08/08/2024

While staying at Kino Lumbardhi these last two days I would see the staff often after the screenings at the indoor cinema, that they prepped for a setting and immediately, it clicked why the curators of DokuNights explained in a paraphrased way the multidisciplinarity oriented the performances this year. The scene the last two days would be prepared for Gezegen and what promised to be (and it was) a bright captivating experience. 

But first we had to be at Kino Lumbardhi because we were waiting for Efterklang, whose elusive and melodic rhythms got familiar with the wind, famously accompanying the outdoor cinema of Lumbardhi. At 10:00, people kept coming and coming, some taking their seats and some nearing more and more to the stage for a blast of a performance by Efterklang. 

Previously at Kino Lumbardhi, we had the opportunity to see their musical journey on film, their trip to Skopje, North Macedonia that gathered an immense community of artists and creators, showing us that music does indeed unite us in power. Andreas Johnson’s film “Efterklang, the Makedonium Band” is part of the Pleasure Heads Must Burn film program specifically dedicated to music on film in this edition of DokuFest. 

After their performance, Efterklang came once again on stage for one last sweet goodbye inviting all of their friends to join them in music. 

Afterwards, when the hour hit 00:00, Gezegen’s performance started by observing an installation done by Herrensauna’s artistic director and resident, Mau Ventura (DJ Saliva), whose crew we had the pleasure to have at the last years DokuNights program; and the installation reflected on the Sufi identity of the artist. 

From a soulful performance to an ambient and powerful soundscape, DokuNights keeps on bringing new ways of musical expression while also accentuating the importance of the stages in Prizren and ways to create together in a spatial capacity. 

Tonight’s DokuNights will lead us to the Sonar Stage at Prizren’s Castle for what we are sure will be an amazing night with NKISI and Tiram Willesme starting from 20:00. 

By: Blerina Kanxha

Photo: Elmedina Arapi