Dokufest 2024: Embracing a New World Order

Under the theme ‘New Order,’ Kosovo’s International Documentary and Short Film Festival, Dokufest, will explore the reconfiguration of the global geopolitical landscape with an artistic order through its diverse film selections and thematic programs. The 23rd edition of the International Documentary and Short Film Festival, DokuFest, which starts on Friday, will showcase hundreds of films…

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Kosovo Miners’ Strike Over Unpaid Wages Enters Fourth Week

Miners at Kosovo’s once mighty Trepca complex are continuing their weeks-long strike over several months’ worth of unpaid wages. Miners at the giant Trepca complex in Kosovo entered the 23rd day of a strike on Thursday over unpaid salaries for June and July. On Thursday, the government said it was reviewing a work plan proposed…

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Ineffective and Inhumane: Denmark-Kosovo Prison Transfer Deal Continues Nordic Discrimination Towards Foreigners

Despite the outward positivity towards the Denmark-Kosovo prison transfer deal, a closer analysis reveals an ugly underbelly to the accord, raising numerous abuse and discrimination concerns. Mohamed Hassan Abdi moved to Denmark from Somalia when he was four years old and lived there throughout his life, never once returning to Somalia following his emigration. Throughout…

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As Sunny Hill 2024 Edition Ends, Festival-goers See Room for Improvements

The fourth edition of the Sunny Hill Festival in Kosovo, which was founded by global pop star Dua Lipa and her father Dukagjin, was well-received by music lovers, but there were criticisms regarding ticket prices and the need for improvement in infrastructure. The fourth edition of  Kosovo’s Sunny Hill festival, joined in the protest against…

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Kosovo Public Broadcaster’s Director Quits Over Controversial Article

Only weeks after she was appointed, Zana Spahiu has resigned as acting director of Kosovo’s public broadcaster – following criticism of the decision to publish an article that allegedly smeared two local media outlets. Kosovo’s public broadcaster, Radio Television of Kosovo, RTK, on Thursday said acting general director Zana Spahiu had resigned, effective from July…

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‘We Have built a Name’: Kosovo Sunny Hill Festival Founder Eyes Record Year

According to him, “45 per cent of the tickets sold are international, based on previous years [of attendance]”. While he acknowledges that Kosovo’s big diaspora adds to the visitor numbers, Lipa explains that “our goal is to develop an event in Kosovo that perhaps no one else could develop to the scale that we have”….

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Photographer Ron Haviv Reflects on Documenting the Breakup of Yugoslavia

American photographer Ron Haviv shared his experiences documenting the breakup of Yugoslavia, from Slovenia’s independence to Kosovo’s liberation, capturing the devastating human impact of the conflicts and the people affected. The wars in former Yugoslavia “were about eliminating the idea of the identity of ‘the other’ whether they were Slovenian, Croat, Bosniak, Kosovar and so…

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EU Scraps Visa Requirement for Kosovo Serbs With ‘Special’ Passports

Kosovo government protests as European Commission scraps visa requirement for its residents who hold Serbian passports issued by Serbia’s Directorate for Kosovo. Kosovo residents, most of them Serbs, who have passports issued by Serbia’s Directorate for Kosovo, until now less valuable than standard Serbian passports, will now be able to cross the external border of…

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‘Smashing the Patriarchy’: Anibar Film Festival Provides Possibilities for Equality

In its fifteenth edition, the Anibar International Animation Festival, in Peja, urges citizens to raise their voices against patriarchal oppression. Park Karagaç in Peja bears a quiet power. Its unassuming nature, containing only a basketball court, playground, and lake theatre, belies the significance of the venue. The laidback outdoor setting creates familiarity and comfort amongst…

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