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Cooperation in filmmaking and opportunities for financial support of Macedonia's cinema by the Paris-based World Cinema Support Fund were discussed Thursday at a meeting between Culture Minister Elizabeta Kanceska-Milevska and Fund's representatives.

Their visit to Macedonia is part of the 6th French Film Festival running from Wednesday till Sunday.They are also scheduled to meet with Macedonian filmmakers and officials of the Film Fund and the Cinematheque of Macedonia to discuss ways for co-production, financing and applying for subsidies from the fund.

Three Macedonian films - 'Mothers' by Milco Mancevski and 'How I Killed a Saint' and 'I am from Titov Veles' by Teona Mitevska have received finances by the French Film Fund. It is a selective fund, and is granted as a subsidy either before or after completion of a project. It is granted to foreign feature-length film projects that are seeking support from French co-producers.

In 2012, it had a total budget of 6 million euros. Each year, 4 or 5 sessions are organized, thereby supporting 40 to 60 projects.

After the meeting, Minister Kanceska-Milevska stated that the new law on film industry, which is due to enter into force in early 2014, was quite similar to the French law allowing the Macedonian Film Fund to receive finances from other sources apart from the state budget. "I hope this meeting will contribute to enhancing the cooperation," she said.

Nathalie Streiff, who is in charge of the World Cinema Support at the French Institute in Paris, said the institution aimed at supporting mainly up-and-coming filmmakers and at stimulating cultural diversity.