Staff 2025

Founder & Director of Tirana International Film Festival (Academy Awards® & European Film Awards qualifying). Member of European Film Academy. Founder of Tirana Film Institute, Production & Distribution co. and Albania Film Commission. Distributor of European films in Albania, projects supported by Media Program, Creative Europe. Co-producer of the feature films Willow and Leaving Capocabana by Milcho Manchevski. Jury member in many film festivals around the world. Co-founder of FASADA Studio as the first publicity, graphic design and video production company in Albania, 1998. Producer of feature, short & documentary films, TV commercials, etc. Director Manager of CreativeMornings Tirana, international project in more than 240 cities, since 2014.

SELECTION & PROGRAM

Eneos Çarka is a filmmaker, curator, and researcher. His films have screened at numerous festivals, galleries, and cultural events such as IDFA, HotDocs, FIPADOC where he received Tënk Award, Los Angeles Filmforum, Venice Architecture Biennale and more. He received the FIPRESCI Award in 2023 for his MFA film “The Silence of The Banana Trees” and served as a Jury Member in the IDFA Competition for Youth Documentary in 2022. His first feature documentary “Another Day” debuted at IDFA Luminous section in 2023 where it received a Best First Feature Nomination as well as the Best Regional Documentary at DokuFest. He is an alumnus of the DocNomads MFA program in Creative Documentary and is currently developing his second feature film, a hybrid docu-fiction. Since 2021, he curates the documentary and experimental programs at Tirana International Film Festival.

Renis is a film director and writer from Tirana, Albania. His short films have participated in numerous international film festivals, and won Best Short Film at the Festival Internacional de Film de Autor and Best Script at the Sapienza Film Festival (2025). He has published three books: Cadavre Exquis (2016), Samsara (2018), and Minotauri (2024). In 2023, he was selected as an emerging film director for Sarajevo Talent. Since 2023, it has been collaborating with Tirana International Film Festival on film selections and festival programs. Currently, he is working on this next book and on a short animated film.

Lyubo Yonchev is a director, writer and producer. He graduated film directing from New Bulgarian University. His professional debut is the short fiction film "Shooting Star" which has been nominated for the 29th European Film Awards 2016, selected and awarded at many international festivals. Since 2016 Lyubo Yonchev has been a member of the Union of Bulgarian Filmmakers and the European Film Academy. In 2017 he was selected as a participant in the Talents Sarajevo and in 2020 in Berlinale Talents and Talents Sarajevo Script Station with his newest short film project “Teeth”.

Born and raised in Corfu, Greece. After completing her university studies in Film Directing in Tirana, she specialized in Cinematography in Paris. She has worked on several short films and documentaries, contributing both as a director and cinematographer.

Kristina Rushiti is an Albanian filmmaker. She studied at the University of the Arts in Tirana. She began her career as a director and scriptwriter with the short film ANNA, followed by TEA & KEJSI and the documentaries Ekrani i Heshtur and Saimir Kumbaro (a documentary portrait). Kristina has worked as an Assistant Director on several films, including The Planting of Trees, Një Histori e Patreguar, Çeta Ballkanike, Shkrepe, Terezita, Das Meer ist der Himmel, Luna Park, The Fine Line, Troubleshooters, Man of the House, Consequences of Freedom, and the series HOT and I Delitti del BarLume, among others. She has also worked as a producer on various commercial and advertising projects.

Dionis is a director and writer from Tirana, holding a Master of Arts in Film and TV Directing from the University of Arts. Directed the shorts 5 1s (2024) and Bers (2023) and co-directed Rats Sleep Too (2023). His short script, An Unusual Event (2012), was selected and produced in Sarajevo, funded by the EU, and the script Antimuseum is being produced as a short animated movie. As a writer, Dionis has published two books: The satirical-experimental novel Two Weeks Under the Balloon, which won the Kadare Prize in 2024, and Bar Sahara, a collection of short stories, which won the First Prize from the National Center for Books and Reading, Ministry of Culture. Passionate about surrealism and its link to cinema.

Nominated twice for the Sophia Awards of the Portuguese Film Academy, Bruno Carnide is an independent portuguese director and founding director of Leiria Film Fest – International Short Film Festival. Carnide directed several fiction, animation and documentary short films, which won dozens awards and have been exhibited in hundreds film festivals around the world, including Oscar Qualifying Festivals. He is curator at Museum of the Moving Image, in Portugal, and also a lecturer in the field of cinema at Polytechnic of Leiria and Instituto Superior Miguel Torga (Portugal). As a freelancer, Bruno Carnide has directed hundreds of corporate and commercial videos for companies such as Google, Volkswagen, Ford, MTV, Nickelodeon, RTP or Schweppes. He is occasionally a jury member at International Film Festivals.

Adam Selo is a director and producer, based in Bologna. In 2004 he founded his independent production company, Elenfant Film. His work of distributing his films in festivals, led him to the founding of Elenfant Distribution, a distribution team that deals with the distribution and sale of national and international short films. Later, he founded with the director Olga Torrico the production company Sayonara Film, that produces documentaries, short films, animations and follows the road of the distribution. Between the shorted produced by his company there is Gas Station, by Olga Torrico, awarded in Venice in 2020 at International critics Week. The last productions are After the Bridge, by Davide Rizzo and Marzia Toscano, premiered at Hot Docs International Film Festival, Toronto and Casablanca, by Adriano Valerio, a French/Italian Co-Production, recently premiered in Venice, at Giornate degli Autori 2023.

HEADOFFICE TIRANA FILM INSTITUTE

Erjona Imeralilaj is a clinical psychologist and since 2019 a Project Manager at the Tirana International Film Festival. Deeply engaged in Lacanian psychoanalytic thought, she helps bridge the worlds of clinical insight and artistic inquiry. Enthralled by mythology, literature, and cinematography, Erjona tries to bring a narrative depth and mythic sensibility to both her professional projects and therapeutic work.

With nearly a decade of experience in television, I bring a strong background in journalism, communications, and media management. After graduating as an excellent student in Journalism in Albania and completing a Master’s in Public Relations, I built a versatile career spanning editorial leadership, PR, and project management. For the past three years, I have served as Editor-in-Chief of Social Media at Top Channel, one of Albania’s leading national broadcasters. In addition, I lead the editorial strategy for Albania’s biggest television show, Big Brother. My career reflects a deep commitment to storytelling, audience engagement, and shaping impactful media experiences.

Kela’s life moto! “Aviation in my heart, Art in my mind.” Kela Mezini has over 25 years of experience in the aviation industry, with expertise in airline business, traffic rights, slot coordination, airport management, and passenger rights. She lives life with energy, positivity, and a passion for staying active. A tennis and hiking enthusiast, Kela often takes part in various trekking adventures. Beyond aviation, she is deeply passionate about the arts—especially photography and cinema. She has a particular love for auteur films and film criticism, always seeking stories that spark thought.

Alketa Basha is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in administration, international relations, and office management across both public institutions and private organizations. She holds a degree in French Language from the University of Tirana and has held key positions such as Foreign and Press Affairs Specialist at the Albanian National Center of Cinematography and Office Manager at the Collective Management Organization for Audiovisual Authors' Rights. Alketa brings strong skills in communication, organization, translation, and cross-institutional coordination.

With a background in psychology along with tax skills, I’ve grown up alongside this festival since joining at 18. While I can’t recall every film I’ve seen, the emotions they sparked and the sense of community this festival creates, are what bring me back year after year. Now working in hospitality, I strive to ensure every guest feels the same warmth and connection that has kept me coming back.

Graduated in Accounting and Finance, with 20 years of experience in the field of finance and accounting. Dedicated, precise and correct in the responsibilities she undertakes and in following them up to the completion of the project. She has good communication skills and is ready to help at any time.

PR & PROMOTION

Kristina is a marketing specialist and creative strategist with experience in campaign development, social media management, and brand storytelling. She has worked across industries including film, fashion, and healthcare, building tailored strategies that increase visibility, engagement, and growth. With a strong background in content creation, digital advertising, and brand identity, Kristina combines creativity with analytical thinking to deliver impactful results.

Kozeta Kurti is a journalist, producer, and communication expert with a career spanning leading Albanian media outlets such as Top Channel, Vizion Plus, Ora Television, and RTSH. She currently hosts her weekly podcast on Top Albania Radio and has been producing independent artistic projects for over a decade. Kozeta has also contributed as an author, translator, and public relations expert in major cultural events and festivals, while lecturing and training on topics related to communication.

Director, producer, actor, author and host of a large number of shows in Albanian television. In his 34 years of career, he directed shows like "Zone e ndaluar" with 12 documentaries. Author and executive producer of "Top fest 12" and "Top Music Awards". Author and host of "Armiku i popullit" and author, host and executive producer of "Kur xhirohej nje film".

Juli Emiri is an actress and an activist, graduated in the University of Arts Tirana in acting and the European University of Tirana in International Relations. She has been active in theater and films, since she was a student; working with well known directors in Albania, Kosovo and foreign directors as well, such as italian, austrian, greek, russian etc. The movies where she performed -often as the female leading character- participated in a lot of festivals, including major ones like Sarajevo Film Festival, Kairo Film Festival, San Sebastian Film Festival etc., winning several prizes. Lately she is working on her next movie project. During the last years, Juli was also known as an activist, in a number of causes.

VISUAL IDENTITY

Babak Safari, born on June 26, 1986, in Iran, is a graphic designer, art director, educator, and curator with over fifteen years of international experience in visual communication. His work bridges traditional Iranian art and contemporary design, reflecting a deep engagement with cultural heritage, biomimicry, and the intersection of art and science. Babak has collaborated on projects across Poland, the United States, Italy, England, Greece, Ukraine, Brazil, Germany, Albania, and Sweden, with his works showcased in international festivals, biennials, and exhibitions. He has served as art director for multiple studios and festivals, curated exhibitions, and contributed as a juror for global design competitions. In addition to his professional practice, Babak is currently pursuing his doctoral project at the Poland-Japan University of Information Technology, focusing on innovative visual methodologies for representing rare diseases. Through his academic and artistic endeavors, he seeks to combine creative design, scientific insight, and social impact, raising awareness and fostering empathy through visual storytelling.

Nikola Senjo completed his Bachelor’s studies in Art and Design and his Master of Science degree in Applied Design at Polis University in Tirana. He also participated in several trainings in Albania and abroad, with an emphasis on the fashion and beauty industries. Nikola develops his expertise in business sales strategy and marketing. He is also involved in video editing and animation, as well as the production of commercials for various Albanian TV stations and companies. From June 2019 to November 2023, he was employed at the Municipality of Tirana, holding various positions such as designer, consultant, project creator, and editor. Since November 2023, he has been appointed Head of Design at the Agency for Dialogue and Co-Governance at the Prime Minister’s Office, where he is the author of numerous exhibitions, catalogues, brand books, posters, communication strategies, and more.

SCREENINGS EDITING

Born in 1984 in Kukës, Albania, he studied Mechanical Engineering at the Polytechnic University of Tirana before continuing his education at the University of the Arts in Tirana, where he graduated in 2015 with a degree in Film and TV Direction. As a director and filmmaker, he has a special interest in creating documentaries and artistic films that tackle social and environmental issues, with a particular focus on the preservation of nature and culture. His documentary Saving the Vjosa River serves as an example of this commitment, where he utilized cinema to raise awareness about environmental protection. His style is oriented towards a powerful and emotional narrative connected to everyday life and the stories of ordinary people, combining directing techniques and visuality with a strong social and environmental commitment.

Born in Tirana on January 14, 1984. Since 2007, technician of the Imperial cinema network and after completing his studies in electronics, he became an engineer of the Imperial cinema network and the Millennium Cinema in 2012. From 2010 to today, technician for video, audio transcoding and subtitling of films in DCP.

TRANSLATION

Experienced in/at language and media, I bring to life, movies, series, stories in a precise, creative and culturally suitable translation and subtitling. I'm passionate about cross-cultural storytelling and create experiences that appeal, inspire, and connect diverse audiences. I thrive in collaboration, leading brilliant teams, lifelong learning, and making a lasting, meaningful impact with every narrative I contribute.

Gentiana Hasko is an experienced professional translator and interpreter with over 25 years in this field of activity. She specializes in French, English, and Albanian language pairs, offering services in various domains including business, finance, law, and environment. She holds Bachelor degrees in Foreign Languages, and in Law as well as Postgraduate Diploma in High European Studies issued by Robert Schumann University in France, and a Masters Degree in European Studies issued by the University of Tirana. She is a member of the International Association of Professional Translators and Interpreters (IAPTI) and a Founding/ Board Member of the Alliance of Freelancers in Albania.

Staff 2025

AGRON DOMI

SELECTION & PROGRAM

Eneos Çarka

Renis Hyka

Lyubo Yonchev

Klaudia Pashnjari

Kristina Rushiti

Dionis Prifti

Bruno Carnide

Adam Selo

HEADOFFICE TIRANA FILM INSTITUTE

Erjona Imeralilaj

Arber Tema

Enkela Mezini

Alketa Basha

Serena Fejzo

Orinda Lyto

PR & PROMOTION

Kristina Hasa

Kozeta Kurti

Ardit Roshi

Julinda Emiri

VISUAL IDENTITY

Babak Safari

Nikola Senjo

Mohammad Javad

SCREENINGS EDITING

Adrian Guri

Ardian Ziu

TRANSLATION

Drita Shkurti

Esmeralda Çavo

Ilva Qazimi

Enkeleda Malasi

Merilda Lybeshari

Albana Kamberi

Gentiana Hasko

WEBSITE

EVOLVE Studio