Opening of the 15th PFF
with The Gospel According to Matthew

Tonight marks the opening of the 15th jubilee edition of the Philosophical Film Festival with a screening of The Gospel According to Matthew (1964) by the acclaimed Italian director Pier Paolo Pasolini (1922–1975).

Starting at 20:30 at the Cinematheque of North Macedonia, the audience will be able to watch a film inspired by the poetic power of the Gospel, through which Pasolini—known for his controversial views on religion—managed to create an impressive biblical work. The official ceremony will begin at 20:00 with welcome addresses by Gjorgji Pulevski, MA, Festival Programme Director, and H.E. Paolo Palminteri, Ambassador of the Republic of Italy to Skopje. The Gospel According to Matthew is part of the Festival’s Special Screenings programme, and also the final film in the Pasolini Retrospective organized in collaboration with the Embassy of Italy.

The Gospel According to Matthew [Il vangelo secondo Matteo, 137’] is a biblical drama directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini, following the life of Jesus Christ as depicted in the New Testament Gospel of Matthew. The film’s dialogues closely follow the authentic biblical text, with a strong emphasis on Jesus’ teachings and parables. Shot on location in Southern Italy in the style of Italian neorealism, the film features striking black-and-white cinematography and a cast of non-professional actors—including the director’s mother, Susanna Pasolini, in the role of the elder Mary, mother of Christ. Jesus is portrayed by Enrique Irazoqui, a young Spanish student with Marxist beliefs who happened to be visiting Rome just as Pasolini was struggling to cast the film’s central role. His interpretation of Jesus reflects the spirit of the 1960s—a figure who protests war, challenges materialism, and confronts the privileges of the wealthy.