Film & Funding: The Hubert Bals Fund (IFFR) has selected 20 development projects for €10,000 grants, including North Macedonia’s debut feature Bakhmaro – Invisible Formula by Anka Gujabidze, alongside Eastern Europe and Balkan-focused picks. Folk Culture: Over 30 folk music and dance groups took part in the inaugural “Horo Se Vie” International Folklore Festival in Bosilegrad, with ensembles from Serbia, Bulgaria, North Macedonia and Montenegro, plus a communal horo chain dance and traditional fish soup competition. Local Arts Spotlight: Ohrid hosted the Beach Film Festival (22–26 July), where Czech/Slovak Broken Voices / Sbormistr won the Large Wave Award, and Macedonian student film Tilting at Windmills received the Small Wave – Student Award. Heritage & Identity: A week-long International Cultural Heritage Protection Week in China brought diplomats including North Macedonia into events showcasing Shanxi’s protected sites and new ways to share immovable heritage across borders. Culture, Travel & Lifestyle: With overtourism pushing people to “dupe” destinations, Skopje and Tirana are highlighted as budget-friendly city breaks—Skopje among the cheapest for 3-star stays—while Albania’s tourism boom keeps drawing attention to its Riviera, mountains and Cold War relics. Cultural Politics: Reports say Russia has adapted propaganda in North Macedonia by using localized Serbian narratives, and that Russian influence is linked to the Macedonian Orthodox Church’s refusal to recognize the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.