Kosovo in Cannes is presented as a film potential, strengthened with "The Road"

While it has continued the tradition of representation in what is known as the "Marché du Film" at the Cannes Film Festival, this year Kosovo has even more power to present itself as a country with good film potential. And a power like this is given to the film "The Road" by Samir Karahoda, which puts the country among those waiting for the "Golden Palm". It is the same director who did this with "Pa vend" two years ago. "The fact that we have films like 'The Road' by Samir Karahoda supports our idea of ​​having a strong film industry in Kosovo in the future", said Blerta Zeqiri, director of the Cinematographic Center of Kosovo.

The hoisting of Kosovo's flag in Cannes as the world capital of film has already become a tradition, but this year there is even more reason to get attention, because it supports "The Road" by Samir Karahoda, which is waiting for the "Palm d'Or". The Cinematographic Center of Kosovo has opened its stand in what is known as the "Marché du Film" (Film Market), the largest in the world in the field of cinematography. Film house brands, producers and filmmakers meet there, contracts are signed, productions are invited to shoot in relevant locations. Above all, the countries compete to prove that they have the potential for good films, competitors even for the Cannes Film Festival, which since Tuesday has turned on the projectors of the 77th edition. Well, this year the KKK has an easier time proving this, just like two years ago with "Pa vend", also by Samir Karahoda, also a competitor for the grand prize. 

It was a sunny Thursday in the city of the French Riviera, the KKK stand - shared with the National Cinematography Center of Albania - had a lot of visitors. The poster of "The Street" - which will have its world premiere next Friday - is central to the interior of stand no. 138. 

"Many meetings of producers with other producers have already begun. Work has begun on new films that will be made in the future. We as KKK are ready and have offered the opportunity for everyone to have meetings here at our stand. We are like a kind of connecting bridge for those who want to make films. This is just the beginning", said Blerta Zeqiri, director of the KKK, in a direct link from Cannes on Kohavision's "Express" show. 

When Zeqiri - who once visited Cannes as a student almost two decades ago - says "this is just the beginning", there is no real dilemma even if it is only about this year's edition. 
"During this week we have a novelty, because we have a cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kosovo, which supported us with products from Kosovo which we donate here in the center", she said. But the reason for strengthening the representation is the competing film. 

"This year we are very lucky and very happy to have Samir Karahoda's short film 'The Road' in the official competition of the Festival. This greatly honors us as a country, but also as a Cinema Center, because it is very rare for a country to have a film in the official Cannes competition. For us it is even more rare, because it is the second time that a director comes with his second film, so he returns to this competition, and it shows that we have many, rare and extraordinary talents who should we support them. We are very proud to have the movie 'The Road'", said Zeqiri. 
Zeqiri attributed the success of the Kosovo film to the presence of the KKK in festivals such as Cannes and Berlinales, which started years ago. This year is the 13th time that the KKK opens its stand at the festival of festivals. 

"This is where the biggest and most important meetings are created that then bring films, which we are happy to have and that are honoring us and proud of their successes", said Zeqiri, adding that the most important meetings are those that they are developed by the film producers and filmmakers of Kosovo. "Here is the entire film industry in the world and there are all the opportunities for collaborations", she said. 

Last year, for example, Kosovo had double representation in Cannes: through the KKK stand and also through the "DokuFest" festival, which became part of "Cannes Docs". Cannes would also invite the Kosovar festival to the "Rendez-vous Industry" forum, dedicated to meetings with short film professionals. 

"They look at us as professionals from a country that brings interesting films", said Zeqiri last year. It was reconfirmed after a year with "Rrugës" of Karahoda, co-producer Errol Biliban and other names directly related to "DokuFest". 

"We are eagerly awaiting the premiere of the film on May 24. The authors of the film are also coming soon. Samir Karahoda will be present here together with the film crew. On May 21, in cooperation with the Embassy of Kosovo in France, we will hold an organization in honor of the film and the director Karahoda, and we will invite all our colleagues to celebrate this beautiful moment together", said Zeqiri. 

Congratulating him on the victory, Zeqiri said that "Kosovo lacks the 'Golden Palm'". 

"We want to have the 'Golden Palm' and then place it alongside the other awards we have received at festivals. For example, this year we got the 'Tiger' of Rotterdam, in the future we also want the 'Lion' of Venice and thus make it a 'zoo' in Kosovo with golden prices", she said. He spoke about the weight of Kosovo's presentation. 

"Because here we show the world that we are, we exist and we are taking the film very seriously. For this reason, near here we have all the other countries of the world that are presented at the festival and have opened these stands that are liaisons where they promote their film and industry", said Zeqiri, and the liaison with "Rrugës" is inevitable. . 

"It is very important to show the world that we are here and we are ready and we know how to make films. The fact that we have films like 'The Road' by Samir Karahoda supports our idea to have a strong film industry in Kosovo in the future and also create many new jobs for young people in the creative industry, especially big in the film industry", said Zeqiri. 

Kosovar cinematography in Cannes started its history precisely with the international festival of documentaries and short films "DokuFest". In June 2021, for the first time, a local film entered the competition for the "Golden Palm". Samir Karahoda's short film "Pa vend" was part of the official competition in the short film category. That year also saw the world premiere of the film "Lions of the Hill" directed by Luana Bajrami, within the "Director's Fortnight" of the Cannes Festival. On the other hand, an actor from Kosovo returned to the 75th edition of the Cannes Festival last year. Alban Ukaj was at the Festival from May 17 to 28 as a result of his role in the film "Tori and Lokita" by brothers Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne. Ukaj was in Cannes with a cinematographic project of the Dardenne brothers in 2008, when together with actress Arta Dobroshi they starred in the film "Lorna's Silence". 

Kosovo's name is loud this year in Cannes. With "Ruga" yes, yes. And with the chance that from there he will return with the "Golden Palm".