A completed Berlinale film festival bear award, based on a 1932 design by German sculptor Renee Sintenis, are seen at the Noack foundry in Berlin, Germany, 2019. Photo: EPA-EFE/ADAM BERRY

Kosovo film-making will debut at the prestigious Berlinale International Film Festival next month with the short film In Between [Në Mes], described by its producer as a “very Kosovar” look at the relationship between brothers and the issue of migration.

The film, which cost 13,000 euros to make and will take part in the Berlinale Shorts, is the first from Kosovo to appear at the festival in its 69th year from February 7 to 16.

“I do not know how to describe this feeling,” director Samir Karahoda said of the recognition.

“I want to express my gratitude to each of the protagonists, without whom this movie would not have been possible, and a special thank you goes to the team who worked with devotion on the creation of this art piece,” he said in a press release issued by Kosovo’s Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport.

Inspired by the photography project Kosovar Brothers, on which Karahoda worked in 2011, the 15-minute film tackles two parallel themes: the phenomenon of Kosovar brothers building identical houses and that of migration, an issue that has had a profound effect on Kosovo society.

“In between” movie poster.

Karahoda explores the relationship and solidarity between the brothers, the sacrifice and determination of their parents to maintain harmony within the family and the meaning and importance of home and hope.

“The movie is somewhat unconventional, meaning that it is not one of these classic short movies,” producer Eroll Bilibani told BIRN.

“It is slow and full of art, very beautiful for the eye, and the story is regional, very Kosovar. But it has a universal context. In a short movie there are many topics handled, topics that are difficult to tackle.”

Kosovo’s Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Kujtim Gashi noted the state’s support for the film through the Kosovo Cinematography Centre and said he was “very happy with this success”.

Gashi said support for movie production would continue to increase given the value of such movies for Kosovo’s image abroad.

At the 2019 edition of Berlinale Shorts, 24 films from 17 countries will compete for the Golden and Silver Bear, the Audi Short Film Award (endowed with 20,000 euros) and a nomination as the “Berlin Short Film Candidate for the European Film Awards 2019”.

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