DJ Ahmet

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DJ Ahmet
Djahmetfilmposter.png
Promotional release poster
Directed byGeorgi M. Unkovski
Written byGeorgi M. Unkovski
Produced byIvan Unkovski
Ivana Shekutkoska
Starring
  • Arif Jakup
  • Agush Agushev
  • Dora Akan Zlatanova
  • Aksel Mehmet
  • Selpin Kerim
  • Atila Klince
CinematographyNaum Doksevski
Edited byMichal Reich
Music by
  • Alen Sinkauz
  • Nenad Sinkauz
Production
companies
  • Cinema Futura
  • Alter Vision
  • Backroom Production
  • 365 Films
  • Analog Vision
  • Film House Bas Celik
  • Sektor Film
Release date
  • January 23, 2025 (2025-01-23)(Sundance)
Countries
  • North Macedonia
  • Czech Republic
  • Serbia
  • Croatia
Languages
  • Turkish
  • Macedonian
  • English
Budget€978,000

DJ Ahmet is a 2025 drama film directed and written by Georgi M. Unkovski. [1] It follows the life of a 15-year-old boy, acted by Arif Jakup, in a rural village in North Macedonia.

Contents

A collaboration between North Macedonia, the Czech Republic, Serbia, and Croatia, the film debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition category on January 23, 2025. [2] Following Unkovski's 2019 short film and 2020 Sundance entry, Sticker, DJ Ahmet took five years to create with numerous difficulties in funding and production. [3]

On December 11, 2024, Films Boutique announced that it had acquired international rights for DJ Ahmet. [4]

Synopsis

The film is centered around the life of 15-year-old boy, Ahmet, who falls in love for the first time, desires to be a DJ, and contends with the conservatism of his rural village in North Macedonia. [5] [6]

Cast

Production

DJ Ahmet took five years to make, initially being turned down shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic. Financing took place from 2021 to 2023. Most of the film's production was then completed in the two years leading up to its Sundance Film Festival premiere. Principal photography took 36 days near the end of 2023; filming took place in the villages of Kodzalia, Ali Koç, and Skopje. [8] Post-production followed for a year. [9]

The film's budget was 978,000 euros. [8] It was supported by the North Macedonia Film Agency, Eurimages, the Croatian Audiovisual Centre, Film Center Serbia, the Czech Film Fund, and the South Eastern Europe Cinema Network. [10]

Critical reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 87% of 15 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.6/10.

The Hollywood Reporter lauded the "solid naturalistic performances" of the film's cast, with particular attention to Jakup, and stated it "has a slick, crowd-pleasing quality that could entice streamers or select distributors. The film playfully critiques certain Muslim customs, but never in a demeaning way, while providing a heartwarming coming-of-age narrative that’s a tad predictable." [11]

ScreenAnarchy lauded Unkovski as a "smart director" and said that the film "is both wildly exotic and completely down to earth, tied to a specific culture yet dealing with universally recognizable problems. It's an auspicious debut." [12]

In a review for Variety , Carlos Aguilar praised the film as a "revelation" that "seamlessly straddles the line between laugh-out-loud crowd-pleaser and art-house gem with affecting gravitas". He highlighted Unkovski’s perceptive writing, which contrasts youth plugged into the modern world with the weight of tradition, and called Jakup’s lead performance "quietly soulful". Visually, Aguilar noted the film’s "striking visuals and vibrant color". [7]

Release

DJ Ahmet premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival on January 23, 2025. [13] It was also shown at the 72nd Sydney Film Festival [14] It will compete for Heart of Sarajevo award in the Competition Programme - Feature Film at the 31st Sarajevo Film Festival in August 2025. [15] It will also be showcased at the 53rd Norwegian International Film Festival in Prespektiver section on 16 August 2025. [16]

Reception

Critical reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 90% of 20 critics' reviews are positive. [17]

Accolades

AwardCeremony dateCategoryRecipient(s)ResultRef.
Sundance Film Festival 2 February 2025 World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: DramaticDJ AhmetNominated [18]
World Cinema Dramatic - Audience AwardsWon
World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Creative VisionWon
Milwaukee Film Festival 14 May 2025Emerging Fiction Jury AwardNominated [19]
Emerging Fiction Jury Award - Special MentionWon
Seattle International Film Festival 25 May 2025 New Directors Competition Grand Jury PrizeNominated [20]
New Directors Competition Special Jury MentionWon
Sydney Film Festival 15 June 2025 Sydney Film PrizeNominated [21] [22]
GIO Audience Awards - Best International FeatureRunner-up
Sarajevo Film Festival 22 August 2025 Heart of Sarajevo Pending [23]

References

  1. Filmmaker Staff (January 23, 2025). ""The Language of the Film Slowly Emerges in the Editing Room": Editor Michal Reich on DJ Ahmet". Filmmaker Magazine. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  2. Kern, Katie. "8 First-Time Feature Directors to Watch at This Year's Sundance Film Festival". Cultured. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  3. Ross, Rafa Sales (January 23, 2025). "'DJ Ahmet' Debuts Trailer, Director Speaks Returning to Sundance and Finding His Leads Among Thousands of Children From Macedonian Villages (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  4. Wiseman, Andreas (December 11, 2024). "Sundance World Dramatic Competition Selection 'DJ Ahmet' Boarded For Sales By Films Boutique". Deadline. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  5. Inman, DeMicia (January 23, 2025). "Music Stories To Hit More Than One Note At Sundance 2025". Vibe. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  6. Johnson, Lottie Elizabeth (December 11, 2024). "The latest Sundance lineup includes Jennifer Lopez, Conan O'Brien and Benedict Cumberbatch — and a Utah-based film". Deseret News. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  7. 1 2 Aguilar, Carlos (January 25, 2025). "'DJ Ahmet' Review: Wondrous North Macedonian Drama Mixes Upbeat Music, Punchy Humor and Pathos". Variety. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  8. 1 2 Lazarevska, Marina. "Production: Macedonian Writer/Director Georgi Unkovski in Postproduction with Debut Feature DJ Ahmet". Film New Europe. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  9. Filmmaker Staff (January 23, 2025). ""Budget a Worst-Case Scenario and Then Do Better": Producers Ivan Unkovski and Ivana Shekutkoska on DJ Ahmet". Filmmaker Magazine. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  10. FNE Staff. "Films from FNE Partner Countries at Sundance Film Festival 2025". Film New Europe. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  11. Mintzer, Jordan (January 24, 2025). "'DJ Ahmet' Review: Techno Music and Shepherding Collide in a Touching Coming-of-Age Tale". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  12. Eagan, Daniel (January 23, 2025). "Sundance 2025 Review: DJ AHMET, In North Macedonia, Kids Just Want to Dance". ScreenAnarchy. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  13. Lang, Robert (January 23, 2025). "Sundance Film Festival 2025 Photos: 'Twinless,' 'Jimpa' & 'By Design' Premieres on Day 1". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  14. "DJ Ahmet". Sydney Film Festival. March 31, 2025. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  15. Leo Barraclough (July 23, 2025). "Fifty Films Compete for the Heart of Sarajevo Awards at 31st Sarajevo Film Festival". Variety . Retrieved August 3, 2025.
  16. "DJ Ahmet". Norwegian International Film Festival . July 31, 2025. Retrieved August 3, 2025.
  17. "DJ Ahmet". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  18. D'Alessandro, Anthony (January 31, 2025). "'Atropia' Takes U.S. Grand Jury Prize Dramatic At Sundance Film Festival: Full Winners List". Deadline. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  19. "The 2025 Milwaukee Film Festival Announces Award Winners". Milwaukee Film Festival .
  20. "Seattle International Film Festival 2025 Award Winners". Seattle International Film Festival . Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  21. Keast, Jackie (April 23, 2025). "Michael Shanks' 'Together' to open Sydney Film Festival". IF Magazine . Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  22. "The Winners of the 72nd Sydney Film Festival". Sydney Film Festival . June 16, 2025. Retrieved June 19, 2025.
  23. Petkovic, Vladan (July 23, 2025). "Fifty films to compete for awards at the Sarajevo Film Festival". Cineuropa . Retrieved July 24, 2025.