26/08/2026
Four days, ten projects and one shared goal: helping short films from the Balkans move forward.
The second Short Film Forum closed in Prizren with the announcement of this year’s awards:
🏆 Best Project – Creative Force Award
The Rifts — Gogo Vanev, Félix Lambot and Nevena Semova
Presented by the Embassy of Sweden in Pristina
🏆 Best Pitch – Emerging Filmmaker
betwixt — Dita Xhaferi and Lendina Balaj
€5,000 in equipment rental from IKONË Studio
🏆 Talent Award
For Whom Do the Bells Toll — Erlisë Beqiri and Ardian Dubova
€1,500 from the Kosovo Cinematography Center
🏆 Tailored Festival Strategy
For Whom Do the Bells Toll
Presented by Square Eyes
🏆 ShorTO Film Market invitation
My Pants Are Your Pants — Durim Klaiqi
🏆 AGORA Market invitation
Silent Return — Dionis Prifti and Genc Përmeti
Presented by the Documentary Association of Europe
🏆 Kosovo’s nomination to Euro Connection
Cicë! — Finesa Peja
The projects were assessed by Florian Fernandez, Sigrid Hadenius, Elena Ciofalo and Wouter Jansen, following an intensive development process led by mentor Martijn te Pas.
We were also happy to welcome Italy as this year’s Guest Country, in partnership with the Italian Short Film Center and ShorTO Film Market.
Next year, the Forum expands to Greece, Turkey, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, while Sweden joins as the 2027 Guest Country. The work on the third edition begins this September.
