John Vardar vs the Galaxy () is a 2024 animated space opera comedy film written and directed by Goce Cvetanovski. It is the first feature animation from North Macedonia. It stars the voices of Žarko Dimoski, Damjan Cvetanovski and Emilija Micevska accompanied by Filip Trajković, Toni Denkovski, Atanas Atanasovski, Sladjana Vujošević, Martin Gjorgoski, Elena Tarčugovska and Bojana Toskovska. It is a co-production between North Macedonia, Croatia, Hungary and Bulgaria.
Synopsis John Vardar is a failed actor who is abducted by an alien spaceship. John becomes a prisoner of the intergalactic "zoo" of the spaceship's captain, Zark, where he meets two evil creatures, who steal the spaceship and the most dangerous weapon in the universe, the VMK (Reality Modification Device). However, Zark secretly plants the weapon in John's head, causing everything the human says to become real.
Cast
Žarko Dimoski as Jon Vardar Damjan Cvetanovski as Zark Emilija Micevska as Lili Filip Trajković Toni Denkovski Atanas Atanasovski Sladjana Vujošević Martin Gjorgoski Elena Tarčugovska Bojana Toskovska
Release John Vardar vs the Galaxy had its world premiere on October 5, 2024, at the 57th Sitges Film Festival, then screened on October 15, 2024, at the 9th KineNova International Film Festival, on October 18, 2024, at the 48th São Paulo International Film Festival, (South American Premiere), on December 6, 2024, at the 14th Balneário Camboriú International Film Festival, on March 15, 2025, at the 29th Sofia International Film Festival, on April 8, 2025, at the 26th Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema, and on April 18, 2025, at the 47th Moscow International Film Festival.
The film was released commercially on November 1, 2024, in Macedonian theaters, then released in Hungarian theaters on March 27, 2025, and in Bulgarian theaters on October 17, 2025.
In 2025, the film continued its festival run with screenings at the 60th Hungarian Film Week, Fant Bilbao, Cartoons on the Bay, Grossmann Fantastic Film and Wine Festival, Schlingel International Film Festival, Razor Reel Flanders Film Festival, Zuma International Film Festival, and numerous animation, children’s, and genre-focused festivals across Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, and South America.
Accolades YearAward / FestivalCategoryRecipientResultRef.20249th KineNova International Film FestivalGrand PrixJohn Vardar vs the Galaxy48th São Paulo International Film FestivalNew Directors Competition - Best FilmBest New DirectorGoce Cvetanovski202526th BAFICI Buenos Aires International Independent Film FestivalBest FeatureJohn Vardar vs the GalaxyNominated202529th Cartoons On the BayBest Animation FeatureJohn Vardar vs the GalaxyNominated20259th Portoviejo Film FestivalBest Animation FeatureJohn Vardar vs the GalaxyAward20259th Maracay International Film & Video FestivalBest Animation FeatureJohn Vardar vs the Galaxy202511th Montevideo World Film FestivalBest FeatureJohn Vardar vs the GalaxyNominated202513th Ariano International Film FestivalBest Animation FeatureJohn Vardar vs the GalaxyAward20255th The Galactic Imaginarium Film FestivalBest Animation FeatureJohn Vardar vs the GalaxyAward202512th Silk Road Film FestivalBest Animation FeatureJohn Vardar vs the GalaxyNominated202513th Giffoni Macedonia Youth Film FestivalBest Animation FeatureJohn Vardar vs the GalaxyNominated202530th Schlingel FilmfestivalBest Animation FeatureJohn Vardar vs the GalaxyNominated202514th International Tour Film FestivalBest Animation FeatureJohn Vardar vs the GalaxyNominated20256th Sydney Science Fiction Film FestivalBest FeatureJohn Vardar vs the GalaxySpecial Mention202511th Taichung International Animation FestivalBest Animation FeatureJohn Vardar vs the GalaxyNominated202518th Leskovac International Film Directors FestivalBest DirectorGoce CvetanovskiNominated20256th Beijing International Children’s Film FestivalBest Animation FeatureGoce CvetanovskiNominated202519th International Chinh India Kids Film FestivalBest Animation FeatureJohn Vardar vs the GalaxySilver Chinh Award20269th Churumbela Children’s Film FestivalBest FeatureJohn Vardar vs the GalaxyNominated
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