Festivali i Këngës (Kosovo)

Last updated

Festivali i Këngës
Festivali i Kenges ne RTK logo.jpg
GenreVarious
DatesOctober
Location(s) Palace of Youth and Sports
Pristina, Kosovo
Years active2023–present
Organised by Radio Television of Kosovo (RTK)
Website rtklive.com/festivali

Festivali i Këngës në RTK (Albanian: [fɛstiˈvaliiˈkəŋɡəsnəɾətəˈkə] ; transl. "The Festival of Song on RTK"), simply known as Festivali i Këngës and informally as Fest, is an annual music competition in Kosovo organised by the national broadcaster Radio Television of Kosovo (RTK) since 2023. It is broadcast on RTK 1, RTK 2 and Radio Kosova 1, as well as on RTSH in Albania and on MRT 2 in North Macedonia. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

History

The contest was modelled on the basis of the festival of the same name held in Albania since 1962 and used as the Albanian national final for the Eurovision Song Contest since 2003. Kosovo, formerly part of Yugoslavia, has never participated in the Eurovision Song Contest on its own, but the contest has been broadcast in the territory since 1961 and a number of Kosovan artists have represented Albania or Serbia in the event.

Despite its inability to become a full member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) in order to take part in the contest, [4] in February 2023 Kosovan broadcaster RTK started to develop the format, with the long-term aim of using it as its national selection for Eurovision. [5] [6] The format was ultimately defined on 7 March 2023. [7] [8] [9] In October 2023, shortly before the launch of its first edition, the festival's director Adi Krasta  [ sq ] reported that he had been in contact with people at EBU who had expressed "extreme enthusiasm" regarding the event. [10] Director-general of the EBU Noel Curran made a remote appearance during the first night of the festival to express his congratulations. [11]

Editions

2023

The inaugural edition of Festivali i Këngës was held at the Great Hall of the Palace of Youth and Sports in Pristina, directed by Adi Krasta  [ sq ] and co-hosted by Krasta and Besim Dina (all shows) alongside Edona Kasapolli (first night), Anjeza Shahini (second night) and Edona Reshitaj (third night); it consisted of two qualification shows on 26 and 27 October 2023 and a final on 28 October 2023. [1] [2] [7] [12] [13] The artistic director for this edition was Florent Boshnjaku  [ sq ], while performances were conducted by Alfred Kaçinari  [ sq ], Edon Ramadani and Valton Beqiri  [ sq ]; the four, as well as Shpëtim Saraçi  [ sq ] and Visar Kuçi  [ sq ], also served as orchestrators. [14]

A submission period was open between 2 June and 9 September 2023 to select eighteen competing entries. [12] At the festival, a 5-member jury – consisting of Adi Hila, Alban Nimani  [ sq ], Zake Prelvukaj  [ sq ], Ulla Sjöström and chair Alma Bektashi  [ sq ] [2] [13] – voted to determine ten qualifiers from the first phase and the first three places in the final. [1] [9] [15] The winner was La Fazani (Arbër Salihu) with "Oj Kosovë". [16] [17]

A number of guest performers also made an appearance in this edition, namely Bektashi herself, Alban Nimani  [ sq ], Dafina Zeqiri, Enver Petrovci, Fitnete Tuda  [ sq ], Genc Salihu  [ sq ], Ilire Vinca  [ sq ] and her daughters, Irma Libohova, Kamela Islamaj and Teuta Kurti  [ sq ], Timo Flloko  [ sq ], Shpat Deda  [ sq ], and Xuxi. [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25]


Qualifying phase
Artist(s) [26] Song [26] Author(s) [26] DrawResult [27]
Show 1Show 2
Albin Nikprelaj"Ajo"
  • Enis Mullaj
  • Erjona Rushiti
316Qualified
Angus Dei"Një zemër për dy"Erjon Zaloshnja415Qualified
Ariela Krasniqi"Emri grua"Gjergj Jorgaqi514Did not qualify
Auron Deva"Çmimi i dashnisë"Korab Shaqiri613Qualified
Bana Zahiti"Dukat"Arbana Zahiti217Did not qualify
Ermal Demiri"Merri"
  • Gentiana Azizi
  • Gëzim Hasani
712Did not qualify
Franc Koruni"Shqip"Franc Koruni154Did not qualify
Hilmi Obertinca"Pa ty s'më rrihet"Hilmi Obertinca163Qualified
InorgA"Shumë herë më nervozojnë"Agron Hajdari118Did not qualify
Klea Dina"Trenat"
127Qualified
La Fazani"Oj Kosovë"Arbër Salihu811Qualified
Mentor Mripa"Po ju rrëfehem"
  • Bekim Bislimi
  • Riza Dolaku
136Did not qualify
Neki Emra"Heroi im"Neki Emra910Qualified
Nita Latifi  [ sq ]"Marrëzi"Nita Latifi172Qualified
Saranda Alija"Mendoj ku je"Arbër Krasniqi145Qualified
Teuta Statovci"Sekreti i tij"
118Did not qualify
Urban Band"Ëndrrat s'kanë faj"
  • Endrik Beba
  • Klodian Rexhepaj
181Qualified
Vjosa Shehu"Vetes"
  • Junior Akwety
  • Vjosa Shehu
109Did not qualify
Final
Artist(s)SongAuthor(s)DrawResult [16]
Albin Nikprelaj"Ajo"
  • Enis Mullaj
  • Erjona Rushiti
73rd place
Angus Dei"Një zemër për dy"Erjon Zaloshnja42nd place
Auron Deva"Çmimi i dashnisë"Korab Shaqiri1Un­known
Hilmi Obertinca"Pa ty s'më rrihet"Hilmi Obertinca8
Klea Dina"Trenat"
  • Drenusha Zajmi
  • Memli Kelmendi
5
La Fazani"Oj Kosovë"Arbër Salihu9
  • 1st place
  • Municipality of Pristina Award
Neki Emra"Heroi im"Neki Emra3Un­known
Nita Latifi"Marrëzi"Nita Latifi6
Saranda Alija"Mendoj ku je"Arbër Krasniqi10Orchestra Award
Urban Band"Ëndrrat s'kanë faj"
  • Endrik Beba
  • Klodian Rexhepaj
2Un­known

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Festivali i Këngës në RTK" (PDF) (in Albanian). RTK. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Pasoma, Medina (23 October 2023). "Krasta: Edicioni i parë i Festivalit të Këngës vjen si festë" [Krasta: the first edition of Festivali i Këngës comes as a celebration]. RTKLive (in Albanian). RTK. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  3. ↑ Tejeci, Erdi (26 October 2023). "Kosovo: Festivali i Këngës në RTK premieres…and lays groundwork for future Eurovision selection". Wiwibloggs . Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  4. ↑ Juhász, Ervin (28 June 2019). "No changes in the EBU statutes, thus Kosovo can't apply for full membership". ESCBubble. Archived from the original on 12 July 2019. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  5. ↑ Kurris, Denis (12 March 2023). "Eurovision: Kosovo is creating a Eurovision national selection". ESCplus. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  6. ↑ "Nga ky vit, nis Festivali i Këngës në RTK". Demokracia (in Albanian). 9 February 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  7. 1 2 "Miratohet rregullorja e Festivalit të Këngës në RTK, Adi Krasta emërohet drejtor i festivalit" [The regulations of Festivali i Këngës në RTK have been approved, Adi Krasta has been appointed presenter of the festival]. Indexonline.net (in Albanian). 8 March 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  8. ↑ Granger, Anthony (8 March 2023). "Kosovo: RTK Launches Festivalit të Këngës to Select Future Eurovision Participants". Eurovoix. Archived from the original on 15 March 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  9. 1 2 "Rregullore e Festivalit të Këngës në RTK" [Rules of Festivali i Këngës në RTK](PDF) (in Albanian). RTK. 7 March 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  10. ↑ Heap, Steven (19 October 2023). "Kosovo: EBU Reportedly Positive of Festivali i Këngës ne RTK". Eurovoix. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  11. ↑ RTK [@festivalirtk] (26 October 2023). "Drejtori i Përgjithshëm i EBU-së , Noel Curran, përgëzon RTK-në për organizimin e Festivalit të Këngës" [The Director-General of the EBU, Noel Curran, congratulates RTK for organising Festivali i Këngës] (in Albanian). Retrieved 26 October 2023– via Instagram.
  12. 1 2 "Festivali i Këngës". RTKLive (in Albanian). RTK. Archived from the original on 16 October 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  13. 1 2 Pasoma, Medina (25 October 2023). "Një ditë nga Festivali i Këngës, gjithçka gati për festën e RTK-së" [One day until Festivali i Këngës, eveything is ready for RTK's party]. RTKLive (in Albanian). RTK. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  14. ↑ Pasoma, Medina (19 October 2023). "Orkestra e Festivalit të Këngës gati për debutim me emra të dëshmuar" [The orchestra of Festivali i Këngës ready to debut with established names]. RTKLive (in Albanian). RTK. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  15. ↑ "MKRS: Festivali i Këngës, kthesë serioze për muzikën shqipe" [MCYS: Festivali i Këngës, a serious turning point for Albanian music]. RTKLive (in Albanian). RTK. 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  16. 1 2 "La Fazani fitues i Festivalit të Këngës në RTK" [La Fazani is the winner of Festivali i Këngës në RTK]. Festivali i Këngës (in Albanian). RTK. 28 October 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  17. ↑ Tejeci, Erdi (28 October 2023). "La Fazani wins Kosovo's first edition of Festivali i Këngës në RTK with 'Oj Kosovë'". Wiwibloggs. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  18. ↑ "Dafina Zeqiri shkëlqen në skenën e Festivalit të Këngës" [Dafina Zeqiri shines on the stage of Festivali i Këngës]. Festivali i Këngës (in Albanian). RTK. 26 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  19. ↑ "Ilire Vinca me dy vajzat artiste elektrizojnë skenën e Festivalit të Këngës" [Ilire Vinca and her two artist daughters electrify the stage of Festivali i Këngës]. Festivali i Këngës (in Albanian). RTK. 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  20. ↑ "Teuta Kurti dhe Kamela Islamaj shkëlqejnë me këngët e divave italiane" [Teuta Kurti and Kamela Islamaj shine with the songs of Italian divas]. Festivali i Këngës (in Albanian). RTK. 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  21. ↑ Pasoma, Medina (27 October 2023). "Shpat Deda sjellë në skenë 'Këngën e Bilbilit' të Jusuf Gërvallës" [Shpat Deda brings to the stage "Kënga e Bilbilit" by Jusuf Gërvalla]. RTKLive (in Albanian). RTK. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  22. ↑ "Timo Flloko drithëron skenën me Himnin e Flamurit" [Timo Flloko shakes the stage with the Anthem of the Flag]. Festivali i Këngës (in Albanian). RTK. 28 October 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  23. ↑ "Alma Bektashi gjallëron skenën me 'Dancing Queen'" [Alma Bektashi livens up the stage with "Dancing Queen"]. Festivali i Këngës (in Albanian). RTK. 28 October 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  24. ↑ "Mjeshtri Enver Petrovci nderon skenën me intepretim të veçantë" [Master Enver Petrovci honours the stage with a special interpretation]. Festivali i Këngës (in Albanian). RTK. 28 October 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  25. ↑ "'Kur bjen fyelli e çiftelia', Libohova ndez skenën kuqezi" ["When the fiddle and the couplet are played", Libohova lights up the red and black stage]. Festivali i Këngës (in Albanian). RTK. 28 October 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  26. 1 2 3 "Festivali i Këngës në RTK – Zbulohen 18 këngët finaliste" [Festivali i Këngës në RTK – The 18 finalist songs have been revealed]. RTKLive (in Albanian). RTK. 20 September 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  27. ↑ Pasoma, Medina (27 October 2023). "Përzgjedhen 10 këngët finaliste në Festivalin e Këngës në RTK" [The 10 finalist songs of Festivali i Këngës në RTK have been selected]. RTKLive (in Albanian). RTK. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
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