News

DNF FILMS | Stories in Motion

️ The past month has been a strong reminder that meaningful stories continue to find new audiences long after their first release.
At DNF Films, we are proud to celebrate several important milestones. Our short film A Joke reached its 40th festival screening and became one of the standout titles on the SHELFTV platform.Three years after its premiere, Thing Unsaid returned to the big screen as part of the Macedonian Film Mondays program, demonstrating the lasting relevance of stories that resonate with audiences.  We were also delighted to see Fighting for Death screened in cinemas again after many years, with audience interest proving that the film continues to hold a special place in Macedonian cinema.
Looking ahead, we are especially excited that STRIGA, our international co-production with Croatia’s WOODZ, has received development support from the Macedonian Film Agency . This achievement reflects DNF Films’ continued growth and our dedication to creating stories with both local roots and international potential.
️ We are grateful to our partners, collaborators, institutions, festivals, exhibitors, and audiences for their continued support. As we build on these achievements, we remain focused on developing and producing films that connect, challenge, and endure.
in DNF Films / Festivals / Fighting For Death / Things Unsaid / А Јоке

“A Joke” becomes a leading title on the streaming platform Shelf TV after more than 40 festival selections!

The short film “A Joke” continues its exceptionally successful festival journey, with more than 40 official selections worldwide. From regional and national competitions to major international festivals, the film has consistently found new audiences and recognition across different cultural contexts.

Throughout its festival career, “A Joke” has been screened at numerous prestigious events, where it has received awards and distinctions from both juries and audiences, establishing itself as one of the notable Macedonian short films on the international scene.

Alongside its festival run, the film is now entering a new digital chapter. “A Joke” is available on the streaming platform Shelf TV, where it is presented as an award-winning short film and is currently featured as one of the platform’s main titles.

More at the following link:https://shelftv.com/news/38/shelf-tv-announces-award-winning-short-a-joke-arriving-sunday-may-31st

in Festivals / А Јоке

DNF Films in Trieste – When East Meets West

From 18 to 20 January, in Trieste, Italy, within the framework of Inspiration Lab – When East Meets West, producer Goce Kralevski participated in the Amazing Intelligence – AI & Audience Design workshop, developed in collaboration with ACE Producers. The workshop focused on contemporary approaches to the use of artificial intelligence, the development of audience design strategies, and practical tools for better development, positioning, and application of film and audiovisual projects to international funds and markets, with the support of the Macedonian Film Agency.

 

in DNF Films

Behind the scene – A Joke

On August 26 last year, we had the premiere of “A Joke” at the prestigious Odense Film Festival in Denmark.
Let’s take a look back at what it looked like behind the camera 👀🎬 here is the link

And right on time, the news arrived about yet another festival – the 30th official selection for “A Joke”.

 

 

in А Јоке

🎬 A JOKE – Double Win on the Shores of Lake Ohrid

The festival journey of A Joke continues to shine! After multiple international recognitions, the film has now received two more prestigious Best Film awards – this time in Macedonia, on the stunning shores of Lake Ohrid.

🏆 Beach Film Festival – Best Film
🏆 DRIM SHORT Film Festival – Best Film in the National Competition

These latest honors are a beautiful reminder of the film’s connection with audiences at home, as well as abroad. Both festivals celebrate cinema in one of the most breathtaking and culturally rich regions in the world, making these wins even more special.
A heartfelt thank you to both festivals, the juries, and everyone who shared this moment with us. Lake Ohrid will forever remain a milestone in the journey of A Joke. 🌊🎥

in Awards / Festivals / А Јоке

“A Joke” Opens the 18th “Coming of Age” Edition of the Mediterranean Film Festival in Split 🇭🇷

Out of 104 selected films from 37 countries, this short film was chosen for the festival’s opening night as the strongest reflection of this year’s theme: coming of age, personal growth, love, friendship, and the questions that arise when stepping into the world of adulthood.

The audience in Split responded with genuine applause as the crew stepped on stage. After the screening, there were comments that the characters and the world the film presents left an impression as if they were part of a feature-length production—so vivid and present that they stayed with the viewers even after the final frame.

“A Joke” is one of the rare short films in the history of the festival to be invited to a Q&A session after the screening—a gesture that speaks to the deep resonance it had with the audience.

In attendance at the opening were director Trifun Sitnikovski and producers Goce Kralevski and Adrijana Prugovečki.
The film was received with warmth and attention, just as every small, sincere story hopes to be when it finds its place on the big screen.

in Festivals / А Јоке

A JOKE – Festival Journey

 🎬 A JOKE – Festival Journey 🌍
Since its world premiere at the Odense International Film Festival, A Joke has been on a roll, collecting awards, recognitions, and genuine reactions along the way.
Selected by 18 festivals in Macedonia and abroad, the film has traveled across continents and earned 5 awards for its bold storytelling and performance.
🏆 AWARD HIGHLIGHTS
✨ Dzirni, Skopje, Macedonia – Audience Best Film & Special Mention for Jana Nikodinovska
✨ Filmski Front, Novi Sad, Serbia – Best Movie
✨ Unica Korea, Korea – Gold Award & Best Acting for Jana Nikodinovska
🌟 In addition to Odense, A Joke was selected by renowned festivals such as:
Hobnobben Film Festival (USA), Bardi Film Festival (Italy), MANAKI BROTHERS (Macedonia), Pori Film Festival (Finland), Pearl of the Silk Road (Uzbekistan), Mladinski Filmski Festival Spoznavanje (Macedonia), Zuma Film Festival (Nigeria), Janjira International Film Festival (India), Winter Apricots (Macedonia), Fescilmar (Poland and Venezuela), Red Line International Film Festival (Italy), Pupila Film Festival (Brazil), Mediterranean Film Festival (Croatia), Filmski Front (Serbia), Dzirni (Macedonia), Unica Korea (Korea), Peshawar International Film Festival (Pakistan), and Drim Short Film Festival (Macedonia).
A heartfelt thank you to every festival, jury, and viewer who’s laughed, reflected, and resonated with A Joke. The journey continues.
in Awards / Festivals / А Јоке

The film Birthing enters its final post-production phase!

Over the past few days,  Birthing team was in Croatia, where the final color grading and sound design took place, followed by a test screening.

Color grading was done at Eclecttica Studio, while sound editing and design were completed at SobaDo Studio.

In Zagreb were director Milena Vitman, cinematographer Marina Koloska, and producer Goce Kralevski, warmly welcomed by Croatian producer Adrijana Prugovečki.

The entire process took place in a productive and professional atmosphere, with excellent collaboration with the team from WOODZ Production in Croatia. The film is taking its final shape and will soon be ready for the audience.

in Birthing

New gallery BTS from “A Joke”

We just added a gallery BTS from “A Joke”, to remember our Journeys 🙂

Pictures in the link – > https://dnf.mk/about-us/

in А Јоке

Huge successes of “A Joke”

The film “A Joke” continues to achieve remarkable success following its premiere at the Odense Festival in Denmark. It has garnered multiple awards across various international festivals, including Best Film at the Filmski Front Festival in Novi Sad, Serbia (2024), and UNICA Korea (2024). Additionally, it won the Audience Award at the Dzirni Festival in Skopje, Macedonia.

Jana Nikodinovska, the lead actress in “A Joke” has also been recognized for her outstanding performance, winning Best Actress awards at both the Dzirni Festival and UNICA Korea.

Beyond the accolades, the film has sparked significant audience engagement, with lively discussions following every screening, making it a standout at every festival it attends.

in Awards / Festivals / А Јоке

“А Јоке” in new festival roles

After the world premiere in Odense, Denmark. “Mala Shega” had a festival screening at more than 10 festivals. It had its Macedonian premiere at The International Cinematographers’ Film Festival “MANAKI BROTHERS”, Bitola Macedonia, which continued the Macedonian festival screening at Dzirni, Skopje, as well as Winter Apricots, Prilep,

The festival life of “Mala Shega” continues with the official, international competition at the following festivals:

Filmski Front, Novi Sad, Serbia, 2024
Hobnobben Film Festival, Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States, 2024
Bardi Film Festival, Bardi, Italy, 2024
Pori Film Festival, Pori Finland 2024
International Film Festival “Pearl of the Silk Road”, Tashkent, Uzbekistan 2024
Mladinski Filmski Festival Spoznavanje, Bitola, Macedonia 2024
Zuma Film Festival, Abuja, Nigeria 2024
Janjira International Film Festival. Murud, India, 2025

Many more festival screenings are expected.

in Festivals / А Јоке