Prishtina, 11 September, 2024
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, last night participated in the opening ceremony of the 16th edition of the “PriFest” Festival.
The Prime Minister said that it was a great honor to be a participant in this extraordinary cultural event, stating that “PriFest” has become one of the most important cultural developments in post-war Kosovo and that this success is the result of the dedication and vision of those who organize it, but also to us who participate.
And on this special night of this festival, he said that we should remember and commemorate the contribution, commitment and dedication of the great artist and director Vjosa Berisha.
In his speech, Prime Minister Kurti mentioned the government’s support to help cultural institutions, stressing that the support for film today in Kosovo is greater than ever. “We have carried out the biggest legislative reform in culture; we have finalized the inter-ministerial agreement for cinematographic co-productions with France and Israel, we are on the verge of signing with Bulgaria, and in consultations with Switzerland and Austria. The film has been declared a state interest and within days the incentive of 30% rebate will come into force – a step that will bring a new era for our film industry”, he said.
Also, the Prime Minister said that the support from the Ministry of Culture for the independent scene is many times significantly higher than earlier during these last three years and this year, among the organizations that for the first time enjoy three-year support, there are three festivals of films that have already been established as institutions in their own right, and one of them is “PriFilmFest”. This reaffirms the government’s commitment to stay close to the independent cultural scene, where talents are boiled, cultivated and raised, and which we see as a partner in the further qualitative development of art in the permanent effort to make art culture and culture as artistic as possible.
Prime Minister Kurti’s complete speech:
Dear Ms. Saranda Bogujevci, Deputy Speaker of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo,
Dear Minister Haxhiu Nagavci,
Dear Mayor of Pristina, Parparim Rama,
Honorable Fatos Berisha, director of the “PriFest” Festival,
Dear representatives and leaders of our cultural institutions,
Dear artists and art lovers,
Dear attendees,
ladies and gentlemen,
It is a great honor to be here with you tonight to celebrate this extraordinary cultural event! “PriFest” has become one of the most important cultural developments in post-war Kosovo. This success is the result of the dedication and vision of those who organize it and you, us who participate. Undoubtedly, the contribution, commitment and dedication of the artist, the great director Vjosa Berisha, should be remembered and commemorated every time we gather for “PriFest”. Its absence continues and grows as “PriFest”.
The support for the film today in Kosovo is greater than ever. We have carried out the biggest legislative reform in culture; we have finalized the inter-ministerial agreement for cinematographic co-productions with France and Israel, we are on the verge of signing with Bulgaria, and in consultations with Switzerland and Austria. The film has been declared of state interest and within days the incentive of 30% rebate will come into force – a step that will bring a new era for our film industry.
This year, the Cinematographic Center of Kosovo has supported a total of 35 film projects in the total amount of 1.4 million euros. Work is being done to improve the infrastructural conditions of public cinemas, starting with the cinema “Jusuf Gërvalla” in Pejë, “Lumbardhi” in Prizren as well as here “Armata” in Pristina. Seven young filmmakers have been supported to study at the FAMU film school in Prague. The support from the Ministry of Culture for the independent scene is many times significantly higher than earlier during these last three years. And this year, among the organizations that for the first time enjoy three-year support, there are three film festivals that have already been established as institutions in their own right. PriFilmFesti is certainly one of them. This reaffirms the government’s commitment to stay close to the independent cultural scene, where talents are boiled, cultivated and raised, and which we see as a partner in the further qualitative development of art in the permanent effort to make art culture and culture as artistic as possible. Tonight, as I heard, we will also have the newest film of our well-known director Isa Qosja, who brought us the film ” Lejleku”, and for more than an hour and a half we will see what ” Lejleku” has brought us.
“PriFest” is proof of the power of art and cinema in Kosovo. I don’t see the film without a cinema, not just the other way around. So, I wish everyone a successful festival!
And, thank you very much for your attention and participation.
Last modified: September 11, 2024