Despite all the obstacles and challenges faced by the newly formed team of ICFF "Manaki Brothers" led by director Moni Damevski, the festival was successfully realized, and the winners of the "Camera 300" awards are known.

The International Film Camera Festival "Manaki Brothers" this year was held from 16 to 21 September in Bitola. The main film program included ten short and feature films selected by Darijan Pejovski and Slagjan Penev. The screenings were solidly visited by the Bitola audience. The international jury had their hands full. The festival also had an off-program, which mainly took place on the wide alleys throughout Bitola.

- We had great competition programs, we held three film workshops, we had an exceptional six press conferences, and several young girls and boys had the opportunity to learn how to make a film for the first time in their lives, a group of children had the opportunity to see an interesting children's film - said the director at the Manaki Brothers ICFF, Moni Damevski, at the awards ceremony.

The winners of the awards were announced by the members of the jury. The President of the Jury Suki Medencevic on behalf of the commission thanked for the hospitality and the honor given to them to choose the winners of the 42nd ICFF "Manaki Brothers".

- The work of the jury is always difficult. Nobody says that it is an easy job because it is really difficult to make such a decision, but at the same time it was a pleasure because we had the opportunity to watch exceptional movies and the nuances were decisive - said Medencevic.

The winner of the "Small Camera 300" award for short film was announced by Sonja Prosenc.

- I am honored to award the prize to a young cinematographer because it is clear to most in the media world that very often women in this profession are given more chances when it comes to short films, while the more difficult tasks are often reserved for our male colleagues. But I'm glad that the Manaki Brothers Festival has already discovered and rewarded more cinematographers, and I'm honored that "Small Camera 300" for the short film is awarded to Joanna Silva Fernandez for "Through the Mist" for the bold, intuitive but at the same time minimalist use of visual storytelling - said Prosenz.

The Macedonian member of the jury, Dimo ​​Popov, said that the films are a reflection of the reality in which we live, in a time that is a bit strange, a little shocking, just like those photos of the Manaki brothers, which we see when we enter the cinema hall. A strange transformation is experienced by reality as it passes through the lens, strange colors, strange shapes and strange stories, Popov added.

Explained "for the brutal contrast between the disturbing dystopian story and its highly aestheticized visual style," the Bronze Camera 300 award went to cinematographer Ruben Impens for his post-award-winning film "Titanium."

Philip Bergson announced the winner of "Silver Camera 300", Casper Tuxen, for the film "The Worst Person in the World", with the explanation "for the delicate camera that does not come close to the characters that are well positioned in the urban landscape of Oslo".

The president of the jury, Suki Medencevic, announced the winner of the "Golden Camera 300" award. For the delicate and sensitive way the camera takes the audience on the heroine's crazy journey from Moscow to the frozen north, the jury awarded the "Golden Camera 300" award to cinematographer Jani-Peter Passy for the film "Coupe No. 6".

The winners of the awards were not present in Bitola, but in their video messages promised that they will do so next year.

(The text was published in "Cultural Press" number 98, in the print edition of the newspaper "Free Press" on September 25-26, 2021)