Eurimages Probes Abuse of Macedonia Movie Funds

Photo by: Fernando de Sousa

The European Cinema Support Fund has supported 97 films over the past two-and-a-half years in Macedonia, giving half a million euros to film distributors to promote and screen films.

The agency's deputy executive, Isabel Castro Martinez, confirmed that an investigation was underway over whether the money was misspent.

The agency is responding to charges that distributors have not screened films, despite receiving funding from Eurimages to do so.

“We will carry out an investigation to verify the validity of these accusations,” Martinez said. “Eurimages management will then make a decision, based on the results of this investigation, as to what measures must be taken to protect Eurimages’ interests, and what legal action needs to be taken against those involved in any possible irregularities.”

Martinez added that the agency will make no accusations until it has received evidence of possible abuses.

Several well-known local movie workers have accused the head of the Macedonian film fund, Darko Baseski, of irregularities. He has accepted partial responsibility, but also blamed the local film distributors.

“I accept my responsibility, which is why I take the blame,” Baseski told Balkan Insight. “I am taking all the necessary actions to resolve the situation, and punish those distributors who misused the funds obtained from Eurimages.”

Asked why he signed deals with small film distributors and trusted them to fulfill their responsibilities, he said, “I do not decide which distributors receive the funds.”

According to Baseski, Eurimages chooses the distributors, based on what films they plan to screen.

“It is not the distributors that are selected,” he said. “Instead, films are selected and funded for distribution.”

However, as the representative of the Macedonian film fund, Baseski is the one who approves and signs off for Eurimages funding.

Some people working in the Macedonian film business fear that Eurimages might now decide to cut future funding for the country.