Festivali i Këngës (Kosovo)

Festivali i Këngës në RTK (Albanian: [fɛstiˈvali i ˈkəŋɡəs nə ɾətəˈkə]; 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]

Festivali i Këngës
Genre	Various
Dates	October
Location(s)	Palace of Youth and Sports Pristina, Kosovo
Years active	2023–present
Organised by	Radio Television of Kosovo (RTK)
Website	rtklive.com/festivali

History

Further information: Festivali i Këngës and Kosovo in the Eurovision Song Contest

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]

RTK stated it would apply for EBU membership in June 2024, having reaffirmed the intention to participate in Eurovision and use the next edition of the festival to select its 2025 entrant.^[12]

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][13][14]} 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.^[15]

A submission period was open between 2 June and 9 September 2023 to select eighteen competing entries.^[13] 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][14] – voted to determine ten qualifiers from the first phase and the first three places in the final.^[1][9][16] The winner was La Fazani (Arbër Salihu) with "Oj Kosovë".^[17][18]

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.^{[19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26]}

Qualifying phase

Artist(s)[27]	Song[27]	Author(s)[27]	Draw		Result[28]
			Show 1	Show 2
Albin Nikprelaj	"Ajo"	Enis Mullaj Erjona Rushiti	3	16	Qualified
Angus Dei	"Një zemër për dy"	Erjon Zaloshnja	4	15	Qualified
Ariela Krasniqi	"Emri grua"	Gjergj Jorgaqi	5	14	Did not qualify
Auron Deva	"Çmimi i dashnisë"	Korab Shaqiri	6	13	Qualified
Bana Zahiti	"Dukat"	Arbana Zahiti	2	17	Did not qualify
Ermal Demiri	"Merri"	Gentiana Azizi Gëzim Hasani	7	12	Did not qualify
Franc Koruni	"Shqip"	Franc Koruni	15	4	Did not qualify
Hilmi Obertinca	"Pa ty s'më rrihet"	Hilmi Obertinca	16	3	Qualified
InorgA	"Shumë herë më nervozojnë"	Agron Hajdari	1	18	Did not qualify
Klea Dina	"Trenat"	Drenusha Zajmi Memli Kelmendi [sq]	12	7	Qualified
La Fazani	"Oj Kosovë"	Arbër Salihu	8	11	Qualified
Mentor Mripa	"Po ju rrëfehem"	Bekim Bislimi Riza Dolaku	13	6	Did not qualify
Neki Emra	"Heroi im"	Neki Emra	9	10	Qualified
Nita Latifi [sq]	"Marrëzi"	Nita Latifi	17	2	Qualified
Saranda Alija	"Mendoj ku je"	Arbër Krasniqi	14	5	Qualified
Teuta Statovci	"Sekreti i tij"	Arianit Abazi Dardan Gjinolli Yll Limani	11	8	Did not qualify
Urban Band	"Ëndrrat s'kanë faj"	Endrik Beba Klodian Rexhepaj	18	1	Qualified
Vjosa Shehu	"Vetes"	Junior Akwety Vjosa Shehu	10	9	Did not qualify

Final

Artist(s)	Song	Author(s)	Draw	Result[17]
Albin Nikprelaj	"Ajo"	Enis Mullaj Erjona Rushiti	7	3rd place
Angus Dei	"Një zemër për dy"	Erjon Zaloshnja	4	2nd place
Auron Deva	"Çmimi i dashnisë"	Korab Shaqiri	1	Un­known
Hilmi Obertinca	"Pa ty s'më rrihet"	Hilmi Obertinca	8
Klea Dina	"Trenat"	Drenusha Zajmi Memli Kelmendi	5
La Fazani	"Oj Kosovë"	Arbër Salihu	9	1st place Municipality of Pristina Award
Neki Emra	"Heroi im"	Neki Emra	3	Un­known
Nita Latifi	"Marrëzi"	Nita Latifi	6
Saranda Alija	"Mendoj ku je"	Arbër Krasniqi	10	Orchestra Award
Urban Band	"Ëndrrat s'kanë faj"	Endrik Beba Klodian Rexhepaj	2	Un­known

2024

At the Palace of Youth in Pristina, the RTK Song Festival began, which will be broadcast live on RTK. In its second edition, the Kosovo Radio Television Song Festival features 16 artists on October 24, 25, and 26, 2024.

The winner’s trophy for this edition is the 'Blue Diamond', symbolizing Kosovo, its flag, and its blue color. Meanwhile, the festival jury consists of Minire Fetahu, the chairperson, Jane Sugarman, Ardiana Pajaziti, Valbona Selimllari, and Blerta Zeqiri.

Before the festival commenced, Festim Kabashi and Fëllënza Çitaku recited poems by Gjergj Fishta, Faik Konica, Fan Noli, Atë Zef Pllumi, and Ukshin Hoti, all of which resonate with the present era and call for national unity.

The festival showcased 16 artists, starting with Dea Strica performing "N'Shqipni", followed by Greta Azizi with "Veres", Agim Poshka with "Ndarja erdhi", Jehona Lumi with "Shko", Inorga with "Seks mashina nga Prishtina", Rei Bezhani with "Zonjë tradhti", Ardita Begu with "Fundosu në dritë", Besmir Shishko with "Unë Ajo", Blendi Kaso with "Një të vetme ka në jetë", Endrit Krasniqi with "Flasë me gjethen", Ardit Stafaj with "Faji", Santino De Bartola with "Unë jam Arbëresh", Arnite Kastrati with "Blla blla", Vlona Boshnjaku with "Lotët", Luna Çausholli with "Dielli të më shoh", and Bruna Sata with "Ti je i pashpirtë".

Semi-Final

Artist(s)[27]	Song[27]	Author(s)[27]	Draw		Result[28]
			Show 1	Show 2
Agim Poshka	"Ndarja erdhi"	Ismail Kadare Agim Poshka	3	14	Qualified
Ardit Stafaj	“Faji”	Ardit Stafaj	11	6	Qualified
Ardita Begu	"Fundosu në dritë"	Ylljeta Kokolli Atdhe Marku	7	10	Did not qualify
Arnitë Kastrati	"Blla Blla"	Ardiana Gashi Arnitë Kastrati	13	4	Qualified
Besmir Shishko	"Unë Ajo"	Armend Shala Besmir Shishko	8	9	Qualified
Bledi Kaso	"Një të vetme ka në jetë"	Eriona Rushiti Endrit Shani	9	8	Qualified
Bruna Sata	"Ti je i pashpirtë"	Ramazan Ceka Artion Qamili	16	1	Did not qualify
Dea Strica	"N'Shqipni"	Dea Strica	1	16	Qualified
Endrit Krasniqi	"Flas me gjethen"	Bekim Këpuska	10	7	Qualified
Greta Azizi	"Veres"	Ardiana Gashi Valon Gashi Diell Gashi	2	15	Qualified
InorgA	”SEKS MASHINA NGA PRISHTINA”	Inorga	5	12	Did not qualify
Jehona Lumi	"Shko"	Jehona Lumi Rinor Ukimeri	4	13	Did not qualify
Luna Çausholli	"Dielli të më shoh"	Pandi Laco Endrit Shani	15	2	Did not qualify
Rei Bezhani	"Zonja tradhti"	Eriona Rushiti Enis Mullaj	6	11	Qualified
Santino De Bartolo	"Unë jam Arbëresh",	Santino De Bartolo	12	5	Did not qualify
Vlona Boshnjaku	"Lotët"	Rozana Radi Kledi Bahiti	14	3	Did not qualify

The live broadcast on RTK began at 20:10 with the arrival of guests on the red carpet of the Palace of Youth, while the festival officially started at 21:00. The contest was broadcast live on RTK 1, RTK 2, Radio Kosovo, and on the digital platforms of the public broadcaster.

The jury awarded the second prize to Greta Azizi for the song “Verës”, while the third prize went to Dea Strica for the song “N’Shqipni”. Endrit Krasniqi is the winner of the second edition of the RTK Song Festival, receiving the “Blue Diamond” trophy for the song “Flas me gjethen”. The prize from the Palace of Youth and the capital was awarded to Besmir Shishko for the song “Unë Ajo”. The orchestra prize was awarded by the festival's artistic director, Florent Boshnjaku, to Arnite Kastrati for the song “Blla blla”.^[29]

Final

Artist(s)	Song	Author(s)	Draw	Result[17]
Agim Poshka	"Ndarja erdhi"	Ismail Kadare Agim Poshka	6	Unknown
Ardit Stafaj	“Faji”	Ardit Stafaj	8	Unknown
Arnitë Kastrati	"Blla Blla"	Ardiana Gashi Arnitë Kastrati	7	Orchestra Prize
Besmir Shishko	"Unë Ajo"	Armend Shala Besmir Shishko	9	Palace of Youth and the Capital Prize
Bledi Kaso	"Një të vetme ka në jetë"	Eriona Rushiti Endrit Shani	1	Unknown
Dea Strica	"N'Shqipni"	Dea Strica	4	3rd Place
Endrit Krasniqi	"Flas me gjethe"	Bekim Këpuska	2	1st Place
Greta Azizi	"Veres"	Ardiana Gashi Valon Gashi Diell Gashi	3	2nd Place
Rei Bezhani	"Zonja tradhti"	Eriona Rushiti Enis Mullaj	5	Unknown

References

1. "Festivali i Këngës në RTK" (PDF) (in Albanian). RTK. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
2. 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. "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. "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. Granger, Anthony (24 May 2024). "Kosovo: RTK to Apply to Participate in Eurovision 2025 in June". Eurovoix. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
13. "Festivali i Këngës". RTKLive (in Albanian). RTK. Archived from the original on 16 October 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
14. Pasoma, Medina (25 October 2023). "Një ditë nga Festivali i Këngës, gjithçka gati për festën e RTK-së" [One day until Festivali i Këngës, everything is ready for RTK's party]. RTKLive (in Albanian). RTK. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
15. 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.
16. "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.
17. "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.
18. 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.
19. "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.
20. "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.
21. "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.
22. 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.
23. "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.
24. "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.
25. "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.
26. "'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.
27. "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.
28. 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.
29. Granger, Anthony (1 June 2024). "Kosovo: Festivali i Këngës në RTK 2024 Song Submissions Window Opens". Eurovoix. Retrieved 1 June 2024.

External links

• Official website