Dalipova, known for arabesque and Romani music, has died in Essen at 59; her funeral is expected in North Macedonia. Arts Education: Film composer Federico Crosato (MMUS Composition for Film and TV) was selected for FAME’S Institute’s Film Music Orchestral Course in Skopje. Sports (Arts-adjacent): Hibs’ European run keeps North Macedonia in the spotlight as they face Shkendija in the Conference League, with Owen Elding pushing for a strong start. Regional Cultural Calendar: Prespeia 2026 in Florina mixes gastronomy, poetry and music, including a tribute performance to composer Apostolos Kaldaras. Investigative Media: WIN launched a Sarajevo bootcamp for independent media across the Western Balkans and Ukraine, funding new investigations for regional outlets including from North Macedonia.