Lumbardhi Foundation and Vardar Film sign a memorandum of cooperation

On 13.04.2022, the director of Vardar Film from Skopje, Mr. Sani Saidi was present in Prizren to sign the memorandum of cooperation between Vardar Film and Lumbardhi Foundation.


Vardar Film and Lumbardhi Foundation are dedicated to deepening a long-term cooperation towards developing film programs, education in film history, as well as exchange programs between the two institutions.


The first films presented in this collaboration, Thirst (1971) and The Macedonian Part of Hell (1971) will be screened as part of the "LXX" film program, following the events planned to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the opening of Lumbardhi Cinema.


The films will be screened at Kino Bahçe, between May 25 and September 30.


Vardar Film is a film production and distribution company based in Skopje, Northern Macedonia. It started operating in 1947 and today it functions as a modern film and educational center.

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The publication of the “Cultural Spaces of Kosova” by Rudina Hasimja

Cultural Spaces of Kosova project, part of which is Lumbardhi, brings the publication of the research "Cultural Spaces of Kosova" by Rudina Hasimja. The publication aims to summarize and link conversations on culture, art and public spaces by proposing a framework for a deeper analysis of the barriers faced by cultural spaces. The publication also emphasizes the need to raise awareness of the battles of independent cultural organizations in order to open up conversations on different models of governance that allow for greater public participation and accountability.

The research can be downloaded here: https://www.culturalspacekosova.org


This research was made possible with the financial support of the European Union, within the framework of the project "Civic Public Partnership for Innovative Governance of Public Infrastructure'' implemented by Anibar, Lumbardhi, 7 Arte, and Pogon.

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German Ambassador Mr. Jörn Rohde visited Kino Lumbardhi

German Ambassador Mr. Jörn Rohde visited Kino Lumbardhi where he was received by the director of the Foundation, Mr. Ares Shporta. At the meeting he was introduced to the history of the cinema, the collaborations thus far in institutional construction, the development of the research and archiving departments and the plans for Phase II. They also discussed cultural policies in Prizren and Kosovo, collaborations with the independent scene as well as opportunities for collaborations within Innovation and Training Park.


Lumbardhi Foundation is grateful for the support of the German Embassy Pristina as well as partners such as the Goethe-Institut , the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Foundation and the forumZFD - Kosovo Program.

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Lumbardhi Cinema proposed for permanent protection by the MCYS

Lumbardhi Cinema is amongst 54 cultural heritage sites proposed by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports for inclusion in the list of sites under permanent protection.

Following the evaluation by the Kosovo Council for Cultural Heritage, the formal approval of this list is expected in early 2022, when we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of Lumbardhi Cinema.

Following a seven-year process of cooperation between local cultural organisations and communities, and the relevant public institutions from the central and local levels, it is expected that next year will be decisive in defining the long-term institutional model for the sustainable management and development of the cinema and beginning the restoration of the building with the support of the European Union.

Lumbardhi Foundation extends its gratitude to the institutions and all partners, supporters and many individuals involved in all the phases of the process.

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Lumbardhi launches Phase II

In early December 2021, Lumbardhi Foundation launched its ‘Phase II' of institutional development, revealing to the public and the media during a press conference a summary of the first phase and the plans for the second phase.

For 7 years, the established organization, following the Initiative for the Protection of Kino Lumbardhi, has been committed to the revival of Kino Lumbardhi through restorative interventions, dialogue with stakeholders, diverse programs and advocacy for the transfer of the cinema to public ownership, in order to complete its full restoration as a multi-functional space, by preserving the heritage qualities of this site and making it open to all.

Throughout this period, Lumbardhi Foundation, together with over 150 organizations, institutions and informal groups have presented close to 1.000 events to more than 100.000 attendees and active users. In his speech during the conference, the executive director Ares Shporta, said that “after a long phase focused on the revival and the visioning of the cinema and the organization, we actively wait for the cooperation of MCYS and Municipality of Prizren to implement this jointly built vision. In the new phase, Lumbardhi Foundation will expand its programs and capacities beyond Lumbardhi Cinema, to collaborate with other spaces in the city, region and digital sphere, while it focuses on supporting research, knowledge production and various collaborative and long-term initiatives.” He added that “During 2022 we will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the opening of the cinema with various commissions, discussions, publications and various events, to interpret various elements of a complex history. We aim to celebrate the work done until now and to call institutions to collaborate, so we can give a positive conclusion to this long journey and begin the full restoration of the cinema."

In continuation, together with the director of finance and administration of the Lumbardhi Foundation, Mrs. Fitore Rexhepi, they communicated about the institutional development process of Lumbardhi Foundation and forthcoming changes, emphasizing a number of policies, documents and reforms related to decision-making and governance practices, financing, staff development and overall transparency of the Lumbardhi Foundation, as well as the usage and the long-term management of Lumbardhi Cinema.

To mark the transfer to Phase II, Lumbardhi will launch its new website, which presents the new visual identity of the Foundation and the archive of research and programs, alongside the digital campaign #LumbardhiinTransit which will break down this process and the vision through various tools.

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Raiffeisen Bank in Kosovo visits Lumbardhi

This week, we had the pleasure to welcome the outgoing CEO of Raiffeisen Bank Kosovo, Mr. Robert Wright and the member of the Management Board, Mr. Shukri Mustafa, on the occasion of the farewell visit of Mr. Wright, who retired earlier this year. During this visit, they were introduced to the history of cinema, the first phase of the Lumbardhi Foundation, activities and plans implemented in the framework of the general partnership with Raiffeisen Bank, as well as plans for celebrating the 70th anniversary of Kino Lumbardhi and its long-term vision.


Raiffeisen Bank in Kosovo has supported Lumbardhi since 2018, while since July of this year, it became the general sponsor of Lumbardhi Foundation, by supporting the transition to Phase II, digitalization of programs, commissioning of new works and support of local artists.

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Open Mahalla: A Garden and Wall for All

The co-creation platform GërrGërr organized the event ‘Mahalla e hapun: Collective playlist’, to celebrate the new public space that connected the garden of the historic house of Shani Efendi with the Lumbardhi Cinema and the Blacksmiths' Quarter.

The purpose and nature of the interventions were presented during the event, and the participants were accompanied by the music program "Collective Playlist", compiled with the contribution of residents and craftsmen of the neighborhood.

The intervention in "Open Neighborhood" is based on stakeholder consultation and was designed by KhoraOffice. The works were implemented by the co-creation platform GërrGërr in cooperation with the Lumbardhi Foundation and "Plantopija" within the project "City Experiment Fund" of UNDP in Kosovo.

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Beneath the Open Sky

Lumbardhi presents ‘Beneath the Open Sky’, a diverse program with public events that will take place in the outdoor cinema from June 1st to September 19th, in accordance with the pandemic measures.

"Beneath the Open Sky" brings to the big screen of Kino Bahçe the program "KINO", which consists of six film programs, including a retrospective of Chris Marker, a selection by the Habibi collective and special performances every Wednesday and Sunday.

In parallel, the music program "Variations on Listening" returns with two new formats of live performances, "Pandemic Albums" and "Sonic Dusk" as well as with the revival of "Tones in Motion" and "Sës-Mës", which were introduced in 2020.

The upcoming season also marks the opening of two exhibitions and the launching of publications realized within the research projects Kinofigurimi and Nation Formation, as well as the presentation of the works of artists engaged in the collaborative program QARK. The program also interacts with festivals and events taking place at that time in Prizren, while strengthening collaborations with local and international partners such as DokuFest, Autostrada Biennale, Kosovo Philharmonic, Protocinema, Multimedia Center and DAM Fest, to name a few.

This year, the program adds a new educational component that aims to interpret existing programs for new audiences by creating participatory and attractive formats to engage the youth.

'Beneath the Open Sky' begins on June 1, with a carefully threaded selection of films, music, workshops, performances, concerts, publications and talks, aimed at reviving the cultural and social life suspended by the pandemic.

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