For 5 days in a row, 61 artists from different countries of the world such as: Italy, France, China, Romania, Albania, Croatia, Kosovo, etc., were presented in the mediums: video art, film and experimental documentaries.

After a long journey, as well as with events centered in Tirana and Korça during the month of September, the festival closed its first edition at the Producer Club Theater, Manhattan. Co-Producer of the festival Alfred Tollja, Artistic Director of the festival in NY- Lorena Kalaja, as well as the Director of the GJON MILI VIDEOART FESTIVAL, Yllka Gjollesha, organized the last days of this journey. On the final night, the jury of the festival, which over the course of a month reviewed the 61 artists selected in the first edition, announced the “Best Video Art” award, where the winner was the artist from Kosovo, Leart Rama, with the series of 13 short documentaries with the title “Corona Dairy”.

Corona Diary #001 begins to explore the empty streets of Pristina, with poetry, warm houses, shot from outside in spring. The message that the artist conveys to us is: “Stay safe and spread love”.
Leart Rama is a young director. He is the founder of Katarzè Films, an alternative film house in Kosovo. Leart’s films have traveled the world to important festivals. His work is dominated by human emotions, which cause the audience to experience a catharsis.
Leart has been evaluated by the jury as a promising artist, complete and with a direct reflection on what the world has been through during the pandemic.

Two other artists who were appreciated by the jury for their works with the second and third prizes are Francesca Silvia Maurizi and Burim Myftiu.

/Klara Ruci/