The war between Ukraine and Russia has entered almost the third month. Many cultural and sports activities have already been canceled. However, the same did not happen with the Odessa International Film Festival. This year, it will be held in Pristina, in cooperation with the Pri Film Fest.

“Under the motto ‘Odessa IFF across borders: Odessa at PriFest”. This initiative is being implemented with the support of the city of Prishtina. Two separate festivals, one held in Ukraine and the other in Kosovo, have joined forces. The war in Ukraine this time did not stop the film.

Both festivals have always shared the same time period in July and often have international guests who would go from one festival directly to another. This year both festivals were scheduled to be held in the last week of July, but the OIFF had to cancel the edition due to the war.

PriFest management contacted OIFF management and agreed that the festival could be accommodated in Prishtina with some of its programs and guests.

“We are really saddened and saddened to see what is happening in Ukraine now. We survived the war 20 years ago, so we really feel for Ukraine and its people. Culture and the arts suffer equally in these situations and seeing the people of Ukraine, how brave it is to resist and fight against, we felt we had to do something for our colleagues. So we contacted our friends from Odessa Int. Film Festival and explained our idea. And we are very proud to announce that we will have a special film program by young Ukrainian filmmakers presented at PriFest as an Odessa IFF program. Also, 10 Ukrainian feature film projects will participate in PriForum for the pitching session and then in Prishtina Rendezvous to meet sellers, producers and festival selectors. We aim to enable Ukrainian filmmakers and OIFF management to be present in Pristina. “I hope everything will be fine by then and they can come.” – said Vjosa Berisha, General Director of PriFest.

“Russia’s cynical and unjust occupation of Ukraine has had a direct impact on every Ukrainian and on all the branches and industries that are developing in the country. We have been deprived of the opportunity to host the 13th Odessa International Film Festival in a format much loved by our guests and viewers. But we are very grateful to our colleagues in Kosovo – Pristina International Film Festival (PriFest) – for the opportunity to have OIFF across the borders at PriFest and show Ukrainian film projects to foreign audiences. In recent years, Ukrainian cinema has grown, strengthened and constantly gained fans around the world. We can not stop now, and we must tell the history of Ukrainian culture to the whole world. “I am sure that in Pitching we will have very interesting, original and unique projects for Ukraine and its special culture”, – said Anna Machukh, General Director of OIFF.

This initiative is being implemented with the support of the City of Prishtina. The Mayor of Prishtina, Përparim Rama, has given this statement:

“It is a great opportunity, given the situation with the war in Ukraine, that this year the Odessa International Film Festival will hold its 13th edition here in Pristina, in partnership with PriFest. The most successful film festival in our capital. The city of Prishtina will support this wonderful step of cooperation between the two festivals. “This is an opportunity to express solidarity with Ukraine and to support its fight for a fundamental right – freedom.”

PriFest is preparing for this, some guests from Ukraine to present their films, as well as to take part in the stage and present their film projects.

The 14th edition of PriFest will be held from July 26-31./Nacionale