“Mirdita, dobar dan” Festival in Belgrade from June 27, to June 29, 2024

07 Jun “Mirdita, dobar dan” Festival in Belgrade from June 27, to June 29, 2024

This year’s edition of the “Mirdita, dobar dan” festival organized by Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR, Serbia), Civic Initiatives (CI, Serbia), and Integra (Kosovo), will showcase a unique blend of art, contemporary culture, and meaningful discussions that shed light on pivotal historical, as well as future-oriented themes, especially pertinent during this challenging period for Serbia-Kosovo relations. The entire program of the festival is available on the website.

“Mirdita, Dobar dan is a unique platform for cultural exchange, as well as dialogue on critical issues that are avoided and neglected. Cultural exchange is a powerful tool for promoting reconciliation and sustainable peace, as well as bridging the gap between two cultures, and we invite everyone to join us in this endeavor,” said Tijana Đuknić on behalf of Youth Initiative for Human Rights. 

The festival commences its official opening with the performance of “Father and Father”, a theater play by Kosovar playwright Jeton Neziraj, directed by Kushtrim Koliqi, scheduled for Thursday, May 27th, at 7:30 pm at “Dorćol Platz”. 

The festival’s debate program will delve into issues surrounding cultural exchange between Serbia and Kosovo, specifically addressing prohibitions and obstacles within cultural, academic, and artistic collaboration, as well as the handling of the lingering effects of war. The inaugural debate is titled “Normalization of Ban or Ban ofNormalization: Hindering Cultural Exchange”. This discussion will center on the various prohibitions encountered by artists, intellectuals, and cultural practitioners. Economic, academic, and cultural restrictions pose barriers to intercultural understanding, hindering the normalization of relations between the two societies. The second debate, also serving as the book launch for “Notes of the Worm Smolinski” by the young Kosovar writer Azem Deliu, will explore the themes related to the war’s legacy and its contemporary implications on Kosovo-Serbia relations.

The lineup for this year’s festival features the film “Vera Dream of the Sea” by Kosovar filmmaker Kaltrina Krasnići, which made its debut at the Venice Film Festival and later garnered accolades at the Tokyo and Gothenburg Film Festivals, as well as Belgrade’s “Free Zone Film Festival”. The screening of the film will be held at “Koska bar” (Dobračina 59) on Saturday, June 29th at 7:30 p.m.

Additionally, the popular Kosovar band “La Fazani,” led by the charismatic Arber Salihu, will be the part of the musical program of the festival. The band clinched victory in last year’s competition to select Kosovo’s representative at Eurovision, despite Kosovo not yet being accepted as a participant in the event.

Besides that, the festival will host exhibition of visual artist Ermira Murati, known artistically as Orange Girl. Ermira’s works convey distinct political messages, exploring the theme of the kiss as an expression that is inherently non-neutral.

Admission to all festival events is free.

The eleventh edition of the “Mirdita, Dobar dan” festival is organized with the generous support of the European Union and the Rockefeller Foundation.