"DokuFest" on the eve of a quarter century with film as memory and disobedience

Prizren hosts the 25th edition of the international documentary and short film festival “DokuFest”. This year’s festival comes as a celebration of the achievements of a quarter of a century, but also as a reflection on the challenges it has faced. With the theme “Doku because it must” and the motto “Continuous Disobedience”, the organizers say that the festival continues to be a space for film, debate and cultural resistance

Everything is ready for Prizren to once again become one of the most important centers of documentary film in the region. With the opening ceremony tonight (Friday) at the improvised cinema on the banks of the "Lumbardhi" river, the 25th edition of the international documentary and short film festival "DokuFest" begins.

This year's edition comes under the motto "Doku se douthet", a theme that returns to the history of the festival itself, its 25-year journey and the need to reflect on the times we live in. Through 223 films in competition and outside it, this year's "DokuFest" brings stories from different countries around the world, addressing war, memory, migration, identity, the environment and the consequences of global crises.

But, beyond the quarter-century celebration, this year's edition has also been accompanied by numerous challenges. The absence of some of the festival's traditional venues, such as the "Lumbardhi" cinema and the Prizren Castle, as well as the reduction in financial support from the Municipality of Prizren, have led the organizers to review some parts of the program.

But beyond the challenges, the organizers have said that this will be an edition of celebration, but also of endurance.

Lack of identifying spaces

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The general director of "DokuFest", Linda Llulla, has announced that preparations have entered the final phase and that the festival is ready to welcome the public.

The opening ceremony will be held at "Kino Lumi", a space created on the river after the "Lumbardhi" cinema, which had hosted the Festival since its inception in 2002, continues to be out of operation due to renovation.

"Yes, we are ready. We are now only finalizing a few small details, but in general everything is ready. The program is completed, which is the most important part. On Friday morning, preparations begin for the opening ceremony, which this year will be held at 'Kino Lumi', since this year we do not have the 'Lumbardhi' cinema available. After the opening ceremony, all cinemas will immediately start with the planned screenings and program," said Llulla.

For the second year in a row, the festival has been forced to operate without one of its most symbolic spaces. In addition, this year the use of the Castle is also missing, which has been partially closed after it was determined to be dangerous.

"In total, this year we have two open-air cinemas – 'Kino Lumi' and 'Platoja' – as well as four indoor cinemas. Due to the lack of space, but also insufficient financial support, we have been forced to reduce the program," said Llulla.

According to her, the reductions have affected some segments of the festival, but not its essence.

"This year we have fewer films than in previous years and we have reduced some programs, including 'DokuNights'. The audience will probably not notice this change, but we know that, due to infrastructural and financial challenges, our 25th anniversary jubilee has been organized on a smaller scale than we had planned," she said.

One of the main concerns of the organizers remains the lack of financial support from the Municipality of Prizren.

"We still have not received last year's subsidy funds, even though they were supposed to be paid by the end of 2025. Currently, the Municipality of Prizren owes us 51 thousand euros. For this year, we have only been allocated 30 thousand euros, even though we have filed a complaint, but the complaint has not been taken into account," Llulla declared.

She said that the contract for this year's subsidy has not yet been signed.

"I don't know the reason for this decision. This should be discussed with the mayor. He constantly states that 'DokuFest' is very important, but when it comes to concrete actions and financial support, this importance is not reflected," said Llulla.

Many reasons for celebration and disobedience

For the festival's artistic director, Veton Nurkollari, the fact that "DokuFest" has reached its 25th anniversary is in itself a reason for celebration.

"Of course it's a celebration. It's no small feat to organize a festival for 25 years in a row and bring it to the level where 'DokuFesti' is today. Honestly, 25 years ago we didn't think we would get this far. Time has passed quickly and of course we will celebrate this jubilee. Organizing a festival in a country like Kosovo and bringing documentary films is in itself a political act. I have often said this, because documentary film is a political act," said Nurkollari.

But, according to him, the very existence of such a festival in Kosovo is also a statement that goes beyond art.

"Organizing a festival in a country like Kosovo and bringing documentary films is in itself a political act. I have often said this, because documentary film is a political act," he said.

This year's slogan, "Disobedience", according to Nurkollar, is directly related to the situation in which the festival finds itself.

"This year's slogan, 'Disobedience', is related to the situation the festival is in this year and the inability to celebrate the 25th anniversary as we had planned. The main reason is a complicated relationship with the Municipality of Prizren. For reasons that have not yet been made known to us, the financial support from the municipality has been halved, even more than halved, without any real justification. Our complaint has also been rejected without any convincing explanation," he said.

This year's program features films that address some of the most sensitive topics of the time.

"We will show, for example, a film about the story of three doctors in Gaza, another about survivors in Ukraine and many other stories from different countries around the world. Festivals like 'DokuFest' should be places where not only films are watched, but also the issues they address are discussed," Nurkollari said.

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He said it is extremely diverse. 

"It includes films about war and its consequences, about the environment, about personal stories and many other topics. We also have a large number of short films, many of them winners at the most prestigious festivals in the world, including the Cannes Film Festival. I believe that everyone will find films that suit their interests," said Nurkollari. 

One of the main guests of this edition is director and film historian Mark Cousins, who will present parts of his latest project and will give a lecture on the history of documentary cinema.

Programs with stories from around the globe

The festival's producer, Alba Çakalli, has announced that this year the public will have the opportunity to watch 223 films in several festival locations.

"This year we have selected a total of 223 films that will be screened in the festival's cinemas. The majority of the festival will take place in the historic center of Prizren," she said.

Among the innovations of this edition is "VR Cinema", a program that will enable the public to experience the film through virtual technology.

"Two regular cinemas will operate at the House of Culture. Also, this year we are bringing a new program – 'VR Cinema', where the public will have the opportunity to experience films through VR devices (headsets), offering a completely different viewing experience," said Çakalli.

She also mentioned the return of "DokuNights" to "Andrra Stage", while emphasizing the importance of volunteers in the history of the festival.

"Every year we have an increase in the number of applications for volunteers. Due to our capacities, we cannot accept everyone, even though the desire is great. I myself have been a volunteer at DokuFest and I know what a feeling of pride it is to be part of the festival. Volunteers are the main pillar of 'DokuFest'. Without them, this edition and none of the previous 24 editions would have been realized," she said.

The musical program also returns to a symbolic space. “DokuNights” curator Leart Rama said that the return to “Andrra Stage” is directly related to the collective memory of the festival.

"We are very happy that this year we have managed to bring DokuNights back to Andrra Stage, where it all began and where many of our most beautiful memories are connected. The main reason for this return is the 25th anniversary of 'DokuFest'. We wanted to return to our collective memory and remember what 'DokuFest' has been over the years. It seemed very important to us that, at least this year, we bring back ''Andrra Stage'. This does not mean that we will not change the location in the future, but for this anniversary we thought that we all deserve to celebrate it there again", said Rama.

Meanwhile, the Short Film Forum continues this year with its second edition, coming in a larger format this time.

According to Eroll Bilibani, co-director of this Forum, the success of the last edition has created the basis for a larger program with projects from the region and Europe.

"I can say that last year's pilot was very successful. It was a test to see how we can create a platform that connects the mechanisms of financing, co-production and development of short films. Last year, projects from Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia participated in the forum, while Scotland was the guest country. The results were very encouraging," said Bilibani.

He said that the first edition of the Forum had been very successful. 

"Last year, projects from Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia participated in the forum, while Scotland was the guest country. The results were very encouraging. Ana Morina's project 'Who's Singing?', which won the forum, was later presented in Turin and found a co-producer in Croatia. The film deals with women's resistance during the '90s and this is a very important development for the author. Also, Flaka Kokolli, with her project, participated in Clermont-Ferrand, the largest short film festival in the world, where she found new international partners and is conducting negotiations for new co-productions," said Bilibani. 

According to him, these results show that the forum has worked and that there is real interest in co-productions in the field of short films.

"Precisely for this reason, this year we have expanded the program with two more countries - Bulgaria and Montenegro. Ten projects have been selected: four from Kosovo, two from Albania, two from Bulgaria and one each from North Macedonia and Montenegro. This year, Italy is the guest country and will present three projects that are looking for co-production partners in the Balkans. We have also managed to bring representatives from 'Clermont-Ferrand' and from the 'Short Film Corner' of the Cannes Film Festival. Their presence is very important, because our authors have the opportunity to present their projects directly to the people who decide on the programs of the most important festivals in the world", Eroll Bilibani continued. 

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He announced that the industry program will also include "DokuTalks", masterclasses and programs dedicated to young authors.

With the opening of its 25th edition, “DokuFest” returns to where it has always been: between film, the city and public debate. In this jubilee year, the festival celebrates not only a 25-year history, but also the continuity of an idea – that cinema can be a space of memory, resistance and change.