BALKAN EXPRESS - THE NEW BALKANS – RETURN TO EUROPE : MACEDONIAN WEDDING
(Balkan Express – Rückkehr nach Europa : Mazedonien – Der Krieg, der nicht stattfand)
Austria/Macedonia, documentary, 2008; 52 min

Director: Peter Beringer
Writer: Wolfgang Stickler, in collaboration with Gerald Knaus
Concept: Gerald Knaus, Martin Traxl, Knut Neumayer
Scientific Research: Kristof Bender, Eggert Hardten, Verena Knaus, Alex Stiglmaye,
Producer: Nikolaus Wisiak
Co-Producers: pre tv, ORF and 3sat, in cooperation with ESI, European Stability Initiative
Camera: Josef Neuper, Walter Reichl, Martin Pete
Editor: Herbert Schaden
Cast: Islam Jusufi, Radmila Sekerinska, Ali Ahmeti, Javier Solana, Nikola Gruevski, Sasko Miladinov, Ermira Mehmeti, and others

Synopsis
The documentary focuses on the north-western part of Macedonia, with large Albanian minority. In 2001 a clash between ethnic Macedonians and Albanians led to armed conflict that threatened to escalate into a full-blown civil war. The international community stepped in and helped mediate first the truce, then the Ohrid Agreement which established a framework for the ethnic groups to continue to live together in one state. This was one of the rare success stories of European policy in the Balkans.

The film traces the background of the conflict and, through individual stories, describes the current situation in the region. A changing political landscape and efforts at peaceful co-existence within the multiethnic Macedonia have shown modest improvements in inter-ethnic dialogue.

The ten part documentary Balkan Express – Return to Europe won the prestigious Erasmus EuroMedia Grand Award 2008 for outstanding European media production.

DVD Source:
ORF, Austrian TV
Herbert Schaden
herbert.schaden@orf.at
http://www.balkanexpress.org