Movie theaters in 14 culture centers, which have been closed for over a decade oftentimes due to defective equipment, will be reopened in line with a three-year project by the Ministry of Culture. It will be realised by the Macedonian Film Fund with a budget of 11 million denars (180.000 euros).

"The project envisages the equipment for projecting films to be repaired in movie theaters within culture centers across Macedonia... The goal is as many films as possible to be projected in order a film culture to be established," Minister of Culture Elizabeta Kanceska-Milevska told a press conference on Tuesday.

The 14 centers has been selected based on an analysis made by the Film Fund regarding the state of their cinemas and equipment. The project will be realized in three stages in the cities of Kumanovo, Ohrid, Struga, Prilep, Kriva Palanka, Negotino, Kocani, Tetovo, Gostivar, Debar, Kicevo, Veles, Strumica and Delcevo.

Film Fund director Darko Basevski said the project was significant because a distribution network of movies would be established.

"Film production has been increasing in Macedonia and there's a need of movie theaters where these new Macedonian films will be presented. Audiences also want to see international films," Baseski said.

Four cinemas are functional in Macedonia at the moment - three in the capital Skopje and one movie theater in Bitola.