FILMAY international short film festival Kumanovo was established in 2019.
It was initiated following an idea for inspiring, supporting and enhancing short film production, as well as engaging and empowering viewing desires and aspirations for enjoyment of short films.
The festival had its first edition in year 2019, having received 50 film applications, with a festival screening held in the big hall of Zanaetciski dom - Kumanovo on May 29 2019 in front of audience of 200 people.
Festival’s second edition was in year 2020, receiving a total od 2.017 applications.
The public projection was supposed to happen in May, but was delayed due the world situation and health precautions. However, it was held on September 29 2020 in the Grand hall of Cultural centre “Trajko Prokopiev” – Kumanovo. For safety reasons, the 700-seat hall had a full attendance with the allowed 110 members of the audience, with complete compliance of physical distancing and in regards of all the rules for public events in closed space.
The festival is founded and being developed on the following principles:
- FILMAY engages itself as international short film festival, guided by the idea that big changes are achieved through sequence of small steps.
- FILMAY intends to inspire non-conformist thinking with ideas originating from outside-the-box.
- FILMAY claims that anything can be a part of the film story, no matter how aside it is from the visible and audible content of the film frame.
FILMAY short film festival Kumanovo has 4 prizes for competing films:
- `Lazar Gjorgjevikј` award for best direction
- `Radislav Ristevski` award for best photography/cinematography
- `Kozjak` award for best screenplay
- Award for best macedonian (domestic) film
The awards will be decided by the festival jury consisting of odd-number of members.
The jury is intended to have new members each year: one member of the photo-cinema club `Kozjak` - Kumanovo and additional outside members from the film creed (film/theater professionals, writers, journalists, ...).