Goran Stolevski’s new feature film, Housekeeping for Beginners will premiere at the Venice Film Festival as part of the official “Horizons” section. It is a minority Serbian co-production that was created with the support of Film Center Serbia.
Housekeeping for Beginners is a story that explores the universal truths about family, both the one we are born into and the one we find ourselves. Dita never wanted to be a mother, but circumstances force her to raise her partner’s two daughters – mischievous girl Mia and rebellious teenager Vanessa. Despite frequent conflicts and testing of willpower, they become an unusual family that must fight to stay together. The main roles are played by Anamaria Marinca, from 4 months, 3 weeks, 2 days, as well as Alina Seban, Vladimir Tintor, Samson Selim, Miu Mustafa, Dzadu Selim, Sara Klimoska, Ayshe Useini and Rozafa Celaj.
Stolevsky’s filmography includes the films You Won’t Be Alone, which premiered in the official selection of the 2022 Sundance Film Festival, and Of an Age, which opened the Melbourne International Film Festival in 2022. Both films were distributed internationally by American companies Focus Features and Universal.
“Premiering a film at the Venice Film Festival has been my dream since I was 12,” Stolevski said. “I couldn’t be happier that ‘Homemaking for Beginners’ is being shown at this year’s festival.” It is the fruit of the love I shared with a great crew and cast that comes from practically all parts of the Balkans. I’m very excited that the film reflects the endless laughter, wild energy and deep connection that marked each day of filming. We all can’t wait to share this film with the world.”
“Horizons” is a competition section that is part of the official selection of the Venice Film Festival. It’s a place where new talent is discovered and has seen a number of successful films in the past, including Apples (Christos Nikou), Under the Tree (Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurðsson) and Night of the Kings (Philippe Lacôte).
Stolevski was born and raised in Northern Macedonia before moving to Australia as a teenager. Before devoting himself to feature films, he made twenty-five short films that were screened at more than 200 festivals around the world. His short film Would You Look at Her won the Jury Prize for Best International Short Film at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival and was included in the Criterion Channel.
Housekeeping for Beginners is a co-production of North Macedonia, Croatia, Serbia, Poland and Kosovo*. The sound recordists led by Zoran Maksimović and the assistant director Maša Nešković participated in the production of the film, and the film is framed in a special way by the music tracks “In Corpore Sano”, Konstructa and “Muškarčina” by Sara Jo.
The producers of the film are Marija Dimitrova, Klaudia Śmieja-Rostworowska, Ankica Jurić Tilić, Beata Rzeźniczek, Milan Stojanović, Blerta Basholli, the co-producers are Kristina Börjeson, Jonas Kellagher, Kristina Ceyton, Sam Jennings, while the executive producers are Tim Headington, Lia Buman, Ana Leocha, Marcin Łuczaj and Jan Naszewski.
The film was produced by List Production, Madants, Kinorama, Sense Production and Industria Film, in co-production with Film i Väst, Common Ground Pictures and Causeway Films, in collaboration with Tango, New Europe Film Sales and the Adelaide Film Festival. International distribution is handled by New Europe Film Sales.
Film Center Serbia also supported the film project as part of its regular competition program.