Luli Bitri

Last updated
Luli Bitri
Born
Luljeta Bitri

Alma mater Academy of Arts, Albania
Occupations
  • Actress
  • voice actress
  • director
  • producer
Years active2003–present

Luljeta Bitri, better known by her stage name Luli Bitri, is an Albanian actress, voice actress, director, and producer.

Contents

Early life

Luli Bitri was born in Lushnjë, Albania and grew up in Tirana. She began to study medicine, but her passion for art made her to abandon medicine after the first year. Luli Bitri studied Drama in Fine Arts Academy in Tirana, Albania, gaining a Diploma in Professional Acting in 2004. Bitri starred in many short and feature films and theatre plays whilst a student there. She began her international career with the 2007 film Father and Godfather, [1] directed by Dhimitër Anagnosti, the 2009 film Alive! directed by Artan Minarolli, in 2011 film Amnesty , directed by Bujar Alimani. [2] With the last two films she entered in the List of Albanian submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2009 and 2011. In 2018 she starred in the film Holy Boom, directed by Maria Lafi. [3]

Career

Bitri came to international prominence for her portrayal of Elsa in Bujar Alimani's Amnesty in which she played the title role to great acclaim and received international media attention. The film was awarded in Berlinale International Forum 2011 (C.I.C.A.E. Prize). In the same year Bitri was nominated for her role, in the Best Actress category, at the Sarajevo Film Festival and at the Copenhagen International Film Festival, Lecce European Film Festival (Cineuropa, Fipresci, Jury Prize), Jerusalem Film Festival and Prishtina International Film Festival in Kosovo. After Amnesty she played in many feature films in Albania, Italy, Greece : My Destiny by Peter Marcias, Holy Boom by Maria Lafi ecc. She works as professional actress in National Theatre of Albania.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2006Club by Erion Kame The loverShort film
2006 Gjoleka, djali i Abazit by Dhimiter Anagnosti Nejmeja
2007 Il Primo Kinematografo by Jesus Buonggioaninni HerselfDocumentary film [4]
2008 Gjallë by Artan Minarolli coprotagonist, Pool girl
2010HeatMotherShort film
2010 Zheg by Kelmend Karuni NeviShort film
2011 Amnesty by Bujar Alimani ElsaLeading role [5]
2011 Dyer, dyer, dyer by Kreshnik Saraci DaughterShort film
2012 Dimmi che destino avrò by Peter Marcias Alina Leading role [6]
2013 Më në fund në shtëpi by Kreshnik Saraci MotherLeading role [7]
2015Breath by Artur Gorishti Producer Short film
2017 Water for the Roses Director and producer Short film
2022 The Black Pelicans script and director, coproducer Short Film
2018Holy Boom by Maria Lafi AdiaLeading role
2018 Open Door by Florec Papas RudinaLeading role
2019 Love by Dionis Papadhimitri ElaCo-protagonist
2022 Winter Fireflies by Artur Gorishti AfinaLeading role

Theatre

YearTitleRoleDirector and company2023 Wojceck by Kuniaki Ida Maria,National Theatre of Albania
2023 Nuk duhet ta thoshe by Artan Imami Gruaja,National theatre of Albania
2022 Ivanov by Anton Chekov Anna Petrovna Hervin Culi, National Theatre of Albania
2019Edmond by Alexis Michalik Rosemonde, Andia Xhunga,Indrit Cobani, National Theatre of Albania
2019 August: Osage County by Tracy Letts Barbara Fordham, Spiro Duni, National Theatre of Albania
2019 Angels in America by Tony Kushner Angel, Arben Kumbaro, National Theatre of Albania
2018 Macbeth by William Shakespeare Lady Macbeth, Kled Kapexhiu, National Theatre of Albania
2017 Equus by Peter Shaffer Hesther Salomon, Dino Mustafic, National Theatre of Albania
2015 Marat/Sade by Peter Weiss Charlotte Corday, Arben Kumbaro, National Theatre of Albania
2013 Un bacio sul cuore by Michele Placido Teresa Stolz, Michele Placido, Teatro dell'Opera di Roma
2011 Why Not Stay For Breakfast by Ray Cooney Louise,Rozi Kostani, National Theatre of Albania
2010 Me e vërtetë se e verteta by Martial Courcier ChloeRozi Kostani, Metropol Theatre
2006 Closer by Patrick Marber Alice Kico Londo, National Theatre of Albania
2006 La Musica deuxième by Marguerite Duras Anne Marie Sonila Kapedani, Academy of Arts of Albania
2005 Ivory Tower by Ronald Harwood Emi Straub, Erion Kame, National Theatre of Albania
2004 The Miser by Moliere Elise, Hervin Culi, National Theatre of Albania
2004 Miss Julie by Strindberg Miss Julie , Andia Xhunga, Academy of Arts of Albania
2004 The Father by Strindberg Laura Niko Kanxheri, Academy of Arts of Albania
2003 Goodbye My Love The Girl, Arben Kumbaro, National Theatre of Albania
2003 Dull Season in Olympus by Ismail Kadare The Prostitute, Gezim Kame, National Theatre of Albania

Voice acting

YearTitleRole
2004 Thumbelina Thumbelina
2005 Mulan II Mulan
2005 The Incredibles Helen Parr
2005 Shrek 2 Princess Fiona
2005 Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl Elizabeth Swann
2006 Yes! PreCure 5 Karen Minazuki/Cure Aqua
2006 Finding Nemo Nemo
2010 The Princess and the Frog Tiana
2011 Megamind Roxanne Ritchi
2013 Epic Mary Katherine
2017 Finding Dory Nemo
2021 Winx Club (season 7)Bloom

Awards and nominations

YearVenueAwardResult
2011 Prishtina International Film Festival [8] Best ActressWon
2011 Sarajevo Film Festival [9] Best ActressNominated
2011 Copenhagen International Film Festival Best ActressNominated
2011 Jerusalem Film Festival Best ActressNominated
2011Festival de Cinéma de Vernon [10] Best ActressWon
2011 Akademia e Çmimeve Kult [11] Best ActressNominated
2012East West International Film Festival, Orenburg [12] Best ActressWon
2012Albanian Film Festival [13] Best Albanian ActressWon
2013 Busto Arsizio Film Festival [14] Best ActressWon
2017New York Albanian Film Festival [15] Outstanding Artistic AchievementWon
2019Aswan International Women Film FestivalBest ActressWon
2019Calella Film FestivalActress Special MentionWon

Notes

  1. "Father and Godfather, IMDB" . Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  2. "Bujar Alimani, IMDB" . Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  3. "Maria Lafi, IMDB" . Retrieved 11 April 2019.
  4. "Vincitori". Archived from the original on 16 January 2011. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  5. "Amnesty, IMDB" . Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  6. "IMDB: Dimmi che destino avró".
  7. "Me ne fund ne shtepi". Archived from the original on November 20, 2013.
  8. "Pri Film Fest". Archived from the original on 2011-07-27.
  9. "Sarajevo Film Festival". Archived from the original on 12 June 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  10. "Festival de cinema de Vernon 2011". Archived from the original on 2013-04-14. Retrieved 2013-05-07.
  11. "Kult 2011 - Best Actress Nominations".
  12. "East West Festival - International Film Festival".
  13. "Albanian film festival 2012". Archived from the original on 2013-01-25. Retrieved 2013-05-14.
  14. "Busto Arsizio Film Festival 2013".
  15. "New York Albanian Film Week Festival 2017".

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barbara Cupisti</span>

Barbara Cupisti is an Italian director and actress. As a director, she focuses mainly on human rights documentaries.

Arta Muçaj is an Albanian actress from Kosovo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nexhmije Pagarusha</span> Kosovo-Albanian singer and actress (1933–2020)

Nexhmije Pagarusha[a] was a Kosovo-Albanian singer and actress, often referred to as the Queen of Albanian music. Pagarusha gained acclaim as a recording artist in Kosova and neighbouring countries for her distinct soprano vocal range, which she displayed performing various Kosovan folk songs during her career, which spanned 36 years, from 1948, in her debut in Radio Prishtina, to 1984, in her final concert in Sarajevo. Her music style was not limited just to Albanian music, as she performed rock, pop, funk, opera/classical, and many more.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arta Dobroshi</span> Kosovar-Albanian actress

Arta Dobroshi is a Kosovo-Albanian actress and producer. Dobroshi is the first Kosovan actress to walk the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival, the Berlin International Film Festival and the Sundance Film Festival and be nominated for the European Film Award. Dobroshi is a former refugee and now a UN Champion and Goodwill Ambassador.

Isa Qosja is an Albanian film director. After gymnasium he studied dramatic art and acting in faculty of Prishtina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Arts, Tirana</span> University in Tirana

The University of Arts, formerly known as the Academy of Arts, is a public university and the main institution that offers higher education of arts in Albania.

Dhimitër Anagnosti is an Albanian film director of the 20th century. He was a member of the Parliament of Albania in the 1990s and a Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports. For his contribution in film, he received the People's Artist of Albania medal. In 2011, former president Bamir Topi accredited him the "Honor of the Nation" order, Albanian: Urdhri "Nderi i Kombit".

<i>The Forgiveness of Blood</i> 2011 film

The Forgiveness of Blood is a 2011 drama film co-written and directed by Joshua Marston. The film premiered in competition at the 61st Berlin International Film Festival and competed for the Golden Bear. Marston and co-writer Andamion Murataj won the Silver Bear for Best Script.

The Prishtina International Film Festival, also known as the Pristina Film Festival and PriFilmFest, is a film festival held annually in Pristina, Kosovo, that screens prominent international cinema productions in the Balkan region and beyond, and draws attention to the Kosovar film industry. It was created after the 2008 Kosovo declaration of independence. The first festival was held in 2009, and featured actress Vanessa Redgrave as the host. In 2015, the festival was cancelled due to a cut in funding by the Ministry of Culture of Kosovo. The 7th edition of the festival, which was scheduled to take place from 24 April to 1 May, was thus instead held in Tirana, Albania on 24 and 25 April and renamed to "PriFest in Exile".

<i>Amnesty</i> (2011 film) 2011 Albanian

Amnesty is a 2011 Albanian drama film written and directed by Bujar Alimani. The film was selected as the Albanian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 84th Academy Awards, but it did not make the final shortlist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bleona</span> Albanian and American singer and actress (born 1979)

Bleona Qereti, also known mononymously as Bleona, is an Albanian and American singer, songwriter, actress, entrepreneur, model and television personality.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angeliki Papoulia</span> Greek actress

Angeliki Papoulia is a Greek actress and theatre director. In film, she is most notable for her roles in Dogtooth, Alps and The Lobster by Yorgos Lanthimos, and A Blast and The Miracle of the Sargasso Sea by Syllas Tzoumerkas. For her part in Dogtooth she was awarded with a Heart of Sarajevo for Best Actress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Floreta Faber</span>

Floreta Faber, is the Albanian ambassador to the United States.

<i>Daybreak</i> (2017 film) 2017 film

Daybreak is a 2017 Albanian drama film directed by Gentian Koçi. It was selected as the Albanian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 90th Academy Awards, but it was not nominated.

Roza Anagnosti is an Albanian film and stage actress, and the wife of director Dhimitër Anagnosti. She is known for Fijet që priten (1976), Mësonjëtorja (1980) and Detyrë e posaçme (1963).

<i>The Delegation</i> 2018 film

The Delegation is a 2018 Albanian drama film directed by Bujar Alimani. It was selected as the Albanian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 92nd Academy Awards, but it was not nominated.

<i>Open Door</i> (2019 film) 2019 film

Open Door is a 2019 Albanian drama road film written and directed by Florenc Papas. It was selected as the Albanian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 93rd Academy Awards, but it was not nominated. The film debuted at the Sarajevo Film Festival on 19 August 2019, subsequently going on a festival tour that included Thessaloniki, Sofia, Luxembourg, Kolkata, Cartagena and a homecoming in Tirana.

Blerta Basholli is a Kosovar Albanian writer, director and producer. Basholli has previously lived in New York City for a time span of four years, allowing her to work on a number of projects as a student, among those being her short film “Lena and Me” which won awards in a number of international and Kosovo-based festivals. In 2008 she was awarded with the Deans Fellowship at the Film Graduate Program at Tisch School of the Artists, NYU. Most recently, her debut feature film Hive (2021) has achieved great success, breaking Sundance Records, and becoming the first Kosovo film to enter the Oscars shortlist nomination.

Euro Balkan Film Festival is a film festival established in by Associazione Occhio Blu Anna Cenerini Bova and held annually in Rome. The event promotes cultural cooperation between Italy and the Balkan countries. Its partners include the Italian Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cinecittà, Croatian Audiovisual Centre, and many more.

References