Short Film Forum

About

DokuFest created the Short Film Forum as a regional platform for project development, co-production and pitching. Launched in 2025, it is the first platform in the Balkans dedicated exclusively to developing, financing and presenting short-film projects internationally.

Based in Prizren and taking place during DokuFest, the Forum connects filmmakers and producers from the region with European film institutions, funds, broadcasters, markets, festivals, distributors, sales agents and potential co-producers.

The public pitch is only one part of the process. Before reaching the stage, teams work on the artistic direction of their films, director–producer communication, production needs, financing, project presentation and festival strategy. They also prepare for meetings with the people and institutions that could help move the project forward.

Why the Forum exists

The idea was first discussed within DokuFest in 2015. Kosovo's exclusion from the Creative Europe MEDIA Programme made it difficult to build the kind of sustainable and internationally connected platform the region needed. Still, the idea remained alive through DokuFest's work in film education, production, talent development and international short-film programming.

Long-term support from Sweden and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Kosovo made it possible to launch the Forum ten years later. The Nordic model of cross-border cultural cooperation became an important reference: national institutions supporting their own filmmakers while contributing to a stronger regional film environment.

The Forum welcomes fiction, documentary, animation, hybrid and experimental projects with an intended maximum length of thirty minutes. Projects may apply while in development, pre-production, production or post-production.

Co-production isn't presented as an automatic solution. It should have a clear creative, financial, production or distribution purpose. Teams are encouraged to consider what a partner can bring to the film, but also what their project can bring to that partnership.

The guest-country programme

Each edition welcomes one European country as its Guest Country or Country in Focus.

This is more than a national showcase. The invited country brings developing projects, completed films, filmmakers, producers and representatives of relevant institutions. They join the selected Balkan teams for project discussions, pitching, individual meetings, public conversations and screenings.

The intention is to build a working bridge between two production environments. Balkan filmmakers gain access to a wider European network, while visiting professionals encounter producers, institutions and creative possibilities in Southeast Europe.

Italy: Country in Focus 2026

Italy is the Country in Focus at the second Short Film Forum, taking place from 9–12 August 2026 during DokuFest's 25th edition.

The programme is developed with the Italian Short Film Center and ShorTO Film Market, with support from the Italian Cultural Institute in Tirana and the Embassy of Italy in Pristina.

Italy brings a strong short-film culture, an established professional infrastructure and a long history of international exchange. Its geographical and cultural proximity to the Balkans also creates realistic possibilities for co-production, professional mobility and longer-term cooperation.

Italian projects in development will be presented alongside the selected Balkan projects. The programme also includes films created through workshops organised by AAMOD — the Audiovisual Archive of the Workers' and Democratic Movement Foundation. Together, these activities connect emerging filmmakers with producers, archives, markets, cultural institutions and regional film centres.

Looking ahead

The Forum is built around collaboration, cultural diversity, freedom of expression, reciprocity and shared responsibility. These aren't abstract principles. They shape how institutions cooperate, how knowledge is shared and how filmmakers build partnerships while protecting the creative identity of their work.

In 2027, projects from Greece, Turkey, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina will become eligible, joining Kosovo, Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Bulgaria. The expansion will create a nine-country platform covering a much wider part of Southeast Europe.

Sweden is planned as the 2027 Guest Country. Swedish support helped make the Forum possible, while the Nordic tradition of cooperation influenced its regional structure. The programme will connect Balkan filmmakers with Swedish producers, institutions and short-film professionals.

The team

Eroll Bilibani
Forum Co-Lead: Head of DokuLab, DokuFest's educational and talent-development department, Eroll Bilibani works as a film producer and cultural programme developer. He initiated the Forum and leads its strategy, institutional partnerships and regional expansion.

Jing Haase
Forum Co-Lead: Jing is a film curator, moderator and industry professional with extensive experience in production, programming and international short-film promotion. She previously worked at Nordisk Panorama and the Swedish Film Institute. She co-developed the Forum's structure and leads its industry programme and international connections.

Martijn te Pas
Lead Mentor: A former Senior Programmer at IDFA, Martijn te Pas has worked as an adviser, evaluator and mentor for filmmakers, festivals and funds across Europe. He leads the Forum's project-development process, individual feedback and pitch preparation.

Samir Karahoda
Artistic Mentoring Support: is a renowned Kosovar filmmaker and DokuFest short-film programmer. He helped shape the selection and mentoring process for the Forum, bringing the perspective of an active filmmaker.

Flutura Balaj
Forum Coordinator: is a filmmaker, editor and DokuFest alumna whose work includes Shtojzovalle and Transmission. She has returned to DokuLab as an alumni mentor and now coordinates the Forum programme alongside Era.

Era Latifi
Forum Coordinator: is a DokuFest alumna and emerging filmmaker working across directing, cinematography and editing. She supports participant coordination and the day-to-day delivery of the Forum.

Partners and supporters

The Short Film Forum is organised by DokuFest, in collaboration with:

Kosovo Cinematography Center
Albanian National Center of Cinematography
North Macedonia Film Agency
Film Centre of Montenegro
Bulgarian National Film Center

Its 2026 industry partners and contributors include the Italian Short Film Center, ShorTO Film Market, Documentary Association of Europe, Square Eyes, Yle, ARTE/ZDF, IKONË Studio and Euro Connection at Clermont-Ferrand.

The Italy Country in Focus is developed with the Italian Cultural Institute in Tirana, the Embassy of Italy in Pristina and AAMOD.

The Forum is supported through the Creative Force Programme, financed by Sida and the Embassy of Sweden in Pristina, together with annual support from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Kosovo.

Its wider professional network has also included the Scottish Documentary Institute, British Council, Thessaloniki Film Festival's AGORA Market, Film i Väst and The New York Times Op-Docs.