Ilija Piperkoski is a Macedonian film director, writer, and producer. He is best known for his films "A Day in Sarajevo" and "The High Sun".
Piperkoski was born in Struga, Macedonia in 1959. He attended the University of Skopje, where he studied theatre and film. After graduating in 1984, he worked as an assistant director at Macedonian Television, before moving to Belgrade Film Academy in Yugoslavia. After completing his studies, he returned to Macedonia and worked as a freelance director.
In 1997, Piperkoski wrote and directed his first feature film, "A Day in Sarajevo". The film was an international success, winning awards at the International Film Festival in Sarajevo and the Belgrade International Film Festival. The film chronicles a day in the life of a Bosnian family during the Yugoslav Wars. It depicted the struggles and difficulties faced by the people of Sarajevo during the conflict, and was praised for its authentic and realistic portrayal of the city and its people.
In 2010, Piperkoski released his second feature film, "The High Sun". The film was an international hit, winning numerous awards, including the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival and the European Film Award for Best Film. The film follows three intertwining love stories that take place in Croatia, Serbia, and Slovenia during the Yugoslav Wars. The film was praised for its powerful and moving story, and its realistic depiction of the war-torn region.
Piperkoski has since continued to direct and produce films, including the documentary "The Other Side of the River" in 2013 and the drama "The Great Warrior Skanderbeg" in 2014. His films have been praised for their realistic and powerful portrayals of the region and its people.
Piperkoski has won numerous awards for his work, including multiple Best Director awards from the Macedonian Film Festival, and the Grand Prix from the Cannes Film Festival for "The High Sun". He continues to be active in the film industry, and is considered one of the most important directors from the region.
