DJ AHMET

Ahmet, a 15-year-old boy from a remote Yuruk village in North Macedonia, finds refuge in music while navigating his father’s expectations, a conservative community, and his first experience with love, a girl already promised to someone else.

2025 Sundance Film Festival
Winner: World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Creative Vision
Winner: Audience Award, World Cinema Dramatic

NYT Critic’s Pick
"In this strikingly assured debut, the writer-director Georgi M. Unkovski demonstrates gentle realism, paired with luminous cinematography and a superb young cast. Ahmet, his younger brother Naim (Agush Agushev, a wonder) and his love interest Aya (Dora Akan Zlatanova, bringing understated autonomy to the role) linger with the sense that their lives extend beyond the frame." - Chris Azzopardi


"In DJ AHMET, I wanted to explore the delicate balance between tradition and self-expression, particularly within a small, close-knit community. The film delves into the challenges of growing up in a traditional setting while simultaneously discovering one's own identity. I was fascinated by the tension that arises when individual desires clash with the expectations of the collective. At its core, the film is about the universal human need to express oneself, and how art, in this case music, can become both a refuge and a catalyst for change. My vision was to create a story that resonates with audiences by capturing the humor and drama inherent in this struggle, ultimately highlighting the power of self-discovery." - Georgi M. Unkovski