Veton Nurkollari & Samir Ljuma at Sonda

International guest lectures to be held as part of the Atelier Pelikula project.

This December, Vižinada becomes a hub of film culture, welcoming two major names from the film industry – Samir Ljuma and Veton Nurkollari – as part of a project jointly implemented by Sonda, Filmaktiv, and the Municipality of Vižinada from Croatia, and Primi Piani APS from Italy.

Samir Ljuma is a cinematographer and producer. His documentary film Honeyland became the first film from North Macedonia in the past 25 years to be nominated for two Academy Awards in 2020 – for Best Documentary and Best International Film. The film also won the Grand Jury Prize at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival. Alongside him, the audience will also meet Veton Nurkollari, the Artistic Director of DokuFest, the largest cultural event in Kosovo and one of the most important documentary and short film festivals in Southeast Europe. Known for his extensive experience in promoting documentary films and developing numerous cultural initiatives, Veton is also a member of the Cinema Eye Honors selection committee, a New York-based organization that recognizes and celebrates outstanding craftsmanship in documentary filmmaking.

Through their lectures: Honeyland Case Study and City as Film Stage, they will share their experience in using film as a tool for raising awareness about important social issues. Although the lectures are primarily aimed for mentors and organizations involved in the Atelier Pelikula project, they are open to the public – especially those who work with young people, artists, film enthusiasts, and activists. The lectures offer a unique opportunity for inspiration, practical guidance, and key insights applicable to everyday work with young people, with a special focus on environmental protection, the integration of marginalized groups, and the ways in which film art can contribute to these goals. Film screenings will follow each lecture. More information and the registration form can be found here.

A week later, on December 16th, starting at 6:00 PM, an informational event for young people from the local community and surrounding rural areas will be held, again at the Sonda Creative Center in Vižinada. The goal is to introduce the project to young people and to motivate them to get involved in project activities, which include a series of film workshops. Regardless of the event, all interested young people from Istria aged 16 to 25 who would like to take part in the film workshops are welcome to reach out for more information and to apply at you@sonda.hr. More about the event is available here.

The Atelier Pelikula project is an international initiative for young people from various cultural, social, and economic backgrounds, including Istria, Trieste, and Rijeka. It is funded through the Erasmus+ program and focuses on encouraging creative expression among young people and providing support to vulnerable groups through film art. The project includes workshops that will educate young people about film production, and the resulting video works will address topics such as the environment, human rights, and social inclusion.

More information about the project can be found here, and more information about the Erasmus+ program can be found on the website of the national agency AMPEU and the European Commission.