#S2EP2 - Behind the lens of Balkan filmmaking today

#S2EP2 - Behind the lens of Balkan filmmaking today

Author: Kosovo 2.0 November 9, 2023 Duration: 57:22
Besa Luci in conversation with Kaltrina Krasniqi and Kumjana Novakova. In this episode, we will be talking about contemporary cinematography in the region. The region has always been rich in filmmaking. Each generation of filmmakers, as well as each country, has had its own political and cultural trajectory that played a role in shaping their relationship to cinema. Yet, there are also commonalities, be it in terms of thematic approach, artistic sensibility and language, or the obstacles in production and distribution. In regard to contemporary filmmaking, a potential common thread that emerges is the idea of chronicling the nation. The ways in which this storytelling is conducted are continually evolving – from examining narratives of war from a perspective of aftermath and trauma, investigating personal and collective archives to shed light on histories that could be forgotten, to tackling identity and gender roles through an increasingly intersectional understanding of historical experiences of oppression.Yet, such themes and entry points into film are not exclusive to the region. These approaches are widespread and take into account the cultural and historical nuances that shape different political realities. This is just one of many reasons that film professionals from the region have critiqued the tendency to box their films into a “specific Balkan experience” -- a label that not only locates the films geographically and culturally, but that also risks being internalized into the gaze applied to the telling of a story. This is one of the issues explored in this episode. Others include; the contribution that women filmmakers have been making in expanding the historiography of film; the responsibility filmmakers carry as storytellers informing our understanding of the world; as well as the difficulties independent filmmakers face in producing and distributing their work.Two guests join us to discuss these topics.Kaltrina Krasniqi is an award winning Kosovo based film director and researcher working in film and digital humanities since the early 2000s. Her debut feature film “Vera Dreams of the Sea” premiered in the 78th Venice Film Festival in 2021, which was awarded the Tokyo International Film Festival Grand Prix 2021 and the Ingmar Bergman Award at Gothenburg Film Festival 2022, among other accolades. Kumjana Novakova is a research-based filmmaker, film curator and lecturer. She is the cofounder, chief curator and director of the Pravo Ljudski Film Festival in Sarajevo. Her film “Disturbed Earth” has been shortlisted for the Academy Awards, and nominated for best feature-length documentary by the Doc Alliance. Other Talking Points is produced by Besa Luci and Aulonë Kadriu.This podcast is part of the Human Rightivism project, which is funded by the Embassy of Sweden in Prishtina,

In each episode of Other Talking Points, a production of Kosovo 2.0, editor-in-chief Besa Luci sits down with a guest whose voice and work challenge conventional narratives. These are not hurried interviews but considered conversations, often meandering through personal history, creative process, and critical thought. You’ll hear from authors dissecting the narratives of place, scholars questioning entrenched ideas, artists explaining the impetus behind their work, and activists detailing the realities of their struggles. The guests hail primarily from Kosovo and the surrounding region, but the scope frequently widens to include compelling voices from across the globe, creating a unique dialogue between local context and wider currents of thought. This podcast operates in the spaces between news and commentary, offering depth and nuance where headlines often fall short. The aim is to move beyond the usual soundbites and talking points that dominate public discourse, hence the name. By focusing intently on an individual’s journey and intellectual contributions, each discussion naturally opens up to reveal new perspectives on politics, culture, society, and what it means to engage with the world thoughtfully. Listening feels like being present for a genuine exchange, one that prioritizes understanding over simple debate. It’s for anyone curious about the forces shaping contemporary life in Southeast Europe and beyond, delivered through the intimate, unfolding format that only a thoughtful podcast can provide. The result is a collection of episodes that together build a complex and human portrait of the issues that define our time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 23

Other Talking Points
Podcast Episodes
#S2EP8 - Reviewing 2023 with the K2.0 editorial desk [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:44
Besa Luci in conversation with Gentiana Paçarizi and Aulonë Kadriu. We are leaving behind a year full of developments in Kosovo, the region and beyond. As always, we as journalists find ourselves having to be attentive a…
#S2EP5 - Investigating corruption and facing the corrupt [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:34
Besa Luci in conversation with Paul Caruana Galizia and Jeta Xharra. In this episode, we talk about threats to journalism and to journalists covering topics that those in power seek to conceal.In his recently published b…
#S2EP4 - Sports: a unifying and divisive force [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:05
Besa Luci in conversation with Loic Tregoures and Albert Mecini.If there’s one form of entertainment that can be considered universal, it’s sports. Be it through regular state games, regional matches, or worldwide compet…
#S2EP3 - Drag in the region, a career and a cause [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:54
Besa Luci in conversation with Adelina Rose and Lana Vee.Drag is thriving in our region, both as a form of art and as a tool for radical change. The vibrant art of drag is becoming ever more present in the public sphere.…
#S2EP1 - Who's shaping the narratives on the Balkans? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:01
Besa Luci in conversation with Aida Hozić and Aidan Hehir. In this first episode, we will be talking about political discourses and narratives about the region — how they're constructed, how they relate to political real…
#S1EP15 - Should I stay or should I go? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:42
Besa Luci in conversation with Ilir Gashi and Aulonë Kadriu.In our last episode of the first season of Other Talking Points, we are revisiting the topic of travel.Not long ago, when we recorded our first episode, we talk…
#S1EP14 - Oral history and the reimagining of historical memory [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:20
Besa Luci in conversation with Erëmirë Krasniqi and Milena Prevelić.Historical memory is shaped by what is documented. What we remember or celebrate, what we overlook or forget, is a result of the narratives we choose, o…
#S1EP13 - The Extra Obstacles Confronting Women Journalists [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:24
Besa Luci in conversation with Maša Mileusnić and Dafina Halili.In this episode, we talk about the experiences of women journalists in Kosovo, Serbia and the broader region. Though women's perspectives and voices are inc…