Using Food to Build Bridges and Celebrate Shared Heritage

The project “Western Balkan Gastronomy”, funded within the Innovation. Media. Minds, was implemented from April 2025 to May 2026. It brought together young creatives and media professionals to showcase the culinary wealth of the Western Balkans as a powerful tool for connection, dialogue, and cultural exchange.

The project was carried out by the group Sarma, composed of Tarik Čardaković (BHRT), Igor Topalović (RTS), Anđela Minić (RTCG), Marko Tešanović (BHRT), and Lorik Idrizi.

The project focused on three cities—Tirana, Podgorica, and Belgrade—each representing a unique yet interconnected culinary tradition within the Western Balkans. Through visits to these cities, the project team documented local gastronomy using a modern, youth‑oriented digital format.

The content highlighted:

• Traditional dishes and regional specialties,
• Local ingredients and preparation methods,
• Stories and cultural meanings behind the food,
• Shared culinary influences across borders.

The short‑form video format was designed specifically for online platforms, making the content accessible, engaging, and appealing to the project’s primary audience—young people aged 18 to 22 from the Western Balkans.

Food as a Tool for Cultural Dialogue

By focusing on gastronomy, the project underscored the idea that food goes beyond nourishment—it is a universal language capable of breaking boundaries and bringing people together. While each featured cuisine maintained its distinct character, the videos also revealed common tastes, techniques, and traditions that connect the region.

The storytelling approach helped young viewers recognize how much cultural heritage they share, while also encouraging curiosity and appreciation for neighboring cultures. This common ground served as a starting point for strengthening regional identity and cooperation.

As a result, the initiative contributed to:

• Increased awareness of shared cultural and culinary heritage,
• Greater appreciation of regional diversity among young people,
• Promotion of food as a peaceful and inclusive bridge for regional cooperation.

Inspiring Shared Cultural Pride

Western Balkan Gastronomy demonstrates how creative digital storytelling can transform everyday cultural elements into tools for connection and mutual understanding. By presenting gastronomy through a fresh and youthful lens, the project inspired a sense of shared pride in the region’s rich culinary identity and reinforced the role of culture in bringing people closer together. Note: This content was produced with the support of a seed funding grant, following the group members’ participation in the NextGen Media Lab, where the project ideas and topics were developed through a design sprint.

This content was produced with the support of Innovation. Media. Minds. – EU Support to Public Service Journalism in the Western Balkans, implemented by the Goethe-Institut on behalf of the European Commission, in cooperation with DW Akademie. The short film is the sole responsibility of  the group Sarma (Tarik Čardaković, Igor Topalović, Anđela Minić, Marko Tešanović, and Lorik Idrizi) and does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.