My journey in cinema began long before I ever stepped onto a set. Growing up in Macedonia (now North Macedonia), I dreamed of directing films and telling stories — stories capable of transforming the world, or at least the inner lives of their viewers.
Despite discouraging remarks and limited opportunities, I pursued my passion relentlessly, studying filmmaking at a prestigious film academy in Sofia before earning a Ph.D. in cinema from Japan’s Nihon University — an achievement still rare among women. Last year, I had the honor of being appointed the first non-Japanese woman senior programmer at the Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) and I remain committed to championing a future in which female voices in cinema are celebrated and empowered.
Despite incremental progress, the full spectrum of female talent continues to be underrepresented in the film industry. In Hollywood, research indicates that in 2023 women made up only 21% of editors working on the top 250 grossing films — a paltry increase from 20% in 1998. In addition, just 26% of producers were female as were only 16% of directors, the visionaries who shape our stories.
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