I think that in our country the concept of actor, director, playwright, theater employee is generally problematic. “Serious reforms are needed in such a functional system, which will open up greater opportunities for actors to obtain employment,” said actress Sara Klimoska in an interview with “Women’s Press” / “Free Press”.
The young Macedonian film and theater actress Sara Klimoska, born in Struga in 1994, was selected for one of ten European discoveries – Rising European Stars 2021, at the European Film Promotion.
The European Film Promotion takes place as part of the Berlin International Film Festival and is considered one of the most recognizable landmarks of the Berlinale. In this prestigious selection, Sara Klimoska was chosen with nine other European actors, because of her role in Igor Aleksov’s first film “Lena and Vladimir”, a film in which she plays 16-year-old Lena.
With Sara, also known to the public through the character of Donka in the film “Willow” by Milcho Manceski, we talk about what it means to be an unemployed actress in Macedonia and how much this award can encourage her professional challenges.
Igathered yours for one ofeEuropean discoveries – ЕEuropean Rising Stars 2021 at European Film Promotion. What kind of hard work do you associate this award with?
– This award is the result of long days of work, preparations, research, physical and mental sacrifices of the entire team of the film “Lena and Vladimir”, with which I receive this award and I hope that this year we will all have the opportunity to see the cinema screen.
What is the value of these awards in Macedonia and do they bring new commitments?
– Most often in Macedonia, artists are valued if they succeed abroad. This is an award of great importance, therefore I hope that it will open more doors for future cooperation within the borders of our country, as well as abroad.
What do you think it means to be an actress in today’s Macedonia?
– Being an actor in Macedonia, especially independent, means living on the limits of existence, facing constant obstacles and misunderstandings. But despite these circumstances, I am happy that actors are still inspired by these circumstances and strive to create better working conditions.
You have had obvious successes both in the theater and in the cinema (“My husband”, “Saule”, “Ombres sur les Balkans”…). What is your status as an actress in this country?
– I am still an independent artist, that is to say an unemployed actress in a national theater. This is due, among other things, to my personal decision not to apply for a competition for a job in the theater, because I think that the concept of actor, director, playwright employed in the theater is generally problematic. Serious reforms are needed in such a functional system, which will provide greater opportunities for stakeholders to obtain employment.
I’m not saying I won’t change my attitude, but for now, this is my attitude and my status as an actress in this country.
Who do you find easier to work with, male or female directors?
– I don’t have a genre preference when I work, it depends more on who I work with as a person and as an artist. However, I think women are very underrepresented in the film industry. We have very few directors, and the most glaring fact is that we still don’t have a single female director of photography. And almost the entire film crew in other sectors is made up of men, just like the producers. Unlike our country, in other Balkan countries the representation of women in the film industry is much higher.
How important is the participation of public figures in socially engaged topics?
– Artists must have social responsibility. First, creating art means responding to social developments. There is no art without politics. And when I talk about politics, I’m not talking about daily political and partisan developments, I’m talking about the average daily life of an individual who is affected by the political and social developments around them, and we see it in the lead role of a film. Public figures can choose how to express their opinion, it doesn’t always have to be in a newspaper, sometimes it is also expressed through the art they create.
Can art change the public’s attitude at least a little on certain taboo subjects?
– Art is that which opens up questions in society and encourages the public to think about them. Art plays a major role in the evolutionary transformation of society. It is very important that a society understands the importance of art and culture, especially that artists are aware of the responsibility that their position carries.