30-04-2024

PRODUCTION: Macedonian Director Dina Duma Shoots Sophomore Feature Skateboarding Is Not for Girls

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    Skateboarding Is Not for Girls by Dina Duma Skateboarding Is Not for Girls by Dina Duma credit: Sisters and Brother Mitevski

    SKOPJE: Macedonian director Dina Duma has started shooting her sophomore feature Skateboarding Is Not for Girls / Skejtanjeto ne e za devojcinja in the Macedonian capital of Skopje. The film is a coproduction between North Macedonia, Belgium, Slovenia and Croatia.

    The script penned by Dina Duma and co-penned by Lidija Mojsovska and Teona Strugar Mitevska, follows three generations of women as they navigate the clash between tradition and the challenges of modern times. Through the worldview of 12-year-old Adela, the film opens a world in which three generations of women dare to rewrite their own destinies and challenge the boundaries of a society shaped by tradition.

    The lead roles have been entrusted to Efqar Abaz, Jefrina Jashari, Simonida Selimović and Ganimet Abdula. Severdzan Bajram and Sanela Emin are also starring.

    The film is produced by Labina Mitevska through Macedonian’s Sisters and Brother Mitevski in coproduction with Sébastien Delloye through Entre Chien et Loup (Belgium), Danijel Hočevar through Vertigo (Slovenia) and Vanja Sremac through Terminal 3 (Croatia).

    The North Macedonia Film Agency, Centre du Cinéma et de l'Audiovisuel de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, the Croatian Audiovisual Centre (HAVC), the Slovenian Film Centre and Eurimages are supporting the project. The film's budget is 1.5 m EUR.

    The film was developed during Cannes Residence in 2022 and received the Film Center Serbia and the Female Voices awards at CineLink 2022.

    The shooting started at the beginning of April 2024 on various locations in Skopje and is planned to wrap by 15 May 2024. Belgian DoP Frédéric Noirhomme is lensing and the international crew also includes Slovenian costume designer Mateja Fajt.

    The film is expected to premiere at the beginning of 2025.

    Duma's debut film, Macedonian/Montenegrin Sisters / Sestri, produced by List Production in coproduction with Added Value Films and ijVidea Production, won the Special Jury Award in Karlovy Vary IFF’s East of the West competition in 2021, and it was also selected as North Macedonia’s candidate for the 94th Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences award in the Best International Feature Film category in 2021.

    Sisters is also the first Macedonian film available on Netflix.

    Production Information:

    Producer:
    Sisters and Brother Mitevski (North Macedonia)
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    Coproducers:
    Skateboarding Is Not for Girls by Dina Duma, credit: Gjorgji LicovskiEntre Chien et Loup (Belgium)
    Vertigo (Slovenia)
    Terminal 3 (Croatia)

    Credits:
    Director: Dina Duma
    Scriptwriters: Dina Duma, Lidija Mojsovska,Teona Strugar Mitevska
    DoP: Frédéric Noirhomme
    Set designer: Vuk Mitevski
    Costume designer: Mateja Fajt
    Makeup artist: Mojca Gorogranc Petrushevska
    Casting director: Kirijana A. Nikoloska
    Cast: Efqar Abaz, Jefrina Jashari, Simonida Selimović, Ganimet Abdula, Severdzan Bajram, Sanela Emin