13/07/2017 - The leading Kosovar film event has changed its dates, introduced another competition section and is offering new industry events

The Prishtina International Film Festival (PriFest), the biggest feature-film festival in Kosovo, is launching its ninth edition. Now moving to summer from the spring, the festival takes place from 13–20 July, with Unwanted [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Edon Rizvanolli
film profile] by Kosovar director Edon Rizvanolli opening this edition, screening as an international premiere. Besides the change to the dates, PriFest also has a new documentary competition, more juries than ever before, and new industry events. Acclaimed director, screenwriter and producer Paul Haggis will be honoured with the festival’s Golden Goddess Award.

Prifest’s main competition section, the European programme, includes ten films, six of which will be having their regional premieres: the Norwegian film Hunting Flies [+see also:
trailer
interview: Izer Aliu
film profile] by Albanian director of Macedonian origin Izer Aliu, Echo by Kosovar director Dren Zherka, The Chronicles of Melanie [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Viesturs Kairiss, On the Trail of My Father [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Marco Segato, Low Tide [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Daniel Mann, Challenge by Olga Land, Little Harbour [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Iveta Grófová
film profile] by Iveta Grófová, Everything is Broken up and Dances by Nony Geffen, Mellow Mud [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Elina Vaska
interview: Renars Vimba
film profile] by Renārs Vimba and Mammal [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Rebecca Daly.

Unwanted will compete alongside nine more films in the Balkan film competition, dubbed the Honey and Blood programme. The majority of the movies hail from the countries of the former Yugoslavia: Requiem for Mrs. J. [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Bojan Vuletić
film profile] by Bojan Vuletić, Quit Staring at My Plate [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Hana Jušić
film profile] by Hana Jusić, Lowdown by Pavle Simonović, Goran [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Nevio Marasović
film profile] by Nevio Marasović, Amok by Vardan Tozija and A Comedy of Tears [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Marko Sosić. Bulgaria’s Godless [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Ralitza Petrova
film profile] by Ralitza Petrova, and Turkey’s Ember [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Zeki Demirkubuz and Snow by Emre Erdogdu round off the selection.

PriFest is also introducing a new competition section, PriDocs, which is focused on documentaries. The section will present 16 docs, including two world and two international premieres, while six of the movies will be having their regional premieres.

PriFORUM, unspooling from 15-20 July and featuring Turkey as a partner country, remains the core of the Kosovar film industry, with a pitching competition, panel discussions, master classes, meetings and training programmes in partnership with EAVE and the TorinoFilmLab. A work-in-progress section is being introduced for Kosovar films in post-production, while the new Kosova’s Rising Stars programme shines a spotlight on ten emerging local artists who will present their work.