a message from the Noli Film Festival© organizers

Blerta Basholli (born in 1983) 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.

Eduart Grishaj (Born in 1989) is a highly motivated narrative filmmaker with a degree in Filmmaking and Television, and with more than 12 years of visual storytelling experience in filming, directing, editing and producing video content. With the camera being his greatest passion since childhood, he has deepened his knowledge of all stages of the filmmaking process. He first entered the international film competitions with the short film "The Grandmother", and went on to write and direct his first feature film "Sophia". Eduart is also a confident communicator and collaborator with the ability to maintain strong and effective work relationships, and the drive to achieve key individual and team goals.

Besnik Bisha (born 1958) is an Albanian film director and actor. He has directed five films since 1988. His 2007 film Mao Tse Tung was entered into the 30th Moscow International Film Festival.

Bujar Alimani was born on January 27, 1969 in Patos, Albania. He studied painting and stage directing at the Academy of Fine Arts in Tirana. In 1992 he immigrated to Greece, where he worked as an assistant director on several Greek films. 

In 2002, he directed his first short film. AMNESTY (2011) is his debut feature film and won the C.I.C.A.E. Award in the Forum section of the 2011 Berlinale. His second film, CHROMIUM (2015), a co-production between Albanian, Kosovo, Germany and Greece, was screened in many festivals around the world. 

His film THE DELEGATION (2018) won Grand Prix at Warsaw IFF. He lives and works in New York, USA.

Albanian born filmmaker Florenc Papas studied film directing in the capital, Tirana, at the prestigious Marubi Film Academy. After graduation, he developed his craft working in numerous short films, promotional videos, television series and broadcast documentaries. In 2013, he served on the crew of the feature film Bota with directors Iris Elezi and Thomas Logoreci. Also, in 2016 Florenc Papas was the assistant director on Sundance award-winning Kosovo director Blerta Zeqiri’s upcoming debut feature Martesa. Papas is a recent alumni of the Talents Sarajevo 2015 and Berlinale Talents 2016.

Ermal Mamaqi (born 21 March 1982) is an Albanian actor, stand-up comedian, film director, screenwriter, producer, singer-songwriter, DJ and TV host.

Mamaqi is mostly known for his appearances in Portokalli (2004-2007) and Apartment 2XL (2008-2013). He is also known for hit songs that he created and performed, such as "Dita e Veres" (Summer Day), "Vetem Beso" (Just Believe), and "Ditet e Mia" (My Days).

Edmond Topi was born on July 1, 1960 in Tirana, Albania. He is an assistant director and actor, known for Balada e Kurbinit (1990), Të mos heshtësh (1985) and Si gjithë të tjerët (1981).

Dhimitri has directed ten (10) short films so far and written eight (8) of them. His last short comedy “Growing up Fat & Albanian”(2017) has been shown at over 20 film festival, winning 8 Awards so far. “Small Towns” won an Award of Merit in Directing at Southern Shorts Awards, September 2016. In 2014 he directed another short “Beneath the Surface”. His previous work “One Last Time” that deals with women diagnosed with terminal illness, (2012) had its world premiere at “Golden Boll International Film Festival” Adana, Turkey. “Requiem for Kosova” a short completed 2010, that deals with illegal organ trafficking in the Balkans, has been successfully shown in over 40 International Film Festivals around the globe, winning 8 Awards, while Dhimitri has received many praises for his talent and keen observation on social issues.

Born in the former Yugoslavia in the Albanian town of Diber in the Republic of Macedonia. Arrived in the US in February 1969. Family settled in Brooklyn, New York and has stayed in the NYC area ever since. Started acting at 30 years old in a sketch comedy group with the original name of Ground Zero in NYC. After the tragic day of 9/11 the name of the group was changed to Bathing with Toasters. As with all things the group came to end after roughly 7 years together and dozens of sketches.

Erald Kraja, a photographer and filmmaker born and raised in Shkodër, Albania, now resides in the city of New York. His artistic journey commenced at a young age with a fascination for visual arts, initially expressed through drawings and paintings, evolving seamlessly into a diverse exploration of photography and later on, filmmaking. This diverse background deeply informs his current cinematic endeavors.  Erald's creative essence lies in seamlessly blending traditional motifs with modern and contemporary settings, crafting narratives that resonate with cultural richness while simultaneously celebrating timeless values.

Herion Mustafaraj is born in Albania. He has started acting since the age of six. He has starred as a child actor in many International Award Wining Movies from "Kinostudio Shqiperia e Re" in Albania. A few to be mentioned like "Beni walk on his own" , " Tomka and his Friends". Herion has made also a carrier in theater and movies as an actor, screenwriter between USA and Albania. He has created and appeared in many Albanian TV shows and movies, films like " LOve"" Cash Only" , " Killerman".
" Bird Poop" is the film that gives him credits as a co-writer, Co- Producer and Lead Actor.
"The Shot" , is his first short film where he doesn't also act himself. He has seen the light at the end of the tunnel by being a filmmaker.

Director/ Screenwriter.

Bekim Guri (born 18 July 1985) is a Kosovo-born film director, screenwriter and producer. He is best known for his critically acclaimed films such as A Blind Man (2013), The Burden of the Father (2016) and The Promised Land (2017).

Guri was born in Kosovo in 1985. He attended local film schools and studied film directing at the University of Prishtina in Kosovo. After graduating, he worked as an assistant director and editor on various projects, including the award-winning feature film The Return of the White Eagle (2006).

Guri made his feature-length directorial debut in 2013 with A Blind Man, a drama about a man who loses his sight in a tragic accident. The film was well-received by critics and won several awards, including the Best Feature Film award at the Kosovo International Film Festival.

Guri followed up his debut with The Burden of the Father (2016). The film tells the story of a young man returning to his village after a long absence to find it in disarray. It was nominated for Best Feature Film at the Kosovo International Film Festival and won the Best Balkan Film award at the International Cinephile Society Awards.

In 2017, Guri directed The Promised Land, a film about a young man who moves to a remote mountain village in search of a better life. The film premiered at the Sarajevo Film Festival and won the Best Feature Film award at the International Cinephile Society Awards.

Guri's latest film is the psychological drama The Visitor (2020). The film tells the story of a man who is haunted by a mysterious figure and is forced to confront his own demons in order to save himself.

Guri has also produced a number of short films and documentaries, including the award-winning short film The Journey (2015).

Guri has established himself as one of the most promising filmmakers from the Balkans. His films have been praised for their unique visual style and thoughtful storytelling. Guri continues to push the boundaries of film and is currently working on his next project.

Ledio Lako was born in Tirana on April 6, 1981, but he is originally from Korça, and he grew up in a neighborhood known as "puro tironse." He is a well-known Albanian actor, known for his roles in films and comedies. He has acted in over 50 movies and comedy sketches. Additionally, he has done voice dubbing for numerous animated films and others. Since 2005, he has also been a part of "Portokalli," playing various roles.