In a country shaped by decades of conflict, recovery, and identity-building, a new movement is quietly reshaping Kosovo’s social fabric. The Deçan Movement — the focus of a bold new documentary by Document News — explores an unexpected cultural shift: a mass departure from religious tradition, with more than 200,000 Kosovars leaving Islam in the space of only two years, in a nation of just 1.9 million people.

The documentary gathers an impressive line-up of scholars and cultural figures who guide viewers through Kosovo’s modern story. Gjergj Shala, Prof. Ibrahim Gashi, Prof. Dr. Jeton Kelmendi, Prof. Dr. Vesel Lekaj, Fishte Krasniqi, and Gjergj Topi each appear throughout the film, offering reflections rooted in history, sociology, and lived experience.

Through interviews led by Christian Borchsenius, the film traces Kosovo’s journey from the turbulence of the late 20th century to its present-day identity search. It suggests that the Deçan Movement is not simply a rejection of religion, but a deeper generational response to political disillusionment, shifting values, and the desire for a more individualistic future.

The documentary positions this phenomenon as part of a broader social reawakening — one where tradition is being questioned, and where Kosovars are redefining what belonging and belief mean in the 21st century. With voices like Kelmendi and Lekaj providing academic grounding, and contributors such as Krasniqi and Shala capturing the pulse of everyday citizens, the film delivers a rare panoramic view of a nation at a crossroads. Completed in 2025, this Document News production marks one of the first comprehensive visual examinations of the Deçan Movement. And beyond the statistics and interviews, it leaves viewers with a single resonant question: What happens when an entire society begins to rewrite its identity in real time?