Yesterday evening, Prime Minister Edi Rama was guest of honor at the Awards Ceremony of the International Festival of Documentary and Short Film, “DokuFest” in Prizren.

This year’s edition of DokuFest was supported by both the Government of Kosovo and the Government of Albania, as a common commitment to promoting Albanian culture and art.

While on the stage to deliver the winning award in the category “Best National Film”, Prime Minister Rama called DokuFest a model of the triumph of vision and passion, which has made Dokufest not merely a cultural event, but an international cultural institution that has attracted the attention of foreign media.

“This is an institution that honors all Albanians and it is an institution that is an excellent example for all those who love culture, who love cinematography and an extraordinary model of how something can be created from nothing, thanks to the vision and the persistence of a few people. An institution that not only unites all Albanians, but radiates far beyond our two countries, prompting Prizren and cinema referring to Prizren, in major magazines and newspapers around the world, “- the Prime Minister said.

As he handed over the award to Bekim Guri director of the movie “Silence”, Prime Minister Rama joined the appeal of organizers of the festival and citizens of Prizren, for the preservation of the cinema building that hosts the DokuFest.

“I want to join the call of the organizers and of the children who spoke here at the opening ceremony and asked for the cinema and the theater to not become a parking lot. From my experience I want to tell the mayor that mayors come and go but if DokuFest is gone, it does not come back. With much humility I will tell you that the winner of the award “Best National Film” is Bekim Guri with his movie “Silence”. To Bekim Guri, the blessing stone of the festival, “- the Prime Minister said.

Expressing gratitude to all those who worked for the success of this event, Prime Minister Rama said there will be even greater support for next year’s edition.