Dielli | The Sun

Albanian American Newspaper Devoted to the Intellectual and Cultural Advancement of the Albanians in America | Since 1909

Out of Sight, a documentary by Paul Kurti

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After directing the successful feature film “Right to Love” award-winning filmmaker Paul Kurti shot his next project “Out of Sight” in Albania. Out of Sight is a docuementary told from the perspective of Albanian children how they understand their world, reflecting on the future of Albanian and present lifestyles.

Director Kurti explains that his interest on the society of tomorrow from the eyes of the new generation is what inspired him to make this project.

“I was born in Albania and left in the year 2000, after living through the 90s, a confused decade of transitions for the country and the Albanian society. Every time I visit Albania, I see a lot of aesthetic changes. However, I still find the same confusion about the future as before.

Thus, I decided to make a film, about children who were born after I left the country. Children that did not live through the fall of communism and rise of democracy of the early 90s; the pyramid schemes and rebellion of the mid 90s; or the Kosovo war of the late 90s.

I wanted to explore what it means to be an Albanian child in the new millennium. And since these children are the future of the country, we could get a glimpse into the society of tomorrow,” said director Paul Kurti.

Director Paul Kurti hopes that with this documentary people can learn more about the social conditions of Albania facing youth. The documentary delves into issues like education, poverty, environment and future prospects as seen and understood from the eyes of children.

“I hope that after watching this film, audiences will become more aware that there is so much we can learn from these children. Concepts such as education, order, cleanliness and poverty, become so much more powerful through their voices.

While working on the film, I came across some situations that I was not aware of. On the suburbs of Tirana I saw extreme poverty. Children that were forced to leave school at a younger age because their parents could not afford to buy them books and clothes for school. We show the story of a girl in a similar situation in the documentary. Her parents had removed her from school in grade 4 and she had been sitting at home for the last 4 years. In the meanwhile, her 3 younger sisters were also being removed from school once they got to grade 4. I had never met a child that spoke about school with such passion as her. It was all she has been thinking for the last 4 years, while slowly realizing that she might never get another chance at education.

There are many similar stories that are untold and that people in bigger cities are seldom aware of. That is why I titled the film “Out of Sight,” added Paul Kurti.

The documentary is sponsored by Soros and it is expected to premiere this fall at Top Channel. A short clip of the documentary can be viewed here: http://vimeo.com/73023819 and further updates on the work of Paul Kurti can be found here www.paulkurti.com. / E. Babamusta

The Mayor’s Cultural Initiatives to boost the economy in NYC

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By: Ermira Babamusta, Ph.D., New York/

Mayor Michael Bloomberg has taken the leadership through innovative initiatives like the “Global Connective Media”, “NYC Life” and the creation of “The Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting” to revitalize New York’s economy. The mayor’s vision for arts and the showbiz sector play an integral part in creating funding for the arts community, opening new jobs for the private and public sectors and increasing business activity. The Mayor’s Five Borough Economic Opportunity Plan has been detrimental in bringing NY out of recession. His new cultural and arts programs have proven successful in encouraging entrepreneurship and self-esteem in the next generation leaders.

Mayor Bloomberg has pledged to work more for the City’s cultural community, expanding support for artists and arts organizations. A perfect example that showcases how the cultural lifestyle is thriving thanks to mayor’s office is “NYC Life”.  This program explores arts, culture and entertainment through history and education in New York. It is linked to the economic success of the city of New York.

“Mayor Bloomberg has embraced the arts community and understands the role arts, culture and creativity play in the city’s economy. I am very appreciative of wonderful programs launched by the Mayor’s office like NYC Life that provide amazing opportunities for young ambitious filmmakers like myself. It was an honor to meet with Mayor Bloomberg and see him deliver on his promises,” stated screenwriter and director Orges Bakalli.

Director Bakalli met with Mayor Michael Bloomberg in a 2011 NYC Life official meeting with other talented artists and key figures from the arts and political community. Orges Bakalli is best known for producing the critically acclaimed documentary “American Drop Out”, collaboration with award-winning producers of Reel Works Teen Filmmaking. American Drop Out documentary raises awareness about the drop out crisis in New York City schools and the challenges at-risk students face. The documentary aired on PBS, WNET Thirteen’s American Graduate Day broadcast on September 2012.

“It is a blessing to be part of the mentoring model at Reel Works. Through this great non-profit filmmaking program I have been able to build on my leadership skills and enhanced my self-confidence. Reel Works and NYC Life have given me the opportunity to take on projects that have proven to be successful and influential in advocating for education, history, culture and other important issues,” added director Orges Bakalli.

Orges Bakalli is an extraordinary young talent that is contributing to the arts community in New York. He is one of the youngest directors to have made a name for himself thanks to his dedication, original films and passion. His upcoming short film “Made in Amerika” which he wrote and directs, explores immigration experiences of European communities in United States, focusing on contextual factors such as family, integration and culture.

Regjizori i talentuar Orges Bakalli me një film të ri “Made in Amerika”

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Ne Foto: Producenti Joseph Di Mattia , aktori Artan Telqiu dhe regjizori Orges Bakalli/

Nga Ermira Babamusta/

Skenaristi dhe regjizori i talentuar Orges Bakalli i është përkushtuar projektit të tij të parë, një film me metrazh të shkurtër, me titull “Made in Amerika”. Regjizori amerikan nga New Yorku me origjinë shqiptare vlerësohet për dokumentaret dhe tani synon kinematografinë. Me filmin “Made in Amerika” ai prezanton një histori të një familje shqiptare që ka emigruar në New York, me pretagonistë dy aktorë të talentuar Artan Krasniqi dhe Ermira Berisha. Me producent Joseph Di Mattia dhe producent ekzekutiv Roland Uruci, filmi premton një portretizim të veçantë. Për më shumë rreth filmit vizitoni https://www.facebook.com/MadeInAmerika.

Kur keni filluar të merreni me filma?

Regjizor Orges Bakalli: Për herë të parë unë fillova ta shikoj filmin si një formë arti kur kam qenë në shkollë të mesme. Per fatin tim te keq , shkolla e mesme ku une shkoja nuk ofronte kurse filmi, keshtu qe une mbas disa kerkimeve qe bera gjeta nje program qe quhej Reel WorksTeen Filmmaking, i cili me dha  mundesine te filloja te punoja ne fushen e filmit.

Cilat cilësi zotëroni që ju dallojnë nga regjizorë të tjerë? 

Regjizor Orges Bakalli: Një cilësi që unë kam dhe që është e domosdoshme për regjizorin është aftësia për të imagjinuar një ngjarje .Nje regjizor i mirë duhet të përshkruaj kuptimin dhe emocionet e ngjarjes nëpërmjet imazheve .

Cilat filma ose video të tjera keni prodhuar?

Regjizor Orges Bakalli: Puna që kam bërë për Real Works ka qenë më shumë filma dokumentare . “Made in Amerika” është përpjekja ime e parë si regjizor i nje filmi  të shkurtër autotentik .

A planofikoni të aktroni në filmat që bëni?

Regjizor Orges Bakalli: Personalisht unë i respektoj shumë aktoret dhe në të kaluarën kam marrë disa kurse për teater, por tash për tash unë kam dëshirë me u fokusu në regjinë e filmit. Ndoshta më vonë në të ardhmen mund të konsideroj idenë me marrë pjesë si aktor në filmat e mi.

Si lindi ideja për skenarin e filmit “Made in Amerika”?

Regjizor Orges Bakalli: Ideja për me shkru “Made in Amerika” thjesht më erdhi duke parë e duke jetuar në Ridgewood  NY. Ky komunitet dominohet nga emigrantë që vijnë kryesisht nga Shqiperia, Polonia dhe nga shume vende të tjera të Europës Lindore. Unë vendosa të tregoj një ngjarje që i dedikohet këtij komuniteti .

Sa kohë u desh për të zhvilluar personazhet e filmit?

Regjizor Orges Bakalli: Aktualisht më është dashur më shume kohë se sa e kisha  parashikuar. Unë në mendjen time e kisha të qartë drejtimin që do t’i jepja ngjarjes, por realizimi është gjithmonë pjesa më e vështirë  dhe më e paparashikuar. Joseph Di Mattia ka qene një mësues dhe produktor i jashtëzakonshëm i cili më mësoi etikën e punës që më nevoitej për të treguar  ngjarjen.

Na tregoni pak për filmin “Made in Amerika”

Regjizor Orges Bakalli: ‘Made in Amerika’ është historia e një çifti që sapo ka emigruar nga Shqipëria dhe e problemeve që ato ndeshen ditë për ditë në Amerikë.

Cili është mesazhi i filmit?

Regjizor Orges Bakalli: Mesazhi i filmit është  që kurrë mos e lejo situatën të shkojë në ekstrem. Është historia e një djali i cili mundohet të zgjidhë një problem të mprehtë por duke dashur të bëjë këtë po i krijonte vehtes një problem edhe më të madh.

Dy aktorët kryesorë në këtë filma janë të talentuarit Artan Telqiu dhe Emira Berisha. Si e plotësojnë ato vizionin tuaj për personazhet që keni në mendje për “Made in Amerika” ?

Regjizor Orges Bakalli: Artani dhe Emira që janë dy karakteret kryesore të filmit janë aktorë fenomenal. Secili prej tyre ka sjellë diçka unike tek roli dhe perveç kësaj kanë shtuar diçka të veçante tek secili karakter. Si regjizor i filmit nuk mund të imagjinoja dy persona më perfekt për këto role.

Cili është roli më i vështirë në këtë film?

Regjizor Orges Bakalli: Roli më i vështirë  për t’u luajtur ka qenë John, që përfaqësonte kompaninë e sigurimeve. Mua më duhej një person që të ishte antagonist, në kontroll dhe në të njëjtën kohë të ishte i simpatizuar nga audience. Kjo është e veshtirë per çdo aktor, por Alex Richard bëri një punë impressive. Ai i dha jetë karakterit të Johnit në një mënyrë që unë nuk e kisha imagjinuar. Ai është një djalë shumë i talentuar.

Si e keni financuar filmin?

Regjizor Orges Bakalli: Filmi është bërë me një buxhet shumë të limituar. Unë nuk kisha shumë mundesië ta financoja filmin, derisa Roland Uruci shprehi dëshirën të më ndihmonte. Kjo bëri që situata të ndryshonte. Ai më prezantoi me Artanin, Ermirën dhe me shokun e tij Albert Elmazovski, i cili është një kinematograf i jashtëzakonshëm dhe mbi te gjitha ai edhe luajti ne film. Rolandi është shumë i talentuar  dhe unë mund të them pa frikë se filmi nuk do të ishte bërë i mundur pa të.

Arsyeja pse një film të shkurtër. A planifikoni ta zhvilloni në të ardhme në një film me metrazh të gjatë?

Regjizor Orges Bakalli: Arsyeja që të bëj një film të shkurtër ishte më shume e kushtëzuar nga mundesirat financiare, por në të ardhmen, është dëshira ime të rikthehem tek disa tema të ngjashme dhe të realizoj një film me të gjate ose seri.

Planet tuaja për filmin, do e dërgoni ne festivale?

Regjizor Orges Bakalli: Po, unë do ta dërgoj filmin “Made in Amerika” në festivalin e filmit sapo ta mbaroj .

 

 

Portraits of Kosovan Culture: Through the Lens of Fahredin Spahija

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By: Ermira Babamusta, Ph.D./

New York – The award-winning photographer Fahredin Spahija uses his art of photography as a tool of visual culture and documental photography, to capture human emotions, social attitudes, historical places and people that transcend present time. His brilliant photography is powerful, inspiring and shows how diverse the Albanians are – from a traditional artist in Kosova performing during a dance show, to the interactions of the young people with their playful innocence, to the memories of the older generation. Fahredin Spahija features breathtaking and moving images that allow for a deeper perspective into the identity and the way of life of Albanians in Kosova.

Spahija’s striking images beautifully portray the culture and character of Albanians, who are fascinating to meet and get to know as people. One can easily immerse into the Albanian culture and feel welcome and accepted right away. What attracts others to the Albanian society is the friendliness, the caring and the honor moral code (Besa), which allow for respect, open-minded attitudes and a friendly atmosphere.

As the eyes of the world turn to the nascent state of Kosova, Fahredin Spahija offers a great opportunity to discover and explore the country’s cultural aspects: art, interactions, perceptions, generational gap, with stories of past, pain, spirituality, love, happiness and realities woven into the fabric of everyday life.

This year, along with thousands of professional photographers from around the world, Fahredin Spahija has entered the 2013 “One Life” International Photography Competition. The contest features images for the category “Great Photography Tells Stories”. The judges review the submissions and the winners are selected by the readers by voting via social networks (Facebook/Twitter). The winners are awarded a feature publication in the issue of PDN Magazine, a personal gallery exhibition in New York City and over $75,000 in awards.

Fahredin Spahija’s entry in the One Life contest is titled “Missing People!”. The collection features images of mothers and family members in search of their loved ones post the Albanian genocide committed by the Serbian forces.

“During the last war in Kosovo, the Serbian aggression has caused irreparable damages. But most painful damage is the 3000 people’s disappearance as a result of ethnic genocide against Albanian in Kosovo. A large number of them, today, after 14 years, have not been resolved yet and this exacerbates the situation even more. This is really difficult situation especially for the families of missing but also for the rest of nation. A part of my photographic art I have devoted to this painful and tragic theme, by realizing the photographic project ‘Missing’,” said Fahredin Spahija.

The extreme brutality during the Kosova Genocide and anguish for the missing people is witnessed by Albanian men, women and children. Today thousands of Kosovar Albanians remain missing, never to return home. The fate of the victims and the silence of the missing persons still haunts many families.

August 30, 2013 marks the “International Day of the Disappeared”.  Fahredin Spahija remembers the missing and brings public awareness to the Kosovar tragedy. The compelling stories and the deeply disturbing experiences of the Kosova war draw attention to human rights violations that need to be addressed and expose a deeper psychological trauma from the decade-long nightmare. Each image in Spahija’s “Missing People!” collection is a witness to crimes against humanity and a reminder of the incomprehensive inhumanity towards the Kosovar Albanians: the mass slaughter, the empty grave sites, the mass rape of women, the inexplicable imprisonment and assassinations.  The question of human rights and justice for Kosovar Albanians remains unresolved!

To view Fahredin Spahija’s “Missing” collection please visit: https://fahredinspahija.see.me/onelife2013

World Humanitarian Day: Remembering Kosova Genocide

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by  Ermira Babamusta, Ph.D., (International Woman of Courage & Distinguished Humanitarian)/

Learning from our history to build a better future/

[Photo: Zylije and Namon Kunoviku, innocent Kosova war victims]/

 August 19, 2013 – World Humanitarian Day is an opportunity to recognize those people around the world often in dangerous and difficult circumstances. This year I would like to pause and remember the tragic events in Kosova and the humanitarian catastrophe of ethnic Albanians killed, expelled and persecuted in their own land. The ethnic cleaning campaigns led by Slobodan Milosevic and the Yugoslav and Serb forces against Albanian civilians shall forever be recorded as dark years in the history of Albania and Kosova.

This August 19, 2013 as the world commemorates the fight against genocide, it is important to reflect on the historical aspects of genocide against ethnic Albanians.

I especially dedicate this day to the brave Kunoviku Family in Kosova, two war survivors and heroes Gëzim and Egzona. Despite the horrific events they endured during the war, they risked their own lives to save others during their humanitarian mission with the US Army in the Middle East. I light a candle for their wonderful parents, Zylije and Namon Kunoviku, innocent victims of the Kosovar war.

As I witnessed the injustice of the Kosovar refugees in 2007 and of the genocide survivors in 2012 I am reminded of their struggles to hang on and lead a normal daily life despite the horrible lived trauma. Today I think about those still missing and their families trying to find their loved ones and have no answers. I hope justice will soon be served!

As the future generation we have a great responsibility – the opportunity to learn the past, be united and encourage leaders to build a better future. It is essential to peace, diplomacy and prosperity to ground our efforts on the four pillars of democracy: justice, good governance, economic development and social welfare. A healthy democracy is for the people by the people!

I applaud America for leading the way in this effort of peace and democracy building. I had the chance to visit and meet with great leaders and US Congress members like Senator Harry Reid, Senator Tom Harkin, former US Secretary Colin Powel, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, etc, who share my commitment to peace, human rights and democracy. I applaud their brave actions and the extraordinary efforts of President Bill Clinton, former US Secretary Hillary Clinton, President Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, US Secretary of State John Kerry, Dr. Jill Biden and First Lady Michelle Obama for staying at the forefront of building and strengthening democracy in US and around the world and promoting human rights.

As J. F. Kennedy stated, “the world is very different now, for man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty, and all forms of human life.” This is the time to start the movement for global equality, promote human rights, improve governance and deliver justice around the world. I am proud that Albania and Kosovo are great successful models of such moral and democratic principles.