"Mirëdita,dober den,servus" festival
"We all carry different values from our our backgrounds that might hold us back instead of bringing us together."
On 29 November 2023 the inclusion and cross cultural festival “Mirëdita, dobar dan!” celebrated its premier in Austria.
The original festival that has been held since 2014 in Serbia and Kosovo merges art, culture, advocacy and public debate in one platform. By bringing artists, human rights activists as well as opinion makers together, the festival aims to create inclusive spaces where otherwise often confrontation dominates.
The first edition on 29th November in Vienna, which was organized by with Integra and YIHR, was following the same goals. Civic Initiatives Austria president Bistra Kumbaroska explains why: “There is a big community from the Balkans living in Vienna. Even though most of us are fully settled in Austria, there are still different values we carry from our backgrounds that might hold us back instead of bringing us together. Places of inclusion and joined activities help us overcome those and remind us of the true value and beauty of diversity. Because inclusion can be fun, when you don’t overthink it.”
All good things come in threes
Having fun together but also looking and opening up to each other's differences was the core value of the first Austrian edition which also got its own name. With a mixture of Balkan languages, the Austrian version of a friendly Hello was added to the festival which resulted in “Mirëdita, dober den, servus”.
However, there were not only 3 “hellos” in the name - the festival activities and locations also played with the number three. The festival was divided in 3 sections with three 3 activities, all dedicated to the topic of inclusion (see agenda). Further, it covered 3 locations all within a 70 meters triangle radius, including the Viennese cult cinema Breitenseer Lichtspiele.
Movie premiere with film director
At the Breitenseer Lichtspiele, festival visitors had the opportunity to watch for free the Austrian premier of the new documentary by director Idro Seferi that was already screened in Belgium, Norway, Kosovo and Serbia. The movie is called First time Kosovo/Serbia and follows a group from Kosovo visiting Serbia before a group of Serbians explores Kosovo.
After the movie premier, which was introduced by the film director and on e of the protagonists, the festival continued in the coworking space Widelake Bakery with light sports activities also for younger participants, because inclusion starts with the body, no matter what age.
The final part of the festival took place in the Viennese Beisl Anna&Jagetsberger and covered a small exhibition of the Serbian-born artist Natasa Katalina, a panel discussion - and of course an after party with a taste of a bit of Balkan and a bit of Austrian style.
Recap of #ExpatsSpeak
Since the mass shootings in Belgrade over a month ago, nothing is what it used to be. But is it really true how it’s featured in the media? And what is the situation on the ground?
Watch the whole recap of the event here.
Previous events
Here you find a list of our upcoming and previous events:
