Best Summer Film Festivals in North Macedonia
Beach Film Festival, Galichnik, Drim Short & MakeDox + 2027 Planning
Summer in North Macedonia is not only about beaches, mountains and outdoor cafés.
It is also one of the best times of year for film lovers.
Between July and late August, you can watch new European cinema beside Lake Ohrid, spend an evening with short films on the banks of the Black Drim in Struga, climb into the mountains for open-air cinema in Galichnik and finish the season watching creative documentaries inside historic Ottoman courtyards in Skopje.
The exact dates, films and venues change every year, but several festivals have become reliable parts of North Macedonia’s summer cultural calendar.
In this MacedoniaTOP guide, we compare the Beach Film Festival in Ohrid, Galichnik Film Festival, Drim Short Film Festival in Struga and MakeDox in Skopje, explain when they usually take place, what makes each one different and how to build them into a summer trip through North Macedonia.
North Macedonia Summer Film Festivals at a Glance
| Festival | Destination | Typical period | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beach Film Festival | Ohrid | Late July | European cinema beside Lake Ohrid |
| Galichnik Film Festival | Galichnik | Late July / early August | Mountain open-air cinema & short films |
| Drim Short Film Festival | Struga | Early August | Short films & emerging filmmakers |
| MakeDox | Skopje | Late August | Creative documentary cinema |
2026 Summer Film Festival Calendar
The 2026 editions provide a useful reference for how the summer festival season normally develops.
| Festival | 2026 dates | 2026 edition |
|---|---|---|
| Beach Film Festival | 22–26 July | 9th edition |
| Galichnik Film Festival | 1–4 August | 7th edition |
| Drim Short Film Festival | 5–9 August | 10th edition |
| MakeDox | 20–27 August | 17th edition |
2027 Planning Preview
Most 2027 programmes have not yet been released.
| Festival | 2027 status |
|---|---|
| Beach Film Festival | Dates not yet announced |
| Galichnik Film Festival | 30 July–2 August 2027 announced |
| Drim Short Film Festival | Dates not yet announced |
| MakeDox | Dates not yet announced |
1. Beach Film Festival – Ohrid
Beach Film Festival – BFF turns Ohrid’s summer atmosphere into part of the cinema experience.
The festival is dedicated primarily to new European film and combines screenings with the relaxed social environment of Lake Ohrid.
Rather than functioning like a conventional indoor multiplex festival, BFF has used:
- beaches;
- lakefront locations;
- boats;
- indoor cultural venues;
- open-air evening screenings.
Beach Film Festival 2026
The ninth edition took place from:
22–26 July 2026.
A pre-programme also began on 21 July with screenings at Saraishte Beach.
The main festival used several locations around Ohrid, including beach screenings and a programme aboard a boat.
What Kind of Films?
The festival focuses on contemporary European cinema.
Its programmes can include:
- feature films;
- short films;
- student films;
- special selections;
- youth and children’s programming;
- educational events.
Why Is BFF Different?
The setting matters almost as much as the film.
A normal day can become:
Old Town sightseeing → afternoon swim → dinner → film beside the lake after sunset.
That makes BFF especially easy to enjoy even if cinema is not the only reason you are travelling to Ohrid.
Who Should Choose Beach Film Festival?
- couples;
- summer travellers;
- European cinema fans;
- people who enjoy open-air screenings;
- visitors already planning an Ohrid holiday.
Official Information
Check the current programme at:
Beach Film Festival – Official Website
What to Do in Ohrid Before the Film
Good daytime combinations include:
- St. Sophia;
- Samuel’s Fortress;
- Plaošnik;
- St. John at Kaneo;
- Potpesh or Kaneo Beach;
- short Lake Ohrid boat cruise.
Use our Top Attractions in Ohrid Guide.
Explore Lake Ohrid During the Festival
2. Galichnik Film Festival
Galichnik Film Festival offers one of the most unusual cinema settings in North Macedonia.
Instead of a lakefront resort or capital-city cultural venue, the festival takes place in the historic mountain village of Galichnik.
The village sits high in the Bistra mountain region and is known for:
- traditional stone architecture;
- dramatic mountain scenery;
- the Galichnik Wedding tradition;
- shepherding heritage;
- its remote atmosphere.
During the film festival, this landscape becomes an open-air cinema.
What Kind of Films?
Galichnik concentrates strongly on short-form cinema.
Competition sections include:
- short fiction;
- short documentary;
- short animation.
The broader programme can also include:
- masterclasses;
- filmmaker discussions;
- special screenings;
- industry meetings;
- festival social events.
Galichnik Film Festival 2026
The seventh edition ran for four festival days at the beginning of August and concluded on:
4 August 2026.
Galichnik Film Festival 2027
The next edition is currently scheduled for:
30 July–2 August 2027.
Why Is Galichnik Special?
The festival describes its cinema experience as taking place in an open-air mountain environment at approximately:
1,500 metres above sea level.
This means an evening screening can feel very different from a summer cinema at lower elevation.
Bring Warm Clothing
Even if the daytime temperature is high, nights in Galichnik can become cool.
Bring:
- light jacket;
- long trousers;
- comfortable shoes;
- an extra layer for late screenings.
Getting to Galichnik
A car is the easiest option.
Public transport is much more limited than for Ohrid, Struga or Skopje.
Road conditions, traffic and temporary restrictions should be checked before festival weekends.
Where to Stay
Accommodation inside Galichnik is limited.
Book early if staying in the village matters to you.
Alternatives can include:
- Mavrovo;
- Janče;
- Rostuše;
- other accommodation in the wider Mavrovo region.
Official Information
Galichnik Film Festival – Official Website
Combine your festival trip with our Mavrovo Travel Guide and Horse Riding in Galichnik Guide.
3. Drim Short Film Festival – Struga
Drim Short Film Festival – DSFF has developed into one of the most interesting platforms for short cinema and emerging filmmakers in North Macedonia.
The festival was established in 2017 and celebrated its tenth edition in 2026.
Drim Short 2026
The tenth edition took place from:
5–9 August 2026.
It presented:
42 films across five programme days.
Main 2026 Locations
The programme used several Struga venues:
- Park of Poetry – main evening screenings;
- Europe House Struga – masterclasses, workshops and conversations;
- Dukjan – additional programme including VR.
What Kind of Films?
The festival programme includes several competition strands.
Recent editions have included:
- International Competition;
- Regional Competition;
- National Competition;
- Student Competition;
- special thematic programmes.
The festival is especially useful if you want to discover filmmakers before they become widely known.
More Than Screenings
Drim Short also combines cinema with:
- Q&A sessions;
- masterclasses;
- workshops;
- VR experiences;
- networking;
- music events;
- exhibitions.
Why Struga Works So Well
Struga has a completely different summer atmosphere from Ohrid.
The city develops around:
Lake Ohrid → Black Drim River → cafés → Park of Poetry.
You can spend the day swimming or walking along the river and still reach the evening festival programme easily.
Official Information
Drim Short Film Festival – Official Website
Read our Struga Travel Guide.
Ohrid + Struga: The Easiest Film-Festival Combination
Ohrid and Struga are close enough that you do not necessarily need to choose between them.
You can base yourself in one city and visit the other for an evening programme.
Stay in Ohrid If…
- you want more historic sightseeing;
- you want a wider choice of summer accommodation;
- beaches and boat trips are important;
- you are combining the trip with St. Naum.
Stay in Struga If…
- Drim Short is your main reason for travelling;
- you prefer a smaller city;
- you like riverside cafés;
- you want to walk to the festival rather than travel back afterwards.
4. MakeDox Creative Documentary Film Festival – Skopje
MakeDox is the strongest choice for travellers whose primary interest is documentary film.
Rather than treating documentary cinema as a small side programme, MakeDox builds an entire festival around creative non-fiction filmmaking.
MakeDox 2026
The 17th edition took place from:
20–27 August 2026.
The programme included dozens of documentaries across sections such as:
- Main Program;
- Newcomers;
- Short Dox;
- Student Program;
- Kids & Youth;
- Country in Focus;
- industry and educational events.
Why MakeDox Is One of Skopje’s Best Events
The festival’s biggest strength is the combination of film and venue.
Recent editions have used:
- Kuršumli An;
- Suli An;
- the outdoor area around Kuršumli An;
- Laboratorium;
- Albanian Theatre;
- additional Skopje cultural spaces.
Watching a documentary at night inside the courtyard of a historic Ottoman caravanserai is a far more memorable experience than watching the same film in a standard multiplex.
Not Only for Documentary Professionals
The industry side can be substantial, but ordinary visitors can simply buy a ticket and attend screenings.
You do not need accreditation or a film-industry background.
MakeDox+ and Side Events
The broader festival experience can also include:
- concerts;
- masterclasses;
- workshops;
- discussions;
- filmmaker Q&As;
- night programmes.
MakeCoProDox
The festival also supports documentary filmmaking professionally through the MakeCoProDox Forum, bringing together documentary projects, producers and industry professionals.
Official Information
What to Do in Skopje Before MakeDox
Many MakeDox venues are positioned perfectly for sightseeing.
A strong day is:
Macedonia Square → Stone Bridge → Old Bazaar → Kale → dinner → MakeDox.
Use our Skopje Itinerary Guide.
Explore Skopje Before the Screening
Which Summer Film Festival Is Best for You?
| If you want… | Choose… |
|---|---|
| Beach + cinema | Beach Film Festival |
| Most unique setting | Galichnik Film Festival |
| Short films | Drim Short |
| Documentaries | MakeDox |
| Summer holiday + festival | Beach Film Festival |
| Young filmmakers & networking | Drim Short |
| Mountain atmosphere | Galichnik |
| Film-industry programme | MakeDox |
| Best city break | MakeDox + Skopje |
Can You Visit More Than One Festival?
Yes, although exact dates determine how practical it is each year.
The 2026 calendar demonstrated an almost continuous festival sequence:
Ohrid → Galichnik → Struga → Skopje.
Stage 1 – Ohrid
Beach Film Festival + beaches + Old Town.
Stage 2 – Galichnik
Mountain cinema + Mavrovo region.
Stage 3 – Struga
Drim Short + Black Drim River + Lake Ohrid.
Stage 4 – Skopje
MakeDox + Old Bazaar + capital-city sightseeing.
You do not need to attend every night of every event.
Even one or two festival evenings can transform an ordinary North Macedonia road trip.
How to Travel Between the Festivals
Ohrid ↔ Struga
This is the easiest connection.
The two cities are close and linked by:
- local and regional buses;
- taxi;
- car;
- seasonal transport options.
Ohrid / Struga ↔ Galichnik
This is much easier with a car.
You travel north into the Mavrovo/Bistra mountain region.
Allow extra time because mountain roads are slower than the distance on a map may suggest.
Ohrid / Struga ↔ Skopje
Intercity buses connect the lake region with Skopje.
By road, allow roughly:
2.5–3.5 hours
depending on traffic, route and stops.
Read our How to Get to Ohrid Guide.
Do You Need a Rental Car?
No – for Beach Film Festival
Stay centrally in Ohrid and most festival + sightseeing combinations are walkable or reachable by short taxi ride.
No – for Drim Short
Central Struga is compact.
No – for MakeDox
The main Skopje venues are accessible by walking, bus or taxi.
Yes – strongly recommended for Galichnik
The remote mountain location makes independent road transport much more useful.
Where to Stay
Beach Film Festival – Ohrid
Stay in:
- Old Town;
- central Ohrid;
- lakefront south of the centre.
Drim Short – Struga
Choose accommodation around:
- Park of Poetry;
- Black Drim waterfront;
- central pedestrian area.
Galichnik Film Festival
Stay in Galichnik if possible.
If village accommodation is full, look around the wider Mavrovo region.
MakeDox – Skopje
The best areas are:
- Centar;
- Old Bazaar;
- Debar Maalo if nightlife and restaurants matter too.
Should You Book Accommodation Early?
Yes – especially around Lake Ohrid.
July and August are already peak tourism months even without film festivals.
Book earlier for:
- weekend festival dates;
- Old Town Ohrid;
- central Struga;
- Galichnik’s limited accommodation;
- specific boutique properties.
Festival Tickets
Ticket systems vary considerably.
Depending on the festival and edition, you may find:
- individual screening tickets;
- evening tickets;
- festival passes;
- free programmes;
- accreditation for professionals;
- separate workshop registration.
Do Not Use Old Ticket Links
Annual ticket pages frequently become obsolete once an edition ends.
Always begin at the:
official festival website → current programme → authorised ticket link.
Are the Festivals in English?
International films are normally screened with subtitles according to festival requirements and individual programme information.
However, language combinations can differ between:
- Macedonian films;
- international films;
- Q&A sessions;
- workshops;
- masterclasses.
If a specific discussion or workshop is important to you, check its listed language before booking.
Are These Festivals Family-Friendly?
Some programmes are.
But do not assume that every film at a festival is suitable for children.
Look specifically for:
- kids and youth programmes;
- family screenings;
- age recommendations;
- student and educational programmes.
MakeDox, for example, maintains a dedicated Kids & Youth programme.
What Should You Bring to an Outdoor Screening?
- Light layer: especially for Galichnik and late-night lake screenings.
- Comfortable clothing: you may be sitting for several hours.
- Insect repellent: useful around water in midsummer.
- Water: particularly on hot July and August days.
- Power bank: useful if tickets are stored digitally.
- Some MKD cash: helpful for smaller vendors or festival bars.
- Rain layer: outdoor programmes can be affected by summer storms.
What Happens If It Rains?
Outdoor cinema always carries weather risk.
Organisers may:
- delay a screening;
- move it indoors;
- change the venue;
- adjust the programme;
- cancel individual activities.
Check official festival channels on the afternoon of an outdoor screening if weather looks unstable.
What to Eat During a Film Festival Trip
Ohrid
Try:
- shopska salad;
- Macedonian cheeses;
- vegetable dishes;
- grilled meat;
- local wine.
Do not treat endangered Ohrid trout as an obligatory tourist dish.
Struga
Use our What to Eat in Struga Guide.
Galichnik / Mavrovo
Look for:
- mountain cheeses;
- kashkaval;
- pies;
- kačamak;
- lamb and other mountain dishes.
Skopje
Combine MakeDox with dinner in:
- Old Bazaar;
- Debar Maalo;
- central Skopje.
Best Festival for a First-Time Visitor
If cinema is only one part of your holiday:
Beach Film Festival.
Ohrid already justifies the trip without the festival, so every screening is a bonus.
Best Festival for Film Lovers
MakeDox.
Its combination of documentary programmes, filmmakers, discussions and industry activity creates the strongest deep-dive film experience.
Best Festival for Something Completely Different
Galichnik Film Festival.
Few film trips combine mountain-village architecture, high-altitude evenings and open-air short cinema.
Best Festival for Emerging Filmmakers
Drim Short.
Its short-film focus, student programmes, masterclasses and intimate scale make it especially relevant for younger filmmakers.
Summer Film Festivals vs Manaki Brothers
North Macedonia’s most internationally recognised cinema tradition also includes the International Cinematographers’ Film Festival Manaki Brothers in Bitola.
However, Manaki Brothers normally belongs to the September festival calendar rather than the core July–August summer route covered here.
If you are travelling later in the year, it deserves a separate place in your plans.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best summer film festivals in North Macedonia?
The strongest current summer options are Beach Film Festival in Ohrid, Galichnik Film Festival, Drim Short Film Festival in Struga and MakeDox in Skopje.
When is Beach Film Festival?
It normally takes place in late July. The 2026 edition ran from 22–26 July.
Where is Beach Film Festival held?
In Ohrid. The festival uses changing lakefront, beach, boat and cultural venues rather than one permanent cinema.
What kind of films does Beach Film Festival show?
Its main identity is new European cinema, including feature, short and student films.
Is Beach Film Festival outdoors?
A significant part of its identity is open-air and lakefront cinema, although individual programmes can also use indoor venues.
When is Galichnik Film Festival?
It normally takes place around late July or early August. The next edition is currently scheduled for 30 July–2 August 2027.
What kind of films are shown in Galichnik?
The festival focuses on short fiction, documentary and animation.
Do I need a car for Galichnik Film Festival?
A car is strongly recommended because the village is remote and public transport is limited.
Is it cold at Galichnik Film Festival?
Evenings can become cool because Galichnik is high in the mountains. Bring an extra layer.
When is Drim Short Film Festival?
It normally takes place in early August. In 2026 it ran from 5–9 August.
Where is Drim Short held?
In Struga. The 2026 main screenings took place at the Park of Poetry, with additional programmes at Europe House and Dukjan.
What films does Drim Short show?
Short films across international, regional, national, student and thematic programmes.
When is MakeDox?
MakeDox normally takes place in late August. The 2026 festival ran from 20–27 August.
Where is MakeDox held?
In Skopje, with major festival venues including Kuršumli An, Suli An and additional cultural spaces.
What type of festival is MakeDox?
It is dedicated to creative documentary cinema.
Can tourists attend MakeDox?
Yes. Many screenings are open to the general public and do not require professional accreditation.
Are there children’s films?
Some festivals include dedicated youth or family programming. Check the current programme and age guidance.
Do films have English subtitles?
International festival screenings generally provide appropriate subtitles, but the exact language configuration should be checked for individual films.
Can I attend all four festivals in one summer?
Potentially yes. Their dates are usually spread between late July and late August, although the exact sequence changes every year.
Which festival is best for a beach holiday?
Beach Film Festival in Ohrid.
Which festival has the best setting?
That is subjective, but Galichnik offers the most unusual mountain setting while Beach Film Festival and MakeDox both use exceptionally atmospheric locations.
Which festival is best for documentaries?
MakeDox.
Which festival is best for short films?
Drim Short and Galichnik Film Festival are the strongest summer choices.
Should I buy tickets in advance?
Yes for screenings or events you consider essential, particularly at limited-capacity venues and on opening or closing nights.
When will 2027 festival dates be announced?
Each organiser follows its own schedule. Galichnik has already announced 30 July–2 August 2027, while the other main summer festivals have not yet confirmed their next dates.
Continue Exploring North Macedonia
Final Verdict: Which Summer Film Festival Should You Visit?
North Macedonia’s summer film festivals are interesting precisely because they do not all feel like the same event in a different city.
In Ohrid, cinema becomes part of a lake holiday.
In Galichnik, it becomes a mountain experience.
In Struga, the intimate short-film programme blends with the Black Drim and the city’s summer cultural life.
And in Skopje, MakeDox turns historic courtyards into one of the country’s most atmospheric documentary cinemas.
Start Planning Your Macedonia Trip
Make your trip easier with a reliable airport transfer, a top day tour from Skopje, and our most useful Macedonia travel guides.
- Arrive without stress: Book your airport transfer and enjoy a smooth ride straight to your hotel. Drivers will meet you at Arrivals.
- Take one of the best day trips from Skopje: Join a Vodno and Matka Canyon guided tour and discover some of the area’s most beautiful natural highlights.
- Need ideas for your trip? Explore our MacedoniaTOP Where To Go and Things To Do guides for top destinations, attractions, and travel inspiration.
Travel Essentials
If you have time for only one, choose the festival that best fits the trip you already want to take.
