In this episode of #KallxoPërnime, director Ekrem Kryeziu reflects on his life and artistic career, offering a personal account of the development of Albanian-language television, theatre, and cinema in Kosovo. He recalls the creation of the first Albanian-language television programme in the 1960s, the challenges of working under the former Yugoslav regime, and the obstacles faced by Albanian artists in their efforts to develop national culture and the arts.
During the interview, Kryeziu also speaks about the imprisonment of the director of the first Albanian-language television programme on grounds of political unsuitability, together with members of Ukshin Hoti’s group, as well as the reception of his plays dedicated to the League of Prizren and his film about Marie Shllaku. He further shares his experiences of the challenges involved in producing films and television programmes, from the period of the former Yugoslav regime to the present day, and recalls the dramatic events of the war, when Serbian forces attempted to take his son away from him. Through this account, Ekrem Kryeziu offers important testimony on the relationship between art, resistance, and the history of Kosovo.