From sketch to story: GRAN-Fest brings culture to life in Kosovo

Kosovo’s capital came alive with colour, creativity, and comics as the 6th edition of GRAN Fest took over the city from 16 to 19 May 2025. Known as the country’s leading graphic novel and comic art festival, GRAN Fest brought together artists, storytellers, and fans from Kosovo, the region, and beyond.

Organised by Institut GRAN Fest with support from the Support to civil society in Kosovo project, the four-day celebration was packed with exhibitions, workshops, conferences, screenings and live drawing events.

The festival opened at the National Library of Kosovo, where organisers set the tone for a programme dedicated to cultural inclusion, freedom of expression, and artistic exchange. A diverse lineup of guest artists from Luxembourg, France, Belgium, Spain, Ukraine, Lithuania, Serbia, Turkey, Albania, and Kosovo were introduced, kicking off a vibrant week of intercultural dialogue. 

From an opening exhibition at the University of Pristina, Faculty of Arts, to creative workshops in schools and colleges across the capital and Peja, the festival brought visual storytelling to people of all ages. Two thought-provoking conferences addressed how comics and visual narratives can tackle themes like war, satire, equality, and social cohesion.

The festival promotes inclusive cultural development through visual arts and graphic novels, and to create opportunities for learning and skill-building — for example, by supporting a young Kosovar artist to join an art residency in France later this year.

With support from LuxDev, GRAN Fest expanded its impact through the publication and Albanian translation of two graphic novels — Joséphine Baker by Catel & Bocquet and Under the Trees by Dav le Dessineux — promoting civil rights and environmental awareness. Free copies were shared with the public during a signing event in downtown Pristina and will be made available in libraries across Kosovo.

Film also had its moment, with a screening of the Luxembourgish satirical superhero movie Superjhemp Retörns, based on the infamous comic book titled likewise. The film was followed by a Q&A with author and screenwriter Lucien Czuga, aiming to foster cross-cultural exchanges and a better understanding of Luxembourgish society and culture through satire and humour.

The festival closed with an exhibition of Superjhemp prints at the Embassy of Luxembourg, celebrating the legacy of cartoonist and comic book artist Roger Leiner.

The Support to the civil society in Kosovo project, funded by the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and implemented by LuxDev, the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency, aims to strengthen democratic participation and develop a strong and dynamic civil society in Kosovo.