Irena Hristov, Author at Europe House - Page 3 of 4

Author: Irena Hristov

A Story of Land, Memory and Togetherness: “Land” Premieres in Prilep and Bitola

Posted on by Irena Hristov

With the support of Europe House Bitola, and in collaboration with Atrium, the participatory film “Land”, created through a collective authorship process, premiered before audiences in Bitola and Prilep. The screenings, held at the Stone Stage in Prilep on 26 August and at the small plateau in front of the Officers’ House in Bitola on 27 August, offered audiences a different kind of cinematic experience.

The film invites reflection on land – as a concept, a symbol and a space beyond a clearly defined sense of time – as well as on the human being as a temporary part of its continuum.

The screenings were followed by open and engaging conversations between the collective behind the film and the audience. The discussion explored the ideas and concepts that shaped the creative process, the way the film was made, and the stories and decisions behind what we see on screen. It also opened up questions emerging from the film itself – from the scenes and the characters’ actions to the way its visual language shapes the story.

About the Film

A piece of inherited, exhausted land holds the quiet memory of five women who return year after year to dig, eat and leave, repeating a ritual that lost its meaning long ago, but not its form.

Their routine is disrupted when one of them sells her share of the property, believing that she is freeing herself, while in fact quietly shifting the foundation on which their sense of togetherness rests.

Creative Team

Cast: Jasna Vesić, Tatjana Jovanovska, Hristina Srbinoska, Sofija Kutlešovska, Ana Tambura

Set Assistants: Andrea Grozdanovska and Mihail Spasevski

Direction and Editing: Ivana Mirčevska
Screenplay: Kalija Kiselichki
Cinematography: Istok Čapovski
Animation: Ivana Mirčevska
Sound Design: Marko Rikaloski
Producer: Dino Čupevski

Three Countries, One Mountain: “Balkan Without Borders” Brings Hikers Together on Belasica

Posted on by Irena Hristov

Hiking enthusiasts from North Macedonia, Bulgaria and Greece once again came together on Mount Belasica, near Tumba (Tri-Border) Peak, for the 26th edition of the traditional international hiking gathering “Balkan Without Borders”, organized by the Enthusiast Mountaineering Clubfrom Strumica.

As every year, participants hiked together to Tumba Peak, at 1,881 metres above sea level – a place where the borders of the three neighbouring countries meet. With its powerful symbolism, the peak is a reminder that nature and sport can create a space for meeting, exchange and cooperation, regardless of borders.

The shared climb, time spent together and moments in nature once again showed that mountains do not divide us – they bring us together.

Europe House Strumica was pleased to support the event, which for more than two decades has promoted hiking and friendship, created opportunities for new encounters, and brought people from across the region closer together.

Sport Is for All! A Place to Participate, Learn and Enjoy – An Inclusive Swimming Session in Veles

Posted on by Irena Hristov

Swimming is more than just a sport. It is an opportunity to learn, gain greater independence and create an environment where everyone can participate and enjoy themselves – including people in our community who live with cerebral palsy.

That is exactly what the inclusive swimming session organized by Europe House Veles was all about. Together with Macedonian Lifeguard – Association for Water and Mountain Safety and Cerebral Association, we turned the City Swimming Pool in Veles into a place where everyone could have fun and feel included. A place where physical challenges took a back seat.

With support from the instructors and conditions adapted to their needs, participants learned basic swimming techniques, how to move safely and confidently in the water, and essential water safety rules – all through hands-on experience and social interaction.

This swimming session was another opportunity to show that sport is for everyone, and that inclusion is something we create together – by ensuring equal opportunities to participate, learn and enjoy the activities that bring us together.

XXIII International Comics Colony “Veles 2026”: Stories That Come to Life Through Drawing, Colour and Different Worldviews

Posted on by Irena Hristov

Veles once again became a stage where stories come to life through drawing, colour and creativity. The XXIII International Comics Colony “Veles 2026” opened at Europe House Veles, bringing together comic artists, illustrators and lovers of the ninth art.

The Salon featured a selection of comics submitted to the traditional international “Golden Comic” competition, along with the announcement of this year’s winning authors and works. This year, the competition attracted 497 comic works from authors from around 30 countries, reaching a record number of submissions and confirming the international interest in this art form.

The variety of styles, ideas and visual languages once again proved just how powerful a few frames can be. From drawing and scriptwriting to colour and experimental expression, each comic offered its own way of storytelling and its own unique perspective.

Europe House Veles once again supported the Colony, organized by the Macedonian Comics Centre – Veles, as well as the young authors who turn their ideas and stories into comics, helping create opportunities for their work to be seen, recognized and further developed.

But the stories did not end with the exhibition. The programme continued with the 8th International Comic Art Colony Veles 2026, bringing together 14 female comic artists from five Balkan countries and creating another space for artistic creation, exchange and connection through comics.

Award-Winning Authors and Works

Main “Golden Comic” Awards

  • First Prize: “Eternal” – Marko Stojanović (script, Serbia), Milorad Vicanović Maza (art, Bosnia and Herzegovina) and Aljoša Tomić (colour, Bosnia and Herzegovina)
  • Second Prize: “The Winter of the Arapahos” – Kristian Sekulić (Novi Sad, Serbia)
  • Third Prize: “Love Is Hard Work” – Duda Vukojev (script, Serbia) and Dragan Pavasović (art, Croatia)

Special Awards

  • Best Script: “The World Belongs to All of Us” – Hulya Koluk (Türkiye)
  • Best Drawing: “Daydreaming” – Aleksandar Tanchovski (Skopje, North Macedonia)
  • Best Artistic Expression: “At the Border” – Marko Stojanović (script) and Marko Nikolić (art), Serbia
  • Special Award for Experimental Expression: “Sand in the Throat” – Filipa Sara Popova, Ana Knežević and Marko Trpeski (Skopje, North Macedonia)
  • Best Debut Comic: “Star Mission” – Hristina Krstinovska (Resen, North Macedonia)
  • Best Mentor: Šener Dalipovski (Resen, North Macedonia

 

Congratulations to the award-winning authors, and to all the artists whose work was part of this year’s Salon!

Following the Eel’s Journey by Kayak – Another Summer Adventure on the Black Drim

Posted on by Irena Hristov

Today, the Black Drim River and Lake Globočica became our route, with kayaks offering the perfect way to experience them from a completely different perspective.

To mark World Youth Skills Day, we teamed up with the Sports Club Solaris Struga to organise “The Eel’s Journey”, a kayaking tour designed to show that the Black Drim and Lake Globočica are more than just part of a beautiful landscape. They are also places that can bring people together, inspire new experiences and offer a different way to discover the natural surroundings of Struga.

Following the symbolic route of the European eel, participants had the opportunity to learn the basics of kayaking under the guidance of professional instructors, gain practical skills for safe movement on the water, and get a closer look at the natural wealth of the Black Drim.

“The Eel’s Journey” was also an opportunity to explore the value of local ecosystems, learn more about the biodiversity that makes this region unique, and remind ourselves that protecting nature begins with understanding it and experiencing it first-hand.

When we use nature and public spaces creatively and responsibly, the possibilities are truly endless.

From Self-Care to Active Participation in the Community: International Youth Day in Krivogaštani and Prilep

Posted on by Irena Hristov

Europe House Bitola marked International Youth Day with two different activities in two different locations, united by one common goal – to create opportunities for young people to feel good about themselves, connect with others, and know that their voices matter.

In collaboration with Urban Nest, the Youth Centre in Krivogaštani hosted the mental health workshop “Between Thought and Feeling”, led by Marija Adžioska Dunimagloski, a licensed psychologist and founder of the “Growth and Development” Psychological Centre. The workshop created a space for young people to talk about their inner world and explored practical ways to achieve a calmer mind, better emotional regulation, and a healthier relationship with oneself.

From caring for their own wellbeing to taking an active role in their community, the celebration continued in Prilep, where Europe House Bitola supported the local Youth Council Prilep in organizing both the formal and informal parts of the event.

Through a moderated panel discussion, young people had the opportunity to learn more about local youth initiatives, exchange ideas and experiences, and take part directly in conversations about issues that matter to them.

After the discussion, the evening continued in a more relaxed spirit, with table tennis, socializing, and a DJ set by Emily Nas.

The two activities once again showed that young people need different, but equally important, opportunities – for conversation and self-reflection, for socializing and having fun, but also for active participation and making a contribution to their communities.

That is why we are here – to help build communities where every young person can feel connected, supported and free to develop and fulfil their potential.

Healing Hike – A Step Closer to Nature and the Heritage of Šar Mountain

Posted on by Irena Hristov

A day on Šar Mountain that was about much more than just hiking.

From Sidolski Kamen, through the traditional summer sheepfolds in Šipkovica, and all the way to Guri i Llopëve, Healing Hike gave us an opportunity to step away from the city rush, slow down, and reconnect with nature, the local community and the rich heritage of Šar Mountain.

Our hike began at Sidolski Kamen, with the trail continuing towards the summer sheepfolds in Šipkovica. There, local guide and professor Nedžbedin Haliti shared stories and insights into the history, traditions and significance of the sheepfolds, as well as the botanical garden.

The trail then continued towards Kamenot na Kravite, with every step opening up a new view of the mountain and its landscape.

But Healing Hike was about more than following a trail. It was about connection – with nature, with local stories and with the people around us. About those moments when we stop, look around and experience a place through all its layers – natural, cultural and human.

It is through experiences like these that we build and nurture the values that connect us: togetherness, care for nature and respect for cultural heritage.

Because sometimes, to reconnect with ourselves, all we need is to take a few steps closer to nature.

Healing Hike was organized by Europe House Tetovo, UNSHMT and the Tetovo Mountaineering Club, with the support of the Municipality of Tetovo.

RAVEL: Unravel by Herzel – A Contemporary Take on Ravel’s Music Comes to Struga

Posted on by Irena Hristov

What happens when the music of Maurice Ravel is seen through the lens of an artist rooted in contemporary electronic music?

That is exactly the experience offered by Aleksandar Grozdanovski, aka Herzel, who brought “RAVEL: Unravel” to Struga’s Poetry Park — an unconventional musical performance that reimagined the work of one of the 20th century’s most influential composers for a contemporary audience.

For more than a century, Ravel’s music has reached far beyond the traditional boundaries of classical music. Known for its precision, rich sonic palette and daring ideas, his work continues to inspire musicians across genres around the world. These qualities provided the foundation for Herzel’s fresh take on Ravel’s music.

“RAVEL: Unravel” was neither a classical concert nor an electronic set. By bringing Ravel’s composition into dialogue with contemporary electronic production, Herzel created a fresh musical experience, offering audiences a new way to hear and experience Ravel’s music.

The event was organized in collaboration with the Drim Short Film Festival and supported by the French Institute in Skopje, Agence Consulaire de France in Bitola and Honorary Consul Kaliopa Stilinović, and Alliance Française de Bitola.

This performance is part of a broader effort to introduce French cultural heritage to new audiences through contemporary artistic forms — giving music composed more than a century ago a chance to resonate in a fresh and unexpected way.

From an Old T-Shirt to a New Story: “Wear Your Art” Brings Creativity and Sustainability Together

Posted on by Irena Hristov

What if an old T-shirt could become a canvas for a new story?

That was the idea behind Wear Your Art, a creative pop-up workshop organized by Europe House Strumica in collaboration with Gnezdo from Kočani, Tomislav and Simon. The workshop gave old T-shirts a whole new life — instead of ending up as waste, they were transformed into unique pieces of clothing.

Using textile paints and specially designed stencils, participants created their own designs inspired by some of the most endangered animal species in North Macedonia and across the Balkans — the Balkan lynx, griffon vulture, Dalmatian pelican, Eurasian otter, brown bear and Balkan chamois.

Each print was more than just a piece of art. It was a reminder that creativity can be a powerful way not only to talk about sustainability and nature conservation, but also to put these values into practice.

And the need for ideas like these is growing. Globally, around 92 million tonnes of textile waste end up in landfills every year. Much of the clothing we throw away can be given a second life — as something new, with a new purpose or a new story.

Wear Your Art showed that sustainability does not have to be a serious topic of conversation. It can be creative, fun and personal — something that starts with an individual choice and carries a personal touch.

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