22/04/2016 - The Prishtina International Film Festival will screen close to 100 films from 22-29 April, alongside its comprehensive industry section, the PriForum

PriFest, the Prishtina International Film Festival, is kicking off its eighth edition, which will take place from 22-29 April in the Kosovar capital. One year after its last edition, which took place in exile, owing to a lack of state support (read more), the festival directed by Vjosa Berisha will once again prove to be an unmissable rendezvous for the whole Balkan film industry: film buffs will have the chance to enjoy the screenings of close to 100 movies hailing from all over Europe, while professionals will also be able to take part in the PriForum, the gathering’s industry section. 

As for the films, in its main section, the European Competition, the festival will be banking on a number of major titles from the continent’s recent cinematic output. The section will comprise United States of Love [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Tomasz Wasilewski
film profile] by Tomasz Wasilewski, which was awarded at the most recent Berlinale; Rams [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Grimur Hakonarson
film profile] by Grímur Hákonarson, one of last year’s most award-festooned European movies; Mustang [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Deniz Gamze Ergüven
film profile] by Deniz Gamze Ergüven, which was nominated for the Oscar and the Golden Globes, and won the European Parliament’s LUX Prize; Mediterranea [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Jonas Carpignano
film profile] by Jonas Carpignano; Modris [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Juris Kursietis; Long Distance [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Carlos Marques-Marcet
film profile] by Carlos Marques-Marcet; and the Swiss omnibus film Wonderland [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Carmen Jaquier and Lionel R…
film profile].

Meanwhile, the PriDocs documentary section will include the world premiere of Estonian title Tashi Delek by Peeter Rebane, alongside other movies such as Paths by Albanian director Mevlan Shanaj and Missing Times by Turkey’s Faysal Soysal. The competitive Honey and Blood selection, intended for Balkan films, will host flicks such as the Sundance-screened A Good Wife [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Mirjana Karanovic, as a regional premiere, and the Berlinale-awarded Death in Sarajevo [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Danis Tanovic
film profile] by Danis Tanovic.

As for the PriForum, the gathering’s industry platform for filmmakers from the Balkan region directed by Fatos Berisha, the programme includes the competition for the Vanessa Redgrave Award (named after the British actress, who has been the festival’s godmother ever since its very first edition), handed out to the best pitch. The competition will include the projects Broken by Jana Paunoska (Macedonia), Open Door by Florenc Papas (Albania/Italy), The Witch Hunters [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Rasko Miljkovic (Serbia), Three Lions Heading Venice by Jonid Jorgji (Albania), Grandfather and his Grandson by Illja Piperkoski (Macedonia), Pledge by Valon Jakupaj (Kosovo), Perhaps by Kastriot Abdyli (Albania), After the Winter by Ivan Bakrac (Montenegro) and Dreams of the Sea by Kaltrina Krasniqi (Kosovo). 

The sidebar will gather together experts Matthieu Darras (artistic director of the Torino Film Lab), Franz Rodenkirchen (screenwriting assistant and Script Circle tutor), Françoise Von Roy (Script Circle screenwriting assistant) and Joana Solecka (marketing and audience strategy development expert at the Torino Film Lab), who will provide invaluable advice to the projects in the PriForum. The event will also boast conferences, debates and workshops, such as the one focused on script development and audience design. 

You can view the festival’s complete programme by clicking here.

(Translated from Spanish)