Audiovisual heritage is an impressive testimony of the history and culture of all civilizations. It is the primary element of our identity. Therefore, heritage, its protection and presentation are top state priority, Minister of Culture Elizabeta Kanceska-Milevska said Monday at a symposium dedicated to the centenary of WWI, which officially kicked off the 70th congress the International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF).

The congress, taking place May 4-10 in Skopje, brings together 200 delegates from 80 cinematheques and film archives from all around the globe.

The Government and the Ministry of Culture recently have realized numerous investments in a bid to stimulate Macedonia's film industry, Kanceska-Milevska said at the event.

"Significant investments have been made in the industry resulting in remarkable films, many co-productions, presentations at international festivals and relevant recognitions and awards," the minister stressed.

The Ministry of Culture, she added, has passed a special law on protection of audiovisual heritage, drafted in accordance with European standards.

"One of the biggest investments in the field of audiovisual heritage has been also recently launched, namely the restoration and revitalization of Havzi Pasini Konaci - an Ottoman era monument of culture - which will additionally serve as a place to protect, preserve and present the entire Macedonian film cultural heritage," Kanceska-Milevska informed.

By realizing numerous projects, she added, invaluable samples of Macedonia's rich cinematography are being preserved as valuable artifacts testifying about Macedonia's history and culture.

"The Cinematheque of Macedonia has been undergoing digital preservation of majority of the footage in its own possession. As a result, the whole body of work of the Manaki Brothers has been digitalized, including films by award-winning authors affirming Macedonia worldwide - Milco Mancevski, Stole Popov and Ljubisa Georgievski," said Kanceska-Milevska.

FIAF's film programme, which kicks off today, includes films from 22 cinematheques focusing on the period of WWI and some of them will be shown for the first time in one hundred years.