Shared Horizons is delighted to announce the results of the Storytelling Competition “Bridges that Connect”: eighteen stories have been selected to unite history and imagination across the Western Balkans.
Implemented by ALDA and supported by Expertise France, the project invites young people to merge imagination and technology, turning the region’s most iconic bridges into places where stories come alive.
The selected participants come from all six Western Balkan countries — Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia — showing how creativity can unite diverse perspectives across borders.
Their stories will soon be transformed into Augmented Reality (AR) experiences projected directly onto six historic bridges:
- Gorica Bridge (Albania)
- Stari Most (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
- Stone Bridge (Kosovo)
- Stone Bridge (North Macedonia)
- Adži-paša’s Bridge (Montenegro)
- White Bridge (Serbia)
Through sound, visuals, and animation, each bridge will become an open-air exhibition that connects history and imagination.
Shared Horizons shows how young people can bring new life to Europe’s cultural landmarks, linking generations through creativity and technology.
All selected authors, aged between 15 and 29, will now work with experts in writing, digital art, and AR design to turn their stories into immersive experiences. These installations will be presented not only on-site but also through exhibitions travelling across the Western Balkans, allowing more people to discover them.
Beyond the competition, Shared Horizons encourages young creators to engage with their heritage and reimagine it through new media. By giving space to youth voices, the project strengthens regional dialogue and cultural connection, showing that the Western Balkans’ creative energy is both vibrant and forward-looking.
Meet the winners:
Albania: Alkida Lleshaj, Tedi Hailili, Stivi Shpani & Kleo Lapi
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Amina Imamović, Emina Sejfić, Dragan Boban
Kosovo: Agnesa Haliti Kadrijaj, Irmel Mislimi, Flakrona Rexhepi
Montenegro: Aleksandra Simoni, Gabrijela Arapović & Luka Vusurović, Taida Salagić
North Macedonia: Ana Tomovska, Dijana Koka Djemaili, Sihana Sejfulaji
Serbia: Kristina Vučković, Dimitrije Jovanov, Dunja Shambo
By combining youth creativity, digital innovation, and shared cultural heritage, the Shared Horizons storytelling competition turns bridges into symbols of connection — linking stories, people, and places across the Western Balkans.
