VIDEO INTERVIEW | Basheski: "Jifoni" is a platform for informal education, for what school doesn't have time for
The international film festival "Giffoni" has been organized since 1971 in Italy. Sound Hollywood actors were part of the festival in direct contact with the participating children. And Macedonia has been part of the "Jifoni" story for 12 years in a row. This year, more than 400 young people from primary and secondary schools from Macedonia and eight other countries are part of the favorite festival among young people, "Jifoni Macedonia". Tonight, the curtain comes down on the 12th "Jifoni Macedonia", and shortly before the end, the director of the festival, Darko Basheski, spoke about Free Press.
- This year we have guest children from Serbia, Kosovo, BiH, Romania, Ireland, Montenegro, Italy. The guests are accommodated in families with the children, which is a traditional part of the program that we have maintained over the years. They are living with them this week, sleeping with them, eating with them and most importantly, going through a beautiful experience. Together they watch the rich film program of "Gifoni", attend workshops and, most importantly, have fun - says Basheski.
The film program is adapted for teenagers, and after the screenings, the children have the opportunity to discuss the film.
– We always choose films suitable for our minor audience. We make sure that the film deals with a topic suitable for children, such as violence, bullying... something that they face. Then during the discussions they open up about the topic and talk about themselves, if they face something similar. In this way, a good quality discussion about important social issues develops. In a way, "Gifoni is a platform for informal education, which the school does not have time to pay attention to, due to the extensive educational program. We realize it in a fun way - said Basheski.
He clarifies that the children who were once a part of "Gifoni" return again.
- It is a great joy for us because this is happening to us and those young people who have grown up and already crossed the border to register for the festival, register to be volunteers - said our interlocutor.
Tonight is the last day until the annual edition of the festival, at 19.30:XNUMX in the "Millennium" cinema in Skopje, short films, an exhibition, a musical, all the material created by the participants of the festival will be shown. On the last day, they will watch one more feature film, and finally they will vote for the best feature, short, animated and student films in each of the three categories. Tonight, the names of the most active students who will receive an award to participate in "Giffoni Italia" will also be announced.