Albania: save the Valbona valley
The Valbona valley in the Albanian Alps is an area of immense beauty. The valley is formed by the crystal clear waters of the Valbona river. But the river is set to be destroyed by three hydropower plants under construction, irreversibly damaging the unique ecosystem of this national park and the potential for sustainable development in the region. The people of Valbona have said NO to destructive hydropower
Croatia five years after joining the EU
On July 1, 2013 Croatia officially became a member of the European Union. What has changed in the country since accession? In this short video, we look at some aspects of the society and economy of the country.
The numbers of the Eu enlargement
The EU-Western Balkans summit, held on May 17 in Sofia, was conceived to restore momentum to the European perspective of the region. But what are the cultural, institutional and economic relations that already link the member countries and those of the Western Balkans? This video, realized within the EDJNet project, presents some figures on the flows to and from the countries of the region.
Croatia, 5 years in the Eu: tourism
Tourism has been growing rapidly in recent years and is an important sector for Croatia, producing almost 20% of GDP and employing about 7% of the workforce. The data in this infographic
Croatia, 5 years in the Eu: economy
Despite the gradual economic growth, the gap between the European Union and Croatia still remains wide. The unemployment rate has dropped, but the percentage of people at risk of poverty remains high. The data in this infographic
Croatia five years after joining the EU
On July 1, 2013 Croatia officially became a member of the European Union. What has changed in the country since accession? In this short video, we look at some aspects of the society and economy of the country.
Balkan migrants in Turkey: Naturalization, identifications, and associations
In the new episode of the podcast The Southeast passage, Elif Becan discusses the integration of Muslim migrants from the Balkans into the Turkish Republic during the interwar period
Absheron’s Bağ Evi: Looking for a Lost Cottage
They were meant for escape from Baku’s sizzling summer days, when high humidity and powerful winds can cover the skin with a gritty, wet film. Bağ evi (literally, “garden house”) are the equivalent of dachas in Russia. Photos by Sheyda Allahverdiyeva
Russia’s Spiritual Christians on Armenia’s Highlands
The village of Fioletovo in northern Armenia is one of a kind. Nestled among the mountains north of Lake Sevan, it is home to 1,500-odd Molokans, a Christian sect which split from Russia’s Orthodox Church in the 16th century
Pristina, closed for smog
Sky-high pollution rates led Prishtina authorities to close the centre to traffic, while many citizens protested to ask for new measures to improve quality of air. A photo-report by Veton Kasapolli/OBCT
Albania, between rocks and sky
A harsh, essential land, a life marked by isolation and the perpetual, unrelenting cycle of seasons. A photo report by Ivo Danchev, in the mountains of northern Albania, in the Pukë and Fushë Arrëz areas
Albania, the knowledgeable winemaker
Agronomist, winemaker, beekeeper. Jak Pacani, animator and owner of the "Ersi" winery, has been a true pioneer in the reorganisation of agriculture in the Zadrima region after the collapse of Albania's centralised system in the early 1990s. A photo report by Ivo Danchev
Silk from Albania
Until recently, the alluvial region of Zadrima in the north of Albania was well known for the breeding of silkworm. The latter served for the production of traditional, bright colored cloths, patiently and passionately hand-woven to the chassis by women from the area. A photo-story by Ivo Danchev
Nor Sunnies nor Shiites, heterodox Muslims of nomadic origins and mystical traditions: Turkish Alevis are estimated at around 10-15 millions against a total population of 70 millions. Enthusiastic supporters of Atatürk laicism, they were always seen with suspicion by the central authorities and the majority of the population. "The Lion and the Gazelle", a documentary film by OBC
The unique experience of a group of architects and sculptors in 1960s and 1970s Yugoslavia, introducing new ways to remember World War II and the victory upon Nazism and Fascism. The curse of history at the beginning of the 90s, with the nationalist forces using those same memories to manipulate the different national communities and lead the country into war. A journey into European memory of the 20th century, the century that started and ended in Sarajevo
Michael is on the tracks of the Indo-European language, Gianni is an Arbëresh and teaches Albanian at the University of Calabria, Monica was the first researcher in Italy to obtain a PhD in Albanology. A group of linguists travelling into the majestic beauty of Albanian mountains in a quest for lost words and languages. “Lips, eyes, ears” traces a portrait of an unusual job, introducing a special perspective on today's Albania, its culture, and its landscape
It was called Crvena Zastava, Red Flag, and it was the biggest car producer in the Balkans. Following the fall of Yugoslavia, it entered a devastating crisis, reaching its peak during the Nato bombings of 1999. While the factory lost its workers, the city of Kragujevac became one of the main destination for Kosovo refugees. A story on the violent transition from socialism to the market economy. Zastava Planet has been produced thanks to funding from the Autonomous Province of Trento
Artan Puto, born in 1969, is a university professor; however, people in the streets still recognize him as the star ofTomka and his friends, one of the most popular children’s movies of Albanian cinema. An unusual point of view on today’s Albania and on the changes which took place in this country. A documentary film by Micol Cossali and Davide Sighele, now available in streaming
Ten years after the massacre of July 1995, this is the story of the town that has become a symbol of ethnic cleansing and racist violence in Europe. The documentary brings the viewer from Tuzla - where women fight for the investigation of their loved ones' disappearance, through Potočari - former headquarter of international peace forces, and all the way to Srebrenica. Going back and forth between present times, history, and memory, parallel narratives unfold, surrounded by a sense of alienation, in the heart of a town where the conflict does not yet seem to have found an end. “After Srebrenica” was filmed thanks to the support of the Autonomous Province of Trento.
