05/08/2024

The exhibition "Connecting the Dots" not only showcases Yugoslav archival materials related to film and reflections on the new wave of cinematography in Kosovo but is also the result of a collaboration between Kosovar and Serbian researchers.

Bengi Muzbeg and Tevfik Rada (Kosovo) and Ivona Djurić and Radiša Cvetković (Serbia) have worked from different angles to reconstruct a chronology of cinematic developments and provide a deeper understanding of this history. Their efforts include regrouping materials into various forms such as installations, publications, and audiovisual evidence, which collectively contribute to a more sustainable and insightful review of their work.

This exhibition is the outcome of a collaboration between Beldocs and DokuFest, as well as residency programs that allowed the four researchers to delve into archives and gain a more detailed view of the cinematographic scene from various geographical, social, and artistic perspectives.

Muzbeg and Rada concentrated on building an online archive and developing a database that enables chronological, sociological, and historical examination of cinema. Their work sheds light on exhibition spaces, programming reviews, and the reception of films, effectively bringing the past to life in the present while employing an interdisciplinary approach.

Ivona Djurić's zine explores and presents research on the new Kosovar wave of films directed by women who have achieved notable success globally. Her work examines both the procedural and production aspects of these films, as well as their narrative structures and approaches to political and social themes. This research highlights how knowledge gathered can be shared and understood within various contexts.

Lastly, Radiša Cvetković’s project, Kino Memories, uses sound and images to revive memories and historical contexts. While the project captures diverse historical forms, it also strives to avoid the pitfalls of repeating past experiences.

As emphasized during the exhibition's opening, this collaboration focuses on building bridges through work and research, facilitating the digestion and dissemination of cultural knowledge for those who are curious and those seeking documentation of ongoing work.

You can visit the exhibition at Shani Efendi, where you can also pick up and read the zine about the new wave of Kosovar cinematography.

By: Blerina Kanxha

Photo: Agon Dana