Film Retrospective from Award Winning Director Milcho Manchevski to Headline 10th Annual Macedonian Film Festival

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Oct. 7, 2015) - The Macedonian Film Festival is marking its 10^th anniversary with a retrospective from one of the global film industry's most respected directors. The films of Milcho Manchevski, including the Academy-award nominated film Before the Rain will be presented along with a host of other Macedonian feature films, documentaries and shorts.

"We couldn't think of a better way to celebrate our 10^th year then by honouring the films and extraordinary talents of Milcho Manchevski," said Virginia Evans, Executive Director, Macedonian Film Festival. "Along with the retrospective, we're pleased to showcase an incredible line-up of unique films with wonderful stories that entertain and inform, and more importantly promote Macedonian culture."

Hailed by the 'New York Times' as one of the 1,000 best films ever made, Manchevski's Emotional Golden Lion-winning Before the Rain, centered around three love stories that bend time and space in modern Europe during a time of political unrest, will open the festival on Thursday, October 22, 2015. Three other Manchevski award-winning films; Dust, Shadows and Mothers will be presented along with the 90-second short Thursday, which was commissioned by the Venice Film Festival. Manchevski will hold three extensive Q+A sessions with the audience.

"I am happy the great Toronto audiences will have a chance to see my work in one place," remarked Manchevski. "I still remember the North American premiere of Before the Rain which took place in 1994 at TIFF. The discussion after that screening was one of the most inspired. I am looking forward to discussing my work with Toronto film buffs."

In addition to the retrospective, several other films will screen during the festival. This includes Empty Boxcars by Ed Gaffney, an unflinching examination of Bulgaria's mixed role during the Holocaust. Pay Your Interns is a documentary short by Canadian Macedonian director Cynthia H. Pandev about the shady practice of Canadian employers "hiring" unpaid interns. Rounding out the festival are the films As if I'm Not There by Juanita Wilson, Honey Night by Ivo Trajkov, (Extra)Terrestrial Lee by Sashko Potter Micevski, Unripe Cherries by Nebojsha Jovanovik, Balkan is Not Dead by Aleksandar Popovski, The Macedonian by Petro Aleksowski and Weight of Chains II by Boris Malagurski.

The 10^th Annual Macedonian Film Festival runs from October 22 - 25, 2015 at Carlton Cinemas. General Admission: $10 per film. Tickets can be purchased at the box office. Tickets for Milcho Manchevski's Retrospective are specially priced at $30 for 4 admissions and can be ordered and paid through PayPal. For more information and to view the films and schedule, visit macedonianfilmfestival.com.

About the Macedonian Film Festival

The Macedonian Film Festival made its debut in May 2006 and at the time was the only one of its kind globally. The purpose and goal of the Macedonian Film Festival is to broaden the awareness of all Canadians to Macedonian talent and culture as well as focus attention on contemporary and historical issues facing the Macedonian Diaspora. The Macedonian Film Festival is the primary venue in Canada for presenting films by Macedonian directors, writers and producers from around the world. Visit www.macedonanfilmfestival.com