Aulona Selmani and Leart Rama explore how inherited memories intertwine with the dreams of their generation in the films they create.

For generations of filmmakers in Kosovo, the trauma of war and its persistent impact have been unavoidable themes. These storytellers, shaped by their direct experiences of war, have depicted fragments of destruction and the aftermath it has left behind through their films.

But what happens when the narrative shifts to Gen Z — the generation born too late to remember the war or during its immediate aftermath? How is the war reflected in their lives, through family stories, history lessons, or the weight of collective memory? Are they drawn to exploring these inherited traumas in their films, or do they focus more on themes that reflect their generation’s issues? Can a country, with war carved into its identity, ever move beyond it as a central theme in its cinema?

These are the questions at the center of a new podcast episode co-produced by ForumZFD and Kosovo 2.0, where two young filmmakers, Aulona Selmani and Leart Rama, share their experiences and reflections. Both born in 1997, a pivotal year marking the start of Generation Z, these filmmakers delve into how their childhood experiences, shaped by the shadow of war, influence their cinematic choices.

Feature image: K2.0