Interview of Teona MITEVSK, Director of “God Exists, Her Name Is Petrunya” after her award of the LUX Prize 2019 during the plenary session (25-28 November 2019) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg. This film is co-produced in North Macedonia, Belgium, Slovenia, Croatia and France.

Strasbourg

interview

LUX Cinema Prize 2019 (T)

LUX Prize 2019: interview of Teona MITEVSK, Director of “God Exists, Her Name Is Petrunya” and winner of LUX Prize 2019

Title: LUX Prize 2019: interview of Teona MITEVSK, Director of &#8220;God Exists, Her Name Is Petrunya&#8221; and winner of LUX Prize 2019 (I-180777)

SOUNDBITE (English), Teona MITEVSK, Director of &#8220;God Exists, We are all united by common threats, common concerns, We all do react to injustice. It is ultimately something that. all of us are concerned by deeply. And Petunia is reacting because of injustice. She is fighting for justice. She is fighting for her place in the world.

SOUNDBITE (English), Teona MITEVSK, Director of &#8220;God Exists, It was an incredible thing to do when the prize was given. And you're called to sort of say something in front of this. Well, in front of the parliament.

SOUNDBITE (English), Teona MITEVSK, Director of &#8220;God Exists, It's an opportunity. Well, cinema, you see, this is an opportunity. I find even the LUX Prize an opportunity to educate politicians, you know, because cinema is a mirror of your society. You know, cinema is concerned with social political issues that are the trouble, a problem of the common woman and men. And the moment you is a filmmaker, you become an elitist you detach yourself from reality. And I think maybe you start making bad films. And I think it's the same with politicians. I mean, how can you make a change? How can you put new laws if you are not among the people? So I guess there is an exchange. You know, Lux Prizet is about, you know, the opportunity for the film to be seen all over Europe and subtitling an extra index there. But also there is this other you know, actually it's a way to start the conversation. And on the end, that is the point.

SOUNDBITE (English), Teona MITEVSK, Director of &#8220;God Exists, It is not possible to be a woman or a man in the world today and not be a feminist. I truly believe in this because feminism is about equality for all and opportunity for all. For me, at least, it is not about excluding. This is why I think in a way many people do relate to Pretyuna, besides the gender, because she is fighting for her justice.