Distinguished Cinema Art Lovers,
Esteemed Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Everyone has a story to tell, and every story has a narrator. The first story probably began the night when the man first looked with admiration at the starry sky. It is, indeed, a still lasting delight.

Our tonight's story began more than a century ago, when two brothers from Macedonia, Bitola, bought a video camera, and thus became the first movie makers in the Balkans. Thanks to their vision, we know more about the world and the period our ancestors lived in. Owing to their covenant, Macedonia for already 35 years is the organizer of the oldest international cinematographers' film festival that bears, in their honor, the name "Manaki Brothers".

In the past 35 years, the Festival has become a home of movie stars from Macedonia, Europe and the world. Despite all the differences, it appears that the stars of the movie screen and the stars in the sky have one thing in common – they encourage us to think of our story, of our view of the world and our place in it.

The film has the power to capture the narratives we recognize and identify ourselves with. We remember those movie scenes that make us smile and cry, the ones that astonish and change us. Movies that make us wish for the moment to last forever, the story to continue so that we can be a part of it for a longer while.

As President of the Republic of Macedonia, I am honored to be a patron of a festival that offers superb film achievements. I am confident that the current successes will motivate us to trace the path to the stars, paved with creativity, philanthropy and beauty.

With such a thought, I declare the International Cinematographers' Film Festival "Manaki Brothers" open!

Thank you.