Balkans Beyond Borders supported and coordinated the debut screening of the awarded film HIVE in Athens which is a coorganizaiton by the Kosovo Cinematography Center in cooperation with The Office of Interests of Kosovo in Athens and Cinobo, the Greek distributor of the film. The screening took place on Saturday, 19th of March at 7.30 pm at TRIANON cinema, in the presence of the director, Blerta Basholli.
HIVE tells a powerful story of a woman’s determination, resilience and triumph through struggling circumstances. It is a searing drama based on the true story of Fahrije (Yllka Gashi), who, like many of the other women in her patriarchal village, has lived with fading hope and burgeoning grief since her husband went missing during the war in Kosovo. Writer and director Blerta Basholli’s debut became the first in Sundance Festival history to win all three big awards in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition (Audience Award, Grand Jury Prize, Directing Award). Among its international triumph, the film was recently awarded with the audience prize at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival.
The film touched the audience and provoked fruitful thinking upon issues of gender equality and war effects. The following discussion with the director was the perfect conclusion with many share feelings and ideas. At the discussion panel participated also Ms Aurita Agushi, actress, Mr Lum Citaku, Acting Director of Kosovo Cinema Center and Mrs Maria Kallimani, member of the D.B of the Greek Film Center. Vasiliki Maltasoglou, cofounder of Balkans Beyond Borders moderated the discussion.
It was a very deep and multidimensional discussion tackling issues such as gender equality, was effects on the new age of filmmakers in Kosovo, the surprising uprise of female directors in Kosovo cinema scene and the role of Cinema Centers of the two countries in promoting cooperation and coproduction. The audience set a wide range of questions creating a nest of ideas, feelings and thoughts derived by the film and its environment. The fact that this is a film that touches the audience is revealed through the Audience Award it won at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival 2021.
The director Blerta Basholi, with her deep sight composed a portrait of woman power and strength with the camera following the protagonist all the time in order to build quietly her story and personality. The audience applaused the invited actress Aurita Agushi when she highlighted that there is a common characteristic in all Balkan women and this is our strength.
Through this debut screening of HIVE in Greece, we want to highlight the importance of Kosovar and Balkan cinema and its international presence. Join us for the screening of HIVE on Saturday, March 19th, at TRIANON cinema at 7.30 pm and participate at the discussion with the awarded director Blerta Basholli.
HIVE FILM AWARDS
2022 Oscars shortlisted for Best International Feature
Sundance Film Festival (2021)
World Cinema – Dramatic – Audience Award
World Cinema – Dramatic – Directing Award
World Cinema – Dramatic – Grand Jury Prize
Crested Butte Film Festival (2021)
Festival Award
Berkshire International Film Festival (BIFF) (2021)
Jury Award – Narrative Feature
Cinedays Skopje Film Festival (2021)
Golden Star – Best Film
Hamburg Film Festival (2021)
Young Talent Award – Best Feature Film
Montpellier Mediterranean Film Festival (2021)
Antigone d’Or – Best Film
ODA Tetova International Film Festival (2021)
Cine Balkan Panorama – Best Film
PriFest – Prishtina International Film Festival (2021)
Annual Achievement Award for Kosovo Filmmaker – Special Prize
Best Film – Honey and Blood Competition
Thessaloniki International Film Festival
Audience Prize