Theosis

Kiril Karakash (1992, Prilep, Macedonia) is Macedonian film director, producer and one of the co-founders of Opium Film production company based in Skopje, Macedonia. Kiril holds a degree in film and TV directing from the University of Audio-Visual Arts, ESRA-Skopje and he further studied Film and TV production at the same university. Filmmaking and photography have been important in his life since the age of 12 when he entered the national amateur film festival with his first film and he has been writing, directing, editing and producing short films, documentaries and feature films since then. Kiril has also worked as an assistant director and first assistant director on a number of short films.
Besides filmmaking since 2007 Kiril has also been passionate about photography and has won prizes for his photographs at national competitions of photography in Macedonia. He has been active in humanitarian photography; in 2009 he had a solo exhibition and in 2010 organized a group exhibition to help people in need. He was also working for the human trafficking prevention project to raise awareness, and his photograph was featured on the cover page of the The Institute for Human Rights magazine Women&Justice: Legal Dialogue in 2013.
Since 2015 he has been assistant manager of the National Amateur Film Festival of Macedonia and in 2019 he, together with his partner Svetislav Podleshanov, took over the management of the festival. During the last few years he has also worked as a mentor in creative documentary film for young audiences.
Kiril is currently, together with this colleague Svetislav Podleshanov, working on his first feature length documentary “The Constitution of the New Era: Man Balancer of the Aquatic and Aerial World”.

Filmography:

Documentaries
In development The Constitution of the New Era: Man Balancer of the Aquatic and Aerial World, 80 min, writer, director, producer, Opium Film, North Macedonia/Latvia/Albania
Feature films

2016 Theosis, 75 min, writer, director, editor, producer, Opium Film/ESRA-Skopje, Macedonia
Festivals/awards:
- Official Selection on South East European Film Festival Berlin, Germany, 2016
- Official Selection on South East European Film Festival Paris, 2016
- Official Selection on OHRID International Film Festival, Macedonia, 2016
- Official Selection on BALKAN FILM FOOD FESTIVAL, Podgradec, Albania, 2016
- Official Selection on Macedonian cinema days Film festival, Sydney, Australia, 2016
- MAC POINT on International Cinematographers' Film Festival Manaki Brothers, Bitola, Macedonia, 2016
- Student program on CINEDAYS Festival of European Film, Skopje, Macedonia, 2016
- IndieWise Virtual Film Festival, Miami, FL, USA 2016
- Official programme on Winter Apricots - Prilep International Movies Festival 2016

Short documentaries

2018 The Water, 8min, writer, director, producer, Opium Film, Macedonia, Albania, Mexico
Festivals/awards:
- Award for the Best Photography for Balkan Cinema Express Award on ARTINVITA Abruzzo International Festival, Italy, 2019
- SPECIAL MENTION Award of 14. International Film Festival ASTERFEST Strumica, Macedonia, 2019
- Official selection on Voices from the Waters International Traveling Film Festival in Bangalore, India, 2018
- Official selection, International Tourism Film Festival "Tourfilm Riga", Latvia, 2018
- Official selection, Balkan Film Food Festival, Pogradec, Albania, 2018
- Official selection, Sardinia Film Festival, Italy, July 2018
- WINNER, the 4th edition of the International Film Festival "The Quarantine", Varna, Bulgaria, 2018
- Selected at MAK POINT program of the 39th International Cinematographers' Film Festival MANAKI BROTHERS, Bitola, Macedonia, 2018
- Special screening on "Beach Film Festival Ohrid" (19-22 July, 2018) in Ohrid, Macedonia,
- Official selection of short films international competition "CINEECO", Seia, Portugal, 2018
- Official selection on International Film Festival with Alternative Media FICMA, Mexico City, Mexico, 2018
- Macedonian selection on Winter Apricots: Prilep International Film Festival, 2018, Prilep, Macedonia
- Official selection, In-Short Film Festival, Lagos, Nigeria, 2018
- Macedonian premiere at Skopje Film Festival 2018 Skopje, Macedonia
2009 Mirche Acev life and work, 23min, writer, director, cameraman, editor, producer
2009 Tragedy of Family Rtoski, 5min, writer, director, cameraman, editor, producer
2007 The life of my grandfather, 15min, writer, director, cameraman, editor, producer

Short films

2019 Çdo Çast,10min, co-producer, cinematographer, Mexico, Albania, Macedonia
Festivals/awards:
- Winner (Jury Prize) Best Short Film and Best Photography Festival Internacional de Cine Ciudad Madero FICCMa
2014 Wires, 12min, writer, director, editor, producer, Macedonia
Festivals/awards:
Official selection WIN PANORAMA, Tetova International Film Festival ODA, 2015, Macedonia
SEE a Paris film festival Paris, France/Berlin, Germany, 2015
Official selection Balkan Film Food Festival, 2015, Pogradec, Albania
Official selection, Student Art Festival – STARTFEST, 2016, Florida, USA
2013 Isolation, 1min, writer, director, producer, Macedonia
Festivals/awards:
Silver Medal for One minute film at the 42nd National Amateur Film Festival, 2013, Macedonia
Official selection, NowOrNever International Film Festival, 2015, Spain
Official selection, Top Shorts Online Film Festival, 2015
“BEST OF POV WINNER”, Oregon 4Screen FilmFestival, 2015, Ashland, USA
2013 In the darkness, 7 min, writer, director, producer, Macedonia
Festivals/awards:
Gold Medal for Best short feature film at the 43th National Amateur Film Festival, 2014, Macedonia
2012 Unfulfilled desires, 13min, writer, director, Macedonia
Festivals/awards:
Gold Medal for Best short feature film at the 42th National Amateur Film Festival, 2013, Macedonia
2011 Fake love, 4 min, director, Macedonia
2010 Verdict, 4min, writer, director, cameraman, editor, producer, Macedonia
Festivals/awards:
Gold Medal for Best short feature film and Gold Medal for Best director at the 39th National Amateur Film Festival, 2010, Macedonia

Biography and filmography – Svetislav Podleshanov

Born on 29 of septemper 1992 in Bitola, Macedonia.Finished high school in SOTU Gjorgji Naumov in Bitola. Graduated film directing on University of Audio-Visual Arts, ESRA-Skopje. Most popular films from his filmography:

- Documentary:
o "Bitolas sources" (2007),
Special Plaque for young autor – 15th IFDF “Kamera 300”;
o "Humans foot" (2008), Screening on the 3th "Festival for Historycal Films" in Shumen, Bulgaria;
o "Memories the Year of 49" (2009),
Bronze Plaque for Documentary film on 17th IFDF "Kamera 300" in Bitola and on "KRAF" Rieka.
Golden Plaque for Camera and Silver plaque for Documentary on the 39th State Amateur Film Festival - 2010 Kavadarci
Best Documentary and Special Award for young autor on the 4th "Festival for Historycal Films" – Shumen, Bulgaria.
o "The last leaf" (2011),
Silver Plaque for Documentary film - on the 40th State Amateur Film Festival – Kichevo, Macedonia.
o "The water" (2018), Macedonia, Albania, Mexico

- Short Films:
o "Double paradox" (2009),
Silver Plaque for one minute film on the 38th State Amateur Film Festival – 2010, Macedonia;
o "In step with the vice" (2009);
o "Friday the 13th" (2010);
o "A piece of mind" (2011);
o "Moonlight" (2012);
o "Reflection" (2013),
First Prize for One minute film and Award for Best Camera on the 41th State Amateur Film Festival, Macedonia.
Macedonian represent on One Minute World Cup in Austria.
One minute Tropfy and second prize from audience – One Minute Film Festival in Brasil;
o "Essence Voyage" (2014),
Grand Prix, Award for Best Director and Award for Best Camera on the 42th State Amateur Film Festival in Strumica, Macedonia;
o "Аscend" (2013),
Award for Best experimental film on the 42th State Amateur Film Festival in Strumica, Macedonia;

- Feature films:
o "Theosis" (2016) 75min [Worked as Film Director, Writter, Producer and Editor] – graduation film; Official Selection on South East European Film Festival Berlin, Germany 26-29 May 2016; Official Selection on South East European Film Festival Paris, France 01-05 June 2016; Official Selection on OHRID International Film Festival, Ohrid, Macedonia 10-15 June 2016; Official Selection on BALKAN FILM FOOD FESTIVAL, Podgradec, Albania 01-06 August 2016; Official Selection on Macedonian cinema days Film festival, Sydney, Australia 14-16 October 2016; MAC POINT on International Cinematographers' Film Festival Manaki Brothers, Bitola, Macedonia 10-17 September 2016; Student program on CINEDAYS Festival of European Film, Skopje, Macedonia 10-19.11.2016: IndieWise Virtual Film Festival, Miami, FL, USA 2016; Off programme on Winter Apricots - Prilep International Movies Festival 2016.

His interests about cinematography showed up since his youngest age, but more seriously with film he started to work since he was 12 years old. Since than his films are been showed in cinemas and are collecting awords in Macedonia and out of the borders. As a film student works on many differnt student and professional projects as a first assistant director, producent, editor and crew member.