TIRANA TIMES
TIRANA, June 27 – Albanian actor Nik Xhelilaj has won the best actor prize for his new starring role in the “Albanian” movie in the 32nd edition of the Moscow International Film Festival.
The “Albanian” (Der Albaner) movie telling the story of an Albanian immigrant in Germany is a German-Albanian coproduction directed by Johannes Naber. It was also awarded the special jury prize.
Xhelilaj, 27, has also starred in several recent releases such as “The sorrow of Mrs. Schneider” and “Alive,” two co-productions released in 2008.
He has also performed several leading roles at the National Theatre in Tirana.
The big prize in this year’s edition of the festival held from June 17 to 26 went to Hermano (Brother) directed by Venezuela’s Marcel Rasquin.
The movie is competing in several film festivals in Germany and around the world.
“A one-way trip in the lowlands of the European dream. Where it’s dark. Where nobody cares. Where exile, loneliness and money prevail. This is the story of Arben, ‘The Albanian,’ who leaves Europe’s poorest country for the richest. He needs money to marry and obey the rules of his people. But Eldorado has its own rules, it does not welcome strangers and only the strongest survive. The ‘Albanian’ is one of them, he will pay the price and learn that losing his innocence does not guarantee a fair return ticket,” says the festival’s website about the movie.
Fiction film was a need this time for director Naber who used to work as a documentarian. “It was necessary to fabricate too many facts in order to open up the problem. That is why I selected another genre,” director told
According to him, the main idea is to make Europeans think, instead of “hiding” behind their well-organized life. Starring actor Nik Xhelilaj is an Albanian that is why the topic is very close for him. “If the circumstances were different, I could have repeated the destiny of my hero,” the actor said. His friend’s role is played by a Russian actor Ivan Shvedoff who frequently played Russian immigrants in German films. Producer Dritan Huqi said that the major part of the budget for “The Albanian” was provided by Germany. However, Albania also invested into the film. “Not the amount of money given but participation was essential for us because the film reflects our mutual problem,” said the producer.
