KU News Release

Filmmaker, KU student collaborate on documentary about Macedonian folk life

LAWRENCE — German filmmaker Nathalie Schulten is in Lawrence this week to finish her work on a documentary directed by a University of Kansas student and to talk about her experience as a woman in the television and film industries.

Schulten is director of photography for “Kaleidoscope,” which examines changes in Macedonian folk culture caused by the country’s struggle to cope in today’s global world. Sandra Ristovska, director, producer and screenwriter of the film and a junior in theatre and film at KU, conducted research around Macedonia and arranged interviews with elderly handcrafters and young artists. She found funding for the project and arranged for Schulten and a sound designer to accompany her during the shooting period.

Schulten has worked as a producer and director for Viva Television in Germany for more than seven years. Currently, Schulten is working as a videographer for the documentary “Drum to Move,” which tells the story of several children who are part of an international music and dance project in Cologne, Germany.

In addition to working on “Kaleidoscope,” Schulten will be on campus to talk about her work at 3 p.m. Thursday, April 3, in Nunemaker Center.

“Kaleidoscope” represents the second collaboration between Schulten and Ristovska. In August 2005, they worked together on a short film that was screened at the London Super Shorts Film Festival in July 2006.

“Before I came to KU, I was a student on a certificate program at the London Film School,” said Ristovska. “At that time Nathalie was also in London finishing her filmmaking studies. After a wonderful collaboration on a short film, we became very good friends. Last year, I was still in the process of researching for ‘Kaleidoscope’ when I told her about my idea, and she loved it.”

Ristovska earned funding for the film from the J. Michael Young Opportunity Fund and an Undergraduate Research Award from the University Honors Program. Financial support also was provided by the University of Applied Sciences in Dortmund, Germany, and Pictocam Production of Germany.

The premiere of the film will be in June at Skopje Summer Festival in the Museum of Contemporary Art in Skopje, Macedonia. It also will be screened in Germany and Lawrence.

Ristovska is the daughter of Trajce and Snezana Ristovska and is from Skopje, Macedonia. She is a University Scholar at KU.

“She is a remarkable student, self-motivated, mature and very creative,” said Catherine Preston, associate professor of theatre and film and Ristovska’s mentor. “It is extremely rare that we have a student organized, knowledgeable and talented enough to realize such an involved project.”

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