Teona Mitevska's debut film is set in Macedonia in 2001. Viola (Labina Mitevska, who played the young Albanian girl in "Before the Rain") returns from college in the U.S. to Skopje dominated by gunfire and bombings. Returning to her family she discovers that her beloved younger brother Kokan has grown to become a confident, NATO-hating, nationalist 'freedom fighter' and a runner for black marketeers, dreaming of 'killing a saint'. The film tells their interwoven story as he leads her into danger across the border carrying illicit goods and she reveals she is searching for her three year old daughter (a secret to him). Mitevska creates a totally convincing presentation of a country in conflict with itself, of people in a state of continuing uncertainty, plagued by outbreaks of violence. Kokan's youthful arrogance and pride in his 'terrorism' hides his real need for identity. SAINT was beautifully photographed by the Belgian Alain Marcoen (La Promesse and Rosetta). Mitevska has been praised by VARIETY as a talented young director and someone to watch. (Wanda Bershen)

2004 Rotterdam Festival Nominated for TIGER AWARD
2004 Sarajevo Festival Best Actor Award for Milan Tocinovski
2004 Brussels European Film Festival Nominated for Golden Iris
*Special thanks for rights and prints: F for Film ((Paris), Mitevski Sisters and Brother (Skopje)

Director: Teona Strugar Mitevska
Producers: Labina Mitevska, Sisters and Brother Mitevski Pro.
Writers: Mathew Bardin, Teona Strugar Mitevska

The director and co-screenwriter, Teona Mitevska studied painting and graphic design in Skopje before enrolling in film courses at the Tisch School of Arts at New York University. She made the award-winning short Veta (2001), about the psychosis of war, followed by the documentary Amer in Amerika (2002). Vuk Mitevski, another family member, is the film's production designer.