Basri Shala stands on a bridge on a film set during the filming of the movie "Three Windows and a Hanging" near the village of Mirena, Kosovo on Sept. 6, 2013. The movie, a harrowing tale about a village forced to come to terms with the raping of women by Serb forces during the 1998-99 Kosovo, seeks to tackle a sensitive issue that has largely been kept out of the spotlight for over a decade, Qosja said. Kosovo declared independence in 2008 but Serbia rejects the move. (AP Photo/CMB)
Republished October 02, 2014 - 5:15 AM
Original Publication Date October 02, 2014 - 3:20 AM
PRISTINA, Kosovo - Kosovo has nominated an Oscar contender for the first time since it announced its independence from Serbia in 2008.
"Three Windows and a Hanging" by veteran filmmaker Isa Qosja was selected to represent the new Balkan nation at the Academy Awards in the category of Best Foreign Film.
The film examines a fictional village shaken after Serb forces raped some of its women during the 1998-99 Kosovo war — a sensitive issue that has largely been ignored in Kosovo's patriarchal society.
Kosovo authorities say up to 20,000 women may have been victims of rape at the time. The conflict hangs heavy over relations between the two former foes and Serbia fiercely objects to Kosovo's representation as an independent country.
"Should rape be considered shameful or as a misfortune?" the 66-year-old Qosja asked during an interview with The Associated Press. "In our tradition, rape has been treated as shameful and we have therefore kept silent over it."
Actress Arta Dobroshi, president of the selection committee, said she was on the brink of tears when the film was selected.
"We were dreaming of being able to send a film but were not allowed because we were not a country," Dobroshi said. "And now we are free and we are speaking freely and speaking about the Oscars."
News from © The Associated Press, 2014