Kosovo’s Queer Cinema at Cherry Pop Festival in Zagreb
This Friday at 19:00, Kosovo’s queer stories travel to Zagreb, Croatia, as Prishtina Queer Festival joins the fourth edition of Cherry Pop Festival with a special guest film block.
The program brings together different cultural perspectives on sexual and gender identities through cinema, uniting communities through cross-border conversations. Two powerful films previously screened at PQF will be presented: the animated short BLUSH – An Extraordinary Voyage by Iiti Yli-Harja, and the documentary As I Was Looking Above, I Could See Myself Underneath by Ilir Hasanaj, each offering a moving and intimate look at the lives and experiences of LGBTQ+ people in Kosovo.
Following the screenings, Dan Sokoli and Dita Shaqiri from PQF will join the audience for a Q&A session.
The fourth edition of Cherry Pop Festival, held from October 23–25 at Dokukino KIC, Zagreb, revolves around the question “And Who Are You?” In a society where many sexual and gender minorities still face marginalization and lack of protection, the festival creates space for artistic and critical reflection on identity. Through film, panel discussions, exhibitions, performances, workshops, and concerts, Cherry Pop challenges fear and intolerance with creativity, solidarity, and joy.
About the films
BLUSH – An Extraordinary Voyage
Directed by Iiti Yli-Harja | Kosovo | Animated | 14’
For Fatu, a simple visit to the grocery store feels as nerve-racking as a lunar expedition: for the first time in his life, he’s wearing makeup in public.
As I Was Looking Above, I Could See Myself Underneath
Directed by Ilir Hasanaj | Kosovo | Documentary | 62’
“Home is a feeling,” they say. But where is home when you are not allowed to feel at home even within your own body and mind? This documentary unveils intimate stories of LGBTQ+ people in Kosovo and their ongoing search for a place of safety and belonging.
This collaboration between Cherry Pop and Prishtina Queer Festival is made possible with the support of the Embassy of the Republic of Kosovo in Zagreb and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of the Republic of Kosovo.
