Nearly 40 Events at 51st Ohrid Summer Festival

The 51st Ohrid Summer Festival will be formally opened on Tuesday (July 12) with "Trilogia Romana", a grand multimedia project produced by famous Spanish company "La Fura dels Baus" and performed by the Macedonian Philharmonic Orchestra. The festival this year, which ends of Aug. 20, will host about forty events."Trilogia Romana" is composed by Ottorino Respighi, which was performed last month in Rome and Valencia. "La Fura dels Baus" company has been producing plays for 32 years and is known for its uniqueness.Selector of the music program, Gordana Josifova-Nedelkovska told a press conference on Wednesday that the festival would see the performances by Nigel Kennedy - one of the most famous violinists in the world, eminent Russia pianists, Alexander Gindin, Alexei Volodin and Boris Berezovsky, as well as many others.Other must-see performances, especially by Macedonian artists, are the concerts by guitarist Vlatko Stefanovski and violinist Stefan Milenkovic on Aug. 1 and by musician Duke Bojadziev on Aug. 2 at the Antique Theater in Ohrid.
"This year the program is different from last year's because it was retrospective. The festival once again aims to bring fresh artists from all around the world. In the past 50 years, the festival hosted an impressive number of musicians, however nowadays there is a pleiad of amazing musicians who perform in packed venues worldwide and our goal is to bring artists who haven't performed before in Ohrid," she said.
Selector of the drama program, Gjorgi Jolevski said this year's Ohrid Summer Festival offered performances of classical plays by Euripides, Heiner Muller, Beaumarchais, William Shakespeare...
There will be three premieres at the festival - "The Marriage of Figaro" directed by Levan Tsuladze and produced by the Macedonian National Theater, "Cabaret Misterioso" directed by Dejan Damjanovski and produced by the Ohrid Theater. Ohrid Summer Festival will be closed with the premiere of "Medea" directed by Nada Kokotovic and produced by the Bitola National Theater.In addition to concerts and plays, the festival also offers numerous exhibitions.

Lets go to Venice! Skopje - Venice Flight 25.99 Euros

Starting from September 20, you can fly from Skopje to Venice with one-way fares starting at 25.99 EUR, all taxes and fees included, Hungarian low cost airline Wizz-air said in a statement. 

‘This is only the beginning. We plan to introduce other flight routes’, Commercial Director of Wizz Air, Gyorgy Abran said at today’s press conference. 

WizzAir has launched flights from Skopje to London, as of June 19. So far, WizzAir has sold about 8250 one-way tickets to London. 

The company expects that by the end of the year at least 25.000 people will book flights to London or Venice. 

You can book tickets easily by paying online using your credit or debit card. You can get a cheaper deal by booking your flight early.

Q1: Macedonian GDP up 5.1%

The Macedonian economy expanded by a real 5.1% on the year in the first quarter of 2011 compared to a revised annual drop of 0.5% a year ago, preliminary statistical data sowed on Friday. 

Macedonia's gross domestic product (GDP) in the first quarter totalled 102.601 billion denars ($2.34 billion/1.66 billion euro) in current prices, the country's statistics office said in a statement.

Pianist Trpceski wraps up Concert season in Australia, New Zealand

Pianist Simon Trpceski wrapped up his latest series of performances across Great Britain with last night's concert at the Midsummer Music Festival.

The highly-successful concert season 2010/2011 will be concluded with performances in Australia and New Zealand.

"I'm happy to be able to perform before Australian audiences for the fourth time in Melbourne and Adelaide. The second leg of the tour resumes in New Zealand with several concerts together with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Trpceski told the Macedonian Radio.

In the frameworks of the tour, the Macedonian pianist will hold a seminar at the University of Auckland, where he will hold his last concert on July 15. The tour "Down Under" starts with a concert in Clayton, Australia on June 24.

A second CD of Trpceski's collaboration with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra has been released recently.

The first CD was awarded with the French prestigious international recognition "Golden Diapason", whereas it secure the third spot at the British classical music chart.

Globochica breaks production record

Hydro power plant Globocica has generated the highest production since its establishment in 1966. With 252gWh, the power plant broke the record of 250gWh in 1986, power utility Elektrana Makedonije (ELEM) informed.

"Annual production of Globocica has been achieved already in July. The value of the result is of significant importance since the hydro power plant continues to generate power in accordance with the needs of the power system," reads the official statement of ELEM.

Annual Award for the Best Promoter of Macedonia

Annual Award for the Best Promoter of Macedonia is a simple idea  to honor people who have Macedonia in their hearts and they tell others to fell in love with Macedonia. The Award is introduced to recognize achievements of extraordinary People from different walks of life, all over the world, who have one common goal: promotion of various Macedonian causes. A nominee could be a person (or group of persons) who in 2010 has actively promoted the Republic Macedonia and the country causes and interests, regardless of nationality, region of activities, field and form of promotional activities e.g. cultural, social, economic, tourism, political etc. The Award is honorary . The winner receives a special medal and the title of the Best Promoter of Macedonia.

Everybody can support and lobby for  favored candidates in a special Poll posted at the following link www.facebook.com/Macedonia.BestPromoterAward, where Contest Rules are also available. The Best Promoter of Macedonia Award is initiated and organized by the Macedonia Loves You Project www.macedonialovesyou.com. The contest is open, public and organized annually. Nomination period lasts from November 15th , 2010 until  January 15th, 2011. After the first medal is awarded special Web Page will be developed, presenting the winner and all nominees. Hopefully , this will create a forum for Macedonian Promoters from all over the world. The medal is for one but winners are all!

4th mobile operator in Macedonia

Macedonian Electronic Communications Agency (AEK) has informed that company WTI Macedonia was the first to apply as a virtual mobile operator on the Macedonian market.
This means that the company has the right to use networks of other operators in Macedonia in order to provide services to Macedonian citizens.

For the purpose, the AEK allocated 100,000 numbers to WTI, which the company will be able to sell on its SIM cards. The Netherlands-based company will reportedly start operating in Macedonia in two to three months.

Skopje Hosting a Wine Festival

Thursday, 14 October 2010 The fourth international wine promotion festival Vino-Skop 2010 will roll out at Makedonija Square from October 13 to 17.

Zito Vardar Group will make sure that visitors are offered delicious food and baked specialties to be served on a 20-meter-long table.

Zito Vardar CEO Risto Tashev said this year more than 200.000 people are expected to show up at the event. The sales of all products will be made through “wine denars” which can be bought at Vino-Skop stands, The wine will be served in glasses, which can be bought at the entrance.

“Besides Macedonian, there will be French, Spanish and Croatian wine,” organizers said.

The concept of this event is to present the long-standing wine production, cultural inheritance and tradition through wine tasting and sale of quality wine, refreshments and lots of entertainment.

Darryl Hannah - special guest at 31. ICFF "Manaki Brothers"

At today's press conference, International Cinematographers' Film Festival (ICFF) "Manaki Brothers" and Vip operator with great honour and pleasure announced the jury of the "Manaki Brothers Film Festival" (16-22 October in Bitola), and over 150 outstanding guests from the world cinema, of whom many were awarded at various film festivals from A-category, and the guest list includes the exceptional American actress Darryl Hannah.

Daryl Hannah is coming to Macedonia, Bitola to receive the Special Golden Camera 300 Award  for her outstanding contribution to the world cinema. In honour of Daryl Hannah, on October 17 the festival will screen one of her latest films, Kill Bill 2.

Hannah, from her first film role in the Fury (1978) by B. de Palma, played in the films of a series of exceptional directors who are considered the most talented authors of our time. Often she played together with the legends of world cinema, always giving an outstanding acting performance, which brought for her worldwide popularity and appreciation.

Daryl Hannah has played in over 50 titles, including Blade runner (R. Scott), Roxanne (F. Schepisi), Excitement (N. Jordan), Wall Street (O. Stone), Steel Magnolias (H. Ross). Daryl Hannah also worked with many art-house directors like Hector Babenco At Play in the Fields of the Lord, Fernando Trueba Two Much, Robert Altman The Gingerbread Man, Michael Radford Dancing at the Blue Iguana, John Sayles Casa de los babys.

In recent years, Hannah is engaged in pursuit of many social goals, activist movements and civic organizations. After all, Special Award "Golden Camera 300" for outstanding contribution to the world cinema at the 31st International Cinematographers' Film Festival "Manaki Brothers" is awarded to recognize Daryl Hannah for her contribution to the film art, but she also deserves to be praised for her contribution to all-important concerns about environmentalism, protection of bio-diversity, sustainable living and human rights of marginalized groups.

The jury will be headed by Oscar-winning Vilmos Zsigmond, cinematographer from USA / Hungary, a giant of the world cinema. Other members of the jury:

Pawel Pawlikowski, director of UK / Poland, which is known as the author of eccentric documentaries and as a double winner of the BAFTA awards. His most famous films Last Resort (2000) and My summer of love (2004) attended the ICFF "Manaki Brothers," where in 2001 he received the main prize. His last film The woman on the fifth floor, with Kristin Scott Thomas and Ethan Hawk in the main roles, is in post-production.

Christine Dolhofer, festival director from Austria, director of the Crossing Europe film Festival in Linz, one of the most important figures of the Austrian film industry.

Dominique Fury, one of the most interesting visual artists from France. The film as a art form is one of her permanent component in her works.

Natasha Braier, cinematographer from Argentina, nominated for Oscar in this year's foreign film category, and winner of the Golden Bear at Berlin last year and the "Golden Camera 300" Award for her film Milk of Sorrow.

Darko Mitrevski, director from Macedonia, whose previous films have won numerous awards in the world and a huge cinema audiences in Macedonia.

"We believe that we composed an extremely interesting jury, colourful, yet balanced and outstanding in any regard," said Labina Mitevska, manager of the Festival.

The festival will open with the movie Mothers of M. Manchevski who, along with his crew, will also be a guest of the 31st ICFF in the year 2010.

Among around 400 foreign and domestic visitors, the Festival confirms the names of Baris Ozbicer, cinematographer from Turkey, Debie Benoît, cinematographer from Belgium, regular collaborator of the cult director from France, Gaspar Noe, Martin Gschlacht, cinematographer from Austria, Giora  Bejach, cinematographer from Israel, his film Lebanon, won Golden Lion at the last Venice film festival, Daniel Bouquet, the cinematographer from the Netherlands and Katriel Schory, director of the Israeli Film Fund.

This year around 80 students will come to Bitola from the Bulgarian, German, French, and Israeli Film Academy and the Film Academy in Skopje, Macedonia.

Bitola this year will host several hundred cinematographers, directors, screenwriters, actors, filmmakers from all over the world and from Macedonia.

This year the ICFF "Manaki Brothers" will show a record number of 95 films from the latest world production in nine different programme selections. In order to achieve the festival mission that is not just aimed at celebrating the best but also to elevate the knowledge and curiosity for all the issues in relation to the film making, we will hold a number of workshops, master classes, meetings with our special guests, and round tables that will be run by the leading names in many different fields.

This year for the first time in one place will be shown all seven films from the legacy of the Brothers Manaki, and we will have opportunity to hear the Macedonia Philharmonic Orchestra with the concert "Hear film."

The Winner of the Lifetime Achievement award "Golden Camera 300" is Vilmos Zsigmont , ASC, in which honour the festival will show the You will meet tall dark stranger as closing film. Roger Pratt, BSC, cinematographer from United Kingdom signed over 40 movies, and is perhaps best known for his collaboration with Terry Gilliam is the winner of the Special Golden Camera 300 for outstanding contribution to world cinema art. In his honour the festival will show his film 12 Monkeys directed by Terry Gilliam.

Construction of an elite hotel in Ohrid

Macedonian Ministry of Transport has invited a tender for the sale of a building lot owned by the Republic of Macedonia in Ohrid. A five-star hotel is envisaged to be built at the location.

The initial auction price for the lot of the total surface of 15,878 sqm is MKD 61 sqm. All interested parties can apply for the auction by October 26. The auction will be held on November 2, 2010