“The Great Water” is a feature film based on the famous Macedonian novel written by
Zivko Cingo and published in the early 70’s, at the peak of the Communist regime in
the former Yugoslavia.

For the first time light has been shed on the Stalinist period in Yugoslavia (1945-48)
and the cruelty of the Communist leadership towards the children of the “enemies of
the revolution” in ideological labor camps established after WWII.

This powerful and emotionally moving story was finally transferred to film as an epic
saga  of friendship and betrayal between two boys, and conflicts between religion,
spirituality and political blindness.

After completing the final version of the script with his writing partner, Vladimir
Blazevski, the film’s director, Ivo Trajkov has reunited (after 12 years) with
cinematographer Suki Medencevic, his classmate from the film school in Prague who
now lives and works in Los Angeles, and started to pre-visualize the film.

At the same time casting was under way, led by Mykola Heyko, one of the leading  
European experts in working with children actors (as evidenced in “Kolya”, the
Academy Award winning foreign language film from Czech Republic). His final selection
was made after having seen thousands of children.
Regarding the roles played by adult actors the lead was given to renowned
Macedonian actor, Meto Jovanovski.  Other members of the cast included: Nikolina
Kujaca, Olivera Nedeska and Mitko Apostoloski.

In summer of 2002 Macedonia was at the brink of a civil war. Despite the obvious risk,
production got under way filming on locations in  Skopje and Bitola.
The crew was comprised of film professionals from Macedonia and the entire region of
the former Yugoslavia.

Production was facing many logistical challenges: unpredictable weather with extreme
heat and cold, and over 250 children on the set, ages 8-15. Thanks to an
unprecedented dedication of the entire cast and crew, and after more than 50 days of
filming, the production was finally completed in early fall of 2002.

The editing of the film was done in Prague, Czech Republic, Digital Intermediate in
Denmark, Dolby Digital mix in Prague at the Barandov Studios, and music mix and final
release print in London.

The first cast and crew screening took place  in Skopje on April 30, 2004. Over 500
guests including cast, crew, media and members of the Macedonian Ministry of Culture
attended the screening. The audience loved the film and the closing credits played to
standing ovations.

That same day Macedonia held its presidential elections and it is interesting to note
that the cover story in daily newspapers was the screening of “The Great Water”, while
the presidential election got a second tier placement