30/07/2025 - The psychological drama, inspired by a Slovenian stage play, explores power dynamics in a shared flat as an enigmatic new roommate disrupts the fragile equilibrium

Ana Jovanovska, Ilija Volchevski, and Hakan Daci with writer-director Marko Gjokovic on the set of Tenant (© Sektor Film)

Macedonian director Marko Gjoković has completed principal photography on his debut feature, Tenant (Potstanar), a psychological drama that delves into themes of manipulation, personal freedom, and shifting power dynamics within a tight-knit domestic setting, as a new roommate unsettles the fragile balance among three long-time friends.

The story follows three friends—Neda, Vanja and Milosh—who, in an effort to ease their financial burdens, decide to take in a roommate. The only applicant is Vladimir, an old-fashioned, traditionally minded man whose courteous facade conceals a more insidious presence. As he gradually asserts control over the household dynamic, the once-stable cohabitation unravels into a tense psychological battleground, where the struggle for autonomy becomes increasingly fraught.

The lead roles are played by rising Macedonian talents Ana Jovanovska, Ilija Volchevski and Hakan Daci, alongside renowned Kosovan actor Alban Ukaj, best known for his performance in the Dardenne brothers’ Lorna’s Silence [+see also:
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film profile]. Ukaj portrays the new roommate, completing the central quartet. The ensemble cast also features Nikolina Kujacha, Kamka Tocinovski, Sofija Kunovska, Boris Damovski, Adem Karaga, Stefanija Nachevska, Mina Jelusic Jerinic, Lazar Hristov, Branko Atanasov and Matea Jankovska.

Tenant is based on the stage play Vladimir by Slovenian author Matjaž Župančič. The screenplay was co-written by Gjoković and Bulgarian screenwriter Simeon Ventsislavov (Blaga's Lessons [+see also:
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film profile]), with the conceptual framework developed by Jovica Mihajlovski. According to Gjoković, at the heart of the film lies love: love between friends, between lovers, love for life, for a parent, and ultimately, love for freedom.

The film was shot over the course of 30 days, beginning in mid-June and wrapping last week, across multiple locations in Skopje. Italy-trained cinematographer Aleksandar Krstevski served as director of photography. The core creative team also includes production designer Sasho Blazhevski, costume designer Roze Trajcheska, makeup artist Snezana Angelovska Zhivkovska, sound engineer Dejan Mihajlovski, and casting director Milka Anchevska.

Tenant is a Macedonian-Serbian-Montenegrin co-production, produced by Vladimir Anastasov and Angela Nestorovska for North Macedonia’s Sektor Film, in co-production with Aleksandar Protić for Serbia’s Mir Media Group, Dimče Stojanovski and Stefan Orlandić for Serbia’s Living Pictures, and Maja Kečojević for Montenegro’s Parangal Film. The film is supported by the North Macedonia Film Agency, Film Center Serbia, and the Film Centre of Montenegro. Currently entering post-production, Tenant is expected to premiere in 2026.