“Connecting Dots: Exploring Shared Film Heritage” is a project that aims to conduct a comprehensive analysis of Yugoslav film heritage, focusing on the cultural, political, and social context in which Yugoslav cinema was produced. The collaboration between Beldocs and Dokufest was built upon a shared commitment to promoting the art of documentary filmmaking, fostering cultural exchange, and advancing the cinematic landscape in our respective regions.
The overall objective of the Connecting Dots project is to contribute to the long-term benefit of target groups, including researcher-artists, filmmakers, festival attendees, university students, artists, researchers, and academics in Kosovo and Serbia. More specifically, the project aimed to enhance research and documentation of Yugoslav film heritage, foster artistic productions and cultural exchange and to promote knowledge sharing and engagement.
Furthermore, this project advocates a model based on human rights, gender equality, and sustainable development. Particular attention was paid to the representation of vulnerable groups in Yugoslav films including ethnic minorities and women. By critically examining these representations and promoting dialogue, the aim is to challenge stereotypes and contribute to a more inclusive and diverse cultural heritage.
Connecting Dots is not just about exploring film history—it’s about documenting the pulse of a society through its cinematic expression. For the last 6 months, researcher-artists, filmmakers, and scholars from Kosovo and Serbia engaged in a comprehensive analysis of Yugoslav film heritage.
In August, the Connecting Docs exhibition was presented to the audiences during the 23rd edition of international documentary film festival - Dokufest. The exhibition is a result of comprehensive research done through residency programs on Yugoslav film archives, magazines, newspapers, literature, intangible film heritage and contemporary cinema of Kosovo. The authors and the researchers of the Connecting Dots exhibitions are Bengi Muzbeg and Tevfik Rada (Kosovo), Ivona Đurić and Radiša Cvetković (Serbia). Kosovo researchers, Bengi Muzbeg and Tevfik Rada conducted investigations in various archives in Belgrade and Kosovo. They collected many archive materials, including hardly screened films, forgotten film reviews and images related to Kosovo film heritage. The material is being organized and will result in an interactive online platform. Ivona Đurić, researcher from Serbia, presented a fanzine called “The New Wave of Female Voices in Kosovo Cinema”, which celebrates the pioneering works of female directors of Kosovo who have impacted the cinema landscape in past twelve years. Radiša Cvetković, the researcher from Serbia has produced a documentary essay “Kino Memories” that delves into cultural and social history of Prizren through the lens of its forgotten cinemas: Kino Bistrica and Kino Radnik.
“The Connecting Dots final exhibition, a collaborative project between DokuFest and Beldocs, showcased the results of a partnership between Kosovo and Serbian researchers, who worked together to reconstruct cinematic history from various perspectives. The exhibition successfully bridged cultural divides by facilitating the sharing and understanding of knowledge across different contexts and disciplines.”
Eroll Bilibani, Head of DokuLab at Dokufest
Implementing partners of the “Connecting Dots: Exploring Shared Film Heritage” project: Dokufest (KOS) and Beldocs (SER).
“Connecting Docs: Exploring Shared Film Heritage” is supported by the British Council through “Culture and Creativity for the Western Balkans” project funded by the European Union. CC4WBs aims to foster dialogue in the Western Balkans by enhancing the cultural and creative sectors for increased socio-economic impact.