Dignified Resilience with Riada Akyol
Society & Culture
It was a pleasure to host Blerta Basholli, the director of the Kosovar film "Hive," currently shortlisted among 15 international feature films for Oscars 2022. The film is inspired by the true story of Fahrije Hoti from Krusha village, whose husband was missing from the war in Kosovo. In order to help the survival of her family and ensure kids' livelihood, she comes up with an idea to establish a cooperative, to start an agricultural business. On the way, she faces numerous challenges in a traditional, patriarchal environment.
I spoke with Blerta about the background of the story, the process of making the film, Fahrije's resilience, the grief and its portrayal in the film, the importance of storytelling through this medium, the reception of the film in Kosovo, Blerta's plans for the film and her message for the viewers. It is a beautiful movie and I hope this conversation brings to more visibility for it, and that as many people get to see it!
The film has achieved a tremendous success already, it won the top three awards at the US Sundance Film Festival in 2021, for “Best Film”, “Best Director” and “Audience Award," and continues its festival route. It will also be available for streaming on some major platforms in the US soon.
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Riada talks to Catherine Baker, Azra Hromadzic on Politics, Race, Migration, Environment in Balkans
Riada talks to Dr. Bruce D. Perry on ”What Happened to You?” - on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing
Riada & Jasmin Mujanovic, Harun Buljina on politics, multigenerational legacies of trauma, history, future of Bosnia & H., Western Balkans
Riada and Jay Van Bavel on ”Power of US” - Harnessing Our Shared Identities to Improve Performance, Increase Cooperation and Promote Social Harmony
Riada talks to Amra Sabic-El-Rayess on book "The Cat I Never Named," Bosnian genocide, resilience
Riada talks to Dr. Brian Hare about his book "Survival of the Friendliest"
Riada talks to Anna Malaika Tubbs on her book "The 3 Mothers: How the Mothers of Martin Luther King JR., Malcolm X and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation"
Riada talks to Elmira Bayrasli on U.S. politics, women's leadership, mental health, entrepreneurship & more!
Riada talks to Shadi Hamid & Mustafa Akyol on French secularism, whether Islam faces crisis and implications for the future, liberalism and much more
Riada talks to Marina Khan, British-Afghan entrepreneur and founder of "Avizeh" on her jewelry brand, Afghanistan, media representation, charity work, mental health
Riada talks to Sayo Ayodele on purposeful business, climate change, racism, ethical travel and more!
Riada Talks to Madinah Javed on Female Reciters of the Qur'an - Part 2
Riada Talks to Madinah Javed on Female Reciters of the Qur'an - Part 1
Riada talks to Chic Dambach on his prolific peacebuilding career, life's challenges & his memoir "Exhaust the Limits"
Riada talks to Asma Barlas on "Believing Women in Islam: Unreading Patriarchal Interpretations of the Qur'an"
Riada talks to Wajahat Ali - on complex identities, pushing through parenting challenges, spirituality and much more!
Riada talks about refugees, their old vulnerabilities & new challenges brought by the pandemic and experiences from Latin America, with Martha Guerrero Ble & Rachel Schmidtke
Riada talks about advancing peace, justice & security with special focus on women's mobilization with sociologist Marie Berry
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