STORIES WE TELL

DokuFest’s newest project, “STORIES WE TELL,” funded by “SMART Balkans,” aims to utilize audio-visual media to encourage dialogue and understanding among young people from diverse communities in Kosovo. Young individuals aged 18-25, during three different camps, will engage in workshops and discussions focusing on promoting mutual respect and understanding. They will have the opportunity to share their thoughts and experiences, aiming to positively influence each other and challenge negative perspectives shaped by media and societal views.

For a long time, “DokuFest” has harnessed the power of art through film and audio-visual materials as an inspiring environment to foster creativity among the youth and consistently promote their independent thinking. However, within this context, media has always played a significant role in shaping our society’s opinion on various issues, especially when it comes to ethnic or gender-related matters, although not always relying on complete facts.

DokuFest’s goal is to use this platform to challenge the context of misinformation and involve the younger generation in a process focused on truth, revealing how society is entwined in this context.

In a new environment, with unfamiliar peers, this project aims to break an even deeper barrier. Where the most accurate information lies precisely among them, where dialogue becomes the most powerful “weapon,” and the three camps transform into a battlefield aiming solely for peace, respect, and understanding.

This project will involve a total of 50-56 participants over three camps. Throughout the three camps, project participants, who are paired to work together, will have the opportunity to spend time with each other and create 1-2 minute videos using art as a medium to showcase how they perceive each other. These videos will be used as additional materials for the curated exhibitions of this project.

Continuing collaboration with CSO’s, institutions, and independent media, we will contribute to creating a space for open discussions for the youth, with the aim of achieving our goal. These spaces will be distributed in several cities in Kosovo and various cultural organizations and institutions that promote discussion, offer new information, and diverse perspectives. DokuFest will closely collaborate with our partners to convey the message, emphasizing attention towards marginalized groups and encouraging a broad geographical spread in project applications.

In the end, we will interview all project participants, encouraging them to reflect on “what they knew before” and “what they know now.” The exhibitions for the produced videos will be carefully prepared and held during the summer at DokuFest for a wide audience. In addition to the exhibition, participants will have the opportunity to attend films, masterclasses, and various debates during the days of the DokuFest festival, where they will have the chance to meet each other again and spend time together.

This entire process will enable us as a project team and organization as a whole to identify potential areas in need of improvement, address any gaps in community representation, and refine our strategy to maximize impact.