'FUTURE IS HERE' X EDITION

Incepted in 2013 this program of DokuFest created unique opportunity for generations by provision of tools for empowerment by means of encouraging self-expression. To date 82 students successfully attended workshops led by tutors Blerta Zeqiri, Samir Karahoda, Andrijana Stojkovic, Emilio Guerra, Guillermo Carreras-Candi, Gazmend Bajri, Pamela Cohn who led the High School students in creative documentary filmmaking on social and human rights-oriented topics.

This edition we invited 18 young people throughout Kosovo out of 150 applicants to join the 2022 generation of ‘Future is Here’. Limited by pandemic restrictions, most of the lectures took place online, with only few practical lectures and trainings that took place in presence of facilitators.

Led by main tutor Blerta Zeqiri and assisted by Veton Nurkollari and Eroll Bilibani, students had the opportunity to watch films, engage in Q&A sessions with filmmakers and learn from a wide array of film professionals and artists that included Samir Karahoda, Enis Saraçi, Andrijana Stojković, Dea Gjinovci, Sevdije Kastrati, Thomas Logoreci, Antoneta Kastrati, Pëllumb Ballata, Bujar Kabashi, Leart Rama and Edona Vatoci.

Samir Karahoda also ran a half day training on cinematography and practical use of camera in creative documentary filmmaking. The students managed to complete their initial shooting and will rejoin for an editing camp to finalize their films where they will be assisted by editor Enis Saraçi and two of the ‘Future is Here’ alumni Leart Rama and Flutura Balaj who attended the same training program in 2016 (Leart Rama) and 2018 (Flutura Balaj).

“This jubilee year of the documentary film school FUTURE IS HERE brought to life very special film ideas of young people. Year after year ideas of the students and their realization are much more diverse and couraging. During their stay in Prizren they had the opportunity to attend very inspiring lectures by directors and professionals, who eased their diving in the world of film. Students of this edition are an added asset of the school where they have also motivated us as management to develop further our film school for the upcoming years,” added Malbora Krajku, manager of the project.

Through the program, apart from the film-making skills youth are offered the floor to debate on various social issues of their immediate concern, engaging them in intercultural dialogue on identity, human rights, gender equality, climate change, culture and so on.