Golden Wheel 2006 Film Festival
Skopje, 11. 4. 2006, 16:23 (BTR TV)

The Fourth traditional Roma Film Festival "Golden Wheel 2006" was held on 6th and 7th of April this year. The opening ceremony was on 6th of April with premier screening of the film "Sutka - the Book of records" who won the Amnesty International award for human and min irity's rights.

After this there followed a workshop on the topic "What is the reason for the irritation present among the Roma peoplke in the theater and on the film screen?" At this workshop attended high- school pupils from the secondary schools:Arseni Jovkov", "Braka Miladinovci", "Cvetan Dimov" and "Koco Racin"- all from Skopje, the capiotl of Macedonia, as well as Roma students at the Skopje's university "St. Kiril and Metodij". This festival was held in the "Continental " hotel.

First we planned to hold this event for three days but due to financial difficulties we concluded that it would be the best if this manifestation lasts for only two days. The discussion went in a totaaly wrong direction, when the children from the high- schools started discussing and arguing that this film is insulting for the Roma in general, and that they feel humiliated regarding the topics and the people presented in this film.The people who were leading this workshop were: Marijan Vujovik, the producer of the film "Sutka- the book of records", then Danco Cevrevski, the Dean at the Drama Arts faculty in Skopje and president of the jury, Ms. Marija and Mr. Darko Mitrevski- both film directors, then Mr. Filip Herin, aalso a director, and Dejan Trajkovski, a journalist in the printed media "Vecer". On this discussion also attended several persons from the NGO sector and famous state persons. Marija Dzidzeva and Filip Herin tried to turn this discussion in the right direction, to be discussed for the aesthetic of the film and theater, and the artistic partt of the plays and films, with certtain emphasis of the moral feature in the same. After this there was a lunch for the participants of this manifestation, after this there was a walk of these persons and visit of the most famous monuments and places of our city. The first day ended with dinner of the guests.

The next day first there was screening of the film "The "Ramiz & Hamid brothers", then followed the two short- length documentary films of the PARTED Advertising Macedonia production "Dzenisa from Kicevo" and "Dzenifa from Bitola"

The film "The music of the exotic outskirts" was dedicated to the life of the famous family Agushevi from Strumica, Maceodnmia. Next was the film "Adio Moravska" dedicated to the life of the Roma refugees from Kosovo. The short documentary film "The life of the Roma children from the block 71" was on some mode an interview with several Roma children in Belgrade, asking for the habits of these people. Then it was the film "That is who I am" dedicated to the Romanina Roma children who now live in Great Britain, referring to their new mode of life, starting from the learning of the English language which was not an easy process.The Romanina film "Roma tears" was focused on showing the customs and tradition of the Roma people in Romania. After this there was screening of the film "A moving story" dedicated to the life of the family of Fred who is living in a caravan and moves on quite often.. The film dedicated to the famous Roma director and a theater worker Rahim Burhan "The Pralipe thater".At the end there was another film screened at this festival. That was the film "Roma night" directed by Fetahi Spejtim.After this followed the discussion for the screened films, the impressions of the very participants and this was ended with the last screening for the steps and progress of the BTR TV station through the years.

In the evening there was the awarding of the films.

The jury commission was consisted of the following persons:

1. Danco Cevreski- Dean at the Drama Art Faculty, president of the jury

2. Darko Mitrevski- Director

3. Marija Dzidzeva- Director

4. Filip Herin- a director

5. Dejan Trajkovski- journalist in the newspaper "Vecer"

6. Safet Kamber- BTR Television

The Grand prix award went for the film "Sutka- The book of records". The second award went for the film "Roma tears" of Luminitia Chioaba. The third award went for the film "Adio Moravska" of Spejtim Fetahi.
There were given special awards as well. The first award of this type went for the film "Dzenisa from Kichevo", and the other went to Lucy Kaye for the Film "Moving story".

As we already mentioned previously we had financial difficultues but we are, however, going ahead and we don't intend to put an end to this Festival but through this festival we are willing to present most of all our country as a place where the state is helping to its citizens who are subjects of the Roma nationality for their bigger integration in the society and being an example for the other people at the Balkan and in Europe.

At the end we must express our gratitude to all those who are giving support to this Festival and who still have kept the art soul in themselves , a soul without prejudices and stereotypes. We are here with our Film Festival in order to help not to die the Roma culture and tradition in first line.

We want to express our gratitude to al those who gave us any type of support and help- both moral and financial.

BTR TV