Upstream Battle got a whole new meaning and a Human Rights Award.

Our documentary Upstream Battle follows Native Americans in their fight for their salmon and for the survival of their culture ? against an energy corporation. Tribes along the Klamath River may trigger the largest dam removal project in history (more at www.upstreambattle.com). Between the film's world premiere in our home city of Munich and the upcoming North American premiere in Toronto, we just celebrated our first international screening in a very unique location: at the Dokufest in Prizren.

Kosovo, just having declared its independence earlier this year, is still full of KFOR troops and international police forces. In the introductory remarks to my screening, I mentioned that I felt very special to be presenting the film in this young Republic of Kosovo that had been fighting for its sovereignty for so long. So I wanted the audience to understand that my film was not just about an eco-battle but also about the fight for sovereignty of Native Americans tribes. Although, luckily, the last war in the Klamath Basin ended in 1873.

Despite the omnipresent military, life in Prizren is surprisingly relaxed, and it seems like the whole city is partying all night. The festival features two open-air and two "indoor" cinemas. It was wonderful to see Upstream Battle with nothing but the stars above us. Almost felt like the sky was an integral part of the movie. Just the calls of the muezzin and the music of the open-air bar next door altered our soundtrack.

Consulting producer Magdalena Hutter (pictured right) and I volunteered for a local river clean-up, initiated by two festival guests from Croatia. Compared to the Klamath River, Prizren's Bistrica sadly looks like a garbage dump. We did our best to clean up a good stretch, and our film's title became a whole new meaning. Unfortunately, the locals didn't understand the concept and weren't supportive at all. In fact, while we were collecting their rubbish in the riverbed, people would dump new stuff from the bridge above our heads. Clearly, this country still has greater worries than the environment.

On Sunday, we won Dokufest's Human Rights Award. We are delighted that the jury recognized that Upstream Battle is not just a film on fish but on all its social and cultural implications, including the health of tribal members and their right to exercise their religion.

And we would like to thank the Dokufest crew and the people of Prizren for making our days in Kosovo such a wonderful experience. We'll be back!