Luli Bitri | |
|---|---|
| Born | Luljeta Bitri 27 June 1976 |
| Alma mater | Academy of Arts, Albania |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2003–present |
Luljeta Bitri (born 27 June 1976 [1] ), better known by her stage name Luli Bitri, is an Albanian actress, director, screenwriter, producer, and voice actress.
Luli Bitri was born in Lushnjë, Albania, on 27 June 1976. She initially pursued medical studies but abandoned them after her first year to follow her passion for the arts. She then studied drama at the Academy of Fine Arts in Tirana, earning a diploma in professional acting in 2004.
While still a student, Bitri appeared in numerous short films, feature films, and theater productions. She launched her international career with the 2007 film Father and Godfather, [2] directed by Dhimitër Anagnosti, followed by Alive! (2009), directed by Artan Minarolli, and Amnesty (2011), directed by Bujar Alimani. [3] The latter two films were Albania's official submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2009 and 2011, respectively.
In 2018 she starred in the film Holy Boom, directed by Maria Lafi. [4]
Bitri gained international recognition for her portrayal of Elsa in Bujar Alimani’s Amnesty , in which she played the title role to great acclaim, earning widespread media attention. The film won the C.I.C.A.E. Prize at the Berlinale International Forum in 2011. That same year, Bitri was nominated for Best Actress at several international film festivals, including the Sarajevo Film Festival, Copenhagen International Film Festival, Lecce European Film Festival (Cineuropa, FIPRESCI, Jury Prize), Jerusalem Film Festival, and Prishtina International Film Festival in Kosovo.
Following Amnesty , she starred in numerous feature films across different countries, including Dimmi che destino avrò (Italy) by Peter Marcias and Holy Boom (Greece) by Maria Lafi. She is also an established stage actress, performing at the National Theatre of Albania.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Club by Erion Kame | The lover | Short film |
| 2006 | Gjoleka, djali i Abazit by Dhimiter Anagnosti | Nejmeja | |
| 2007 | Il Primo Kinematografo by Jesus Buonggioaninni | Herself | Documentary film [5] |
| 2008 | Alive by Artan Minarolli | Pool girl | |
| 2010 | Zheg by Kelmend Karuni | Nevi | Short film |
| 2011 | Amnesty by Bujar Alimani | Elsa | Leading role [6] |
| 2011 | Dyer, dyer, dyer by Kreshnik Saraci | Daughter | Short film |
| 2012 | Dimmi che destino avrò by Peter Marcias | Alina | Leading role [7] |
| 2013 | Më në fund në shtëpi by Kreshnik Saraci | Mother | Leading role [8] |
| 2015 | Breath by Artur Gorishti | Producer | Short film |
| 2017 | Water for the Roses | Director, producer | Short film |
| 2022 | The Black Pelicans | Screenwriter, director, producer | Short film |
| 2018 | Holy Boom by Maria Lafi | Adia | Leading role |
| 2018 | Open Door by Florec Papas | Rudina | Leading role |
| 2019 | Love by Dionis Papadhimitri | Ela | Co-protagonist |
| 2022 | Winter Fireflies by Artur Gorishti | Afina | Leading role |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Thumbelina | Thumbelina | |
| 2005 | Mulan II | Mulan | |
| 2005 | The Incredibles | Elastigirl | |
| 2005 | Shrek 2 | Princess Fiona | |
| 2005 | Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl | Elizabeth Swann | |
| 2006 | Finding Nemo | Nemo | Redub |
| 2010 | The Princess and the Frog | Tiana | |
| 2011 | Megamind | Roxanne Ritchi | |
| 2013 | Epic | Mary Katherine | |
| 2017 | Finding Dory | Nemo | |
| 2018 | Incredibles 2 | Elastigirl | |
| 2021 | Winx Club | Bloom | Seasons 7–8 |
| Year | Venue | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Prishtina International Film Festival [9] | Best Actress | Won |
| 2011 | Sarajevo Film Festival [10] | Best Actress | Nominated |
| 2011 | Copenhagen International Film Festival | Best Actress | Nominated |
| 2011 | Jerusalem Film Festival | Best Actress | Nominated |
| 2011 | Festival de Cinéma de Vernon [11] | Best Actress | Won |
| 2011 | Akademia e Çmimeve Kult [12] | Best Actress | Nominated |
| 2012 | East West International Film Festival, Orenburg [13] | Best Actress | Won |
| 2012 | Albanian Film Festival [14] | Best Albanian Actress | Won |
| 2013 | Busto Arsizio Film Festival [15] | Best Actress | Won |
| 2017 | New York Albanian Film Festival [16] | Outstanding Artistic Achievement | Won |
| 2019 | Aswan International Women Film Festival | Best Actress | Won |
| 2019 | Calella Film Festival | Actress Special Mention | Won |