Milton Manaki

In an attempt to verify the hypothesis that her Aromanian grandfathers were photographed by the famous brothers Milton and Ianaki Manakia, the director embarks on a Balkans journey through Romania, Bulgaria, Macedonia and Greece.

This scene is a part of the very first film shot produced by the Manaki Brothers. Despina, the Janaki and Milton Manaki's grandmother, was recorded weaving in one high-angle shot. For no apparent reason, the first shot made in Macedonia, in the Balkans in fact, made by these two cinematography pioneers, contains peculiar symbolics: at the moment when the grandmother Despina spins the weaving wheel, film starts rolling in our country.

A six minute film of the funeral of the murdered Metropolitan Emilianos of Grevena, of which all has been lost, save for 17 seconds. Emilianos was murdered on October 1st, 1911.

A group of Macedonian women are shown hard at work.

Newsreel of the visit of sultan Mehmed V Resad to Bitola.

The parade of Serbian army in Macedonian town.

The Manaki brothers, from Avdella Grevenon, shot the first film of the Balkans, the famous "Weavers", in 1905. The protagonist of their first and short film was their grandmother Loukia Manaki, aged 114, who spun wool and wove on the loom.

A schoolclass in seen outside in Macedonia.

A couple of women are washing outside.

A mass gathering of people.

The Manaki brothers have filmed a market.

A group of dancing people.

Early Balkan footage.

A brief scene at a sheep slaughterhouse.

Early Balkan footage.

Early Balkan footage.

Early Balkan footage.

The Manaki brothers document the elegant wedding of a presumably popular couple.

Early Balkan footage.

Early Balkan footage.

Early Balkan footage.

Early Balkan footage.

A short prior to World War I film which captures festivities at a fair near a church in Bitola.

The Manaki brothers document the hanged bodies in a town square, post-Ilinden Uprising; The disheartened mill about. The men were likely killed by Muslims loyal to the ruling Ottoman Empire in attempts to quash Macedonian support for Adrianople and greater Macedonian autonomy.

Balkan actuality.

Early Balkan footage.

Early Balkan footage.

Early Balkan footage.

Early Balkan footage.

Early Balkan footage.

Early Balkan footage.

Early Balkan footage.

Early Balkan footage.

Early Balkan footage.

Early Balkan footage.

Early Balkan footage.

Early Balkan footage.

Early Balkan footage.

Early Balkan footage.

Early Balkan footage.

Early Balkan footage.

Early Balkan footage.

Early Balkan footage.

Early Balkan footage.

The Manaki brothers, from Avdella Grevenon, shot the first film of the Balkans, the famous "Weavers", in 1905. The protagonist of their first and short film was their grandmother Loukia Manaki, aged 114, who spun wool and wove on the loom.

The Manaki brothers, from Avdella Grevenon, shot the first film of the Balkans, the famous "Weavers", in 1905. The protagonist of their first and short film was their grandmother Loukia Manaki, aged 114, who spun wool and wove on the loom.