Masterclass with Teona Mitevska

What does it mean to direct a story that is deeply human?

On 23 September, TIFF 2026 welcomes acclaimed North Macedonian filmmaker Teona Strugar Mitevska for a masterclass exploring her approach to directing, storytelling, and building complex human characters.

From God Exists, Her Name Is Petrunya and The Happiest Man in the World to her latest film Mother, Mitevska’s work has consistently challenged social conventions while placing human experience, identity, and vulnerability at its centre.

Her latest film Mother, which explores a pivotal moment in the life of Teresa in 1948 Calcutta, premiered in Venice’s Orizzonti competition and marks her English-language feature debut.

INTO DIRECTING is an opportunity to look behind the frame and into the choices that shape a film, from finding a voice and developing characters to translating a personal perspective into cinema.

HUMANOGRAPHY is about the human stories behind the image. This is a conversation about how those stories are brought to life.

23 September 2026 | 11:00 at Villa 31 × Art Explora