Film
Blerta Basholli's “Dua” wins the Antigone d'Or in Montpellier, a 15,000-euro prize
The jury chaired by director Thierry Klifa described the film about Kosovo in 1992 as “at once tragic and full of hope.”
By ANN Newsroom · Newsroom
October 24, 2026, 22:15 · Updated 18:40 · 1 min read
In brief
- Blerta Basholli's film “Dua” won the top Antigone d'Or prize in Montpellier.
- The 15,000-euro prize is split between the French distributor (10,000) and the director (5,000).
- The lead role in the film, set in Kosovo in 1992, is played by Pinea Matoshi.
Director Blerta Basholli's film “Dua” has been honored with the Antigone d'Or, the top prize of the Mediterranean film festival in Montpellier, France, KultPlus reported. The prize, awarded by Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole, comes with 15,000 euros, of which 10,000 go to the film's French distributor and 5,000 to the director.
The jury: A call for freedom
The jury was chaired by director Thierry Klifa and included director and actress Laetitia Dosch, actress Suzanne Jouannet, actor Idir Azougli and producer Romain Rousseau. In their citation, its members described “Dua” as “a film at once tragic and full of hope,” with autobiographical elements, and as a call for freedom.
A 2026 co-production of Kosovo, Switzerland and France, the film is set in Kosovo in 1992 and follows a young heroine played by Pinea Matoshi. In their thanks, the filmmakers mentioned the city and metropolis of Montpellier, distributor Jour2Fête, sales agency The Party Film Sales and Kazak Productions.
The year 1992, in which the film is set, was the period when Kosovo Albanians, shut out of state institutions, organized their lives, education and culture in a parallel system, a backdrop that gives weight to the call for freedom the jury singled out in its citation.
A journey after Cannes
“Dua” had its world premiere in Cannes and in September opened the 18th edition of PriFest in Pristina. Basholli gained international recognition with her debut “Hive,” and with her new film she continues to bring Kosovo's stories to European festivals.
