In the framework of our editorial mission Orient Express Reporter, cafebabel.com is sending 34 young journalists, photographers, photojournalists or videomakers 'on the ground' to discover the Balkans and Turkey. Eight feature reports in eight cities to meet our young counterparts and find stories from the Balkans which should not be lost on a European public


A is for Macedonia

Like any others, Skopje's activists, artisans and artists build on the future, in correlation with the government's grand urban plans for 2014. Yet unlike any others, they have a more testing time building from the past, twenty years after independence from Yugoslavia. Across stone bridges, the Albanian heart of the city muddles on from changing traditions, whilst a Macedonian soul reigns in the streets, with the rising citizenship of people angered by an unnecessary state-related death of a young man. However, national identity is a creative booster for documentary makers opening to the world. One answer in getting from A to Z in this small Balkan country lies in the question: how many Macedonias are there? Read the final edition of Orient Express Reporter by cafebabel.com's editorial jaunt to the Balkans in 2011, as an Albanian, Montenegrin, Polish, German and French journalist-photographer team deconstruct the Macedonian capital (Image: © Sab Ji/ cendrillons.over-blog.com/)

FEATURE Greek tragedy of a Macedonian tragedy: the story of #Martin in five acts

Greek tragedy of a Macedonian tragedy: the story of #Martin in five acts

On 5 June 2011 21-year-old Martin Neskovki was killed at the hands of Igor Spasov, bodyguard to the Macedonian prime minister. Two months on from demonstrations attended by thousands outraged by the government’s inaction, a handful of remaining protesters present their own conclusion to the investigation – onstage and online

by Aleksandra Sygiel @ // 31/08/11

skopje, theatre, orient express

REPORT Skopje’s ‘Albanian neighbourhood’ in Old Bazaar, Çarshia

Skopje’s ‘Albanian neighbourhood’ in Old Bazaar, Çarshia

There are essential traces of the history of Albanians and Macedonians, evidence of survival and revival after the Balkan or world wars. Skopje’s ‘Albanian neighbourhood’ is in a corner where the çarshia (bazaar) lies below the citadel, says Anisa Ymeri

by Anisa Ymeri @ // 31/08/11

cities, skopje, immigration, traditions, shopping, orient express

INVESTIGATION Macedonia the Great: historical obsessions and Skopje 2014

Macedonia the Great: historical obsessions and Skopje 2014

The ongoing urban project sounds as if the Macedonian capital were preparing to host the next olympics. It's actually about classical origins: Skopje will be revamped in a neo-classical style with the aim of strengthening national identity, attracting foreign tourists and, according to some, further provoking Greece, in the name of the dispute that started when Macedonia became independent in 1991

by Nela Lazarevic @ // 30/08/11

skopje, architecture, society, identity, orient express

FEATURE Digging out Macedonian documentary film and its female directors

Digging out Macedonian documentary film and its female directors

Did you know that it was a Macedonian team who did the visual effects for Martin Scorcese’s The Aviator? Or that the George Clooney-vehicle The Peacemaker was also partly filmed in Macedonia? Twenty years after Macedonia gained independence from Yugoslavia, we discover there are actually new angles on the Balkan country's claim to fame

by Christiane Lötsch @ // 29/08/11

culture, art, skopje, cinema, orient express, film festival

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