The 8th edition of the International Film Festival PriFilmFest got underway with the screening of Mediterranea – a film about the journey of two Africans seeking a better life in Europe – at an open air cinema in the center of Prishtina.

Hundreds of movie enthusiasts, actors and passersby flocked to the Zahir Pajaziti square to see Jonas Carpignano’s Mediterranea and the opening ceremony of this year’s edition of PriFilmFest.

The first to give their opening remarks were Lum Veseli and Andi Bajgora, the costars of the only Kosovo movie ever nominated for the Oscar, who expressed their happiness that PriFilmFest is “back from exile”

Last year’s edition of the festival was hosted in Tirana and lasted only two days  “as a sign of protest” due to a 78% budget cut from the Ministry of Culture.

Vjosa Berisha, the director of the festival, said that she was exhilarated to be back in Prishtina together with PriFilmFest.

“Yes, it is true, we are back in Prishtina but much greater in size; we are very happy to be in your company here at the [Zahir Pajaziti] square,” Berisha said.

Prior to screening the movie, they played a tribute to Artan Minarolli – an Albanian screenwriter who passed away last year – through a series of short snippets of his work.

From the 22nd till the 29th of April, the festival will organize more than 70 movie screenings in various locations around Prishtina. The PriDocs programme will feature ten documentary films, two of which are world premieres, one European premiere and another regional premiere. The European Film competition will also show three regional premieres amongst seven other movies that will compete in front of an international jury to win the Golden Goddess for the Best European Film. Other contests will include the Middle Length Competition and the Balkan Film Competition (Honey and Blood).

Movie screenings planned to take take place at the Zahir Pajaziti square (every night at 8PM and 10 PM) will be open to everyone. Films will also be shown at the Red Hall and Sheshi 21, and will be free of charge for students and pensioners.

The program is available on the PriFilmFest Facebook page.