DokuTalks

RESISTANCE – Women of Peace and Justice in Former Yugoslavia and Albania

This conversation explores how contemporary reflections about women’s solidarity and acts of resistance can shape alternative narratives and pluralize collective memory. We will examine how oral histories and historical research inform documentary and visual practices – including film, animation, documentary, photography and museology - offering a powerful counterpoint to nationalist and dominant discourses.

Animations such as Mardhë and 17 O’clock, along with DokuFest’s ongoing collaboration with the Scottish Documentary Institute highlight how deeply personal narratives can transform into powerful expressions of collective memory and artistic practice. Works-in-progress from this collaboration will be showcased on 5 August 2025 at the cinema in the House of Culture.

The event will showcase the publication Resistance: women of peace and justice in former Yugoslavia and Albania, in Albanian, English and Serbian, and will be available to audience for free.

This book highlights the oral histories of eleven women activists from across the Balkans who, in diverse contexts, challenged oppression and contributed to truth and reconciliation efforts.

Moderated by: Aurela Kadriu - a sociologist, researcher and cultural manager.

Panelists: Kumjana Novakova, filmmaker (Silence of Reason), working also as a film curator and lecturer.  Norika Sefa, filmmaker (Looking for Venera, Like a Sick Yellow) In her films, she often merges fiction and documentary.  Sanjin Pejković is a film scholar and critic based in Sweden. He writes mainly for Swedish film magazines FLM and Filmrutan, but also for various international film magazines and film scholarly journals. Blerina Hankollari studied European Philosophy and has been active in the film industry since 2012.

Location: Shkolla e Muzikës 'Lorenc Antoni'
Date: Saturday, 2 August
Time: 17:00 hrs

This event is organized in collaboration with Pro Peace and YIHR Ks