Photo by Alessia Signorino
I am a filmmaker and photographer, with a background in design, based in Montreal, Canada. Born in Albania and raised in Greece, I like to explore aspects of origin, memory and human-technology relationships. My work is versatile but focused on moving images/film and has been exhibited in galleries and festivals in Toronto, Montreal, New York City, Germany, and Greece. In 2018, my short film Leagan (Peppermint Ashes) was part of the Official Selection of Prends ça court! and was awarded the Prix Air Canada Enroute. In 2021, my short film script Mirare received the Writers Guild of Canada prize for the best English film script at Cours Ecrire Ton Court organized by SODEC.
I have been involved as a videographer with Cinema Politica Montreal (Winter 2018) and as filmmaker/graphic designer at the Milieux Institute for Arts, Culture & Technology  (2017-2019). During 2019-2020, I did photo/video documentation at Ada-x (previously Studio XX) , TAG, Pixelles, Sight&Sound Festival 2020 (Eastern Bloc), CQAM and MUTEK.
In 2015, I collaborated with the team behind the Twitter funded project PetaJakarta.org to create an infographic animation trailer for an open source, community-led platform to collect and disseminate information about flooding and critical water infrastructure in Jakarta.

education

2014-2018
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Concordia University
Specialization in Film Production

  • Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema Award for Outstanding Achievement in Specialization in Film Production, 2017
  • Concordia University Alumni Association Project Grant, 2017
  • Fine Arts Student Association Special Project Grant, 2017
  • Concordia Council for Student Life Special Project Fund, 2017
  • Fine Arts Student Association Special Project Grant, 2016
  • Concordia Council for Student Life Special Project Fund, 2016
  • Advisory Board Scholarship in Film Production – Fondation René Malo, 2015

2007-2011
High Distinction Honours Bachelor of Arts, University of Toronto
Double Major: Architectural Studies (Design), Visual Studies

  • Arts & Science Dean’s List Recognition for Academic Excellence
  • Jennie & Frank Tsui Award for International Study
  • Seitali (Babe) and Mary Kole Kerim Scholarship

screenings / exhibitions 

2021

  • Writers Guild of Canada prize, Cours Ecrire Ton Court, SODEC

    • 2020

    *Cinematographer for Dulce Hogar, Directed by Gio Olmos

    2019

    • TIFF Next Wave Film Festival, Canada**
    • Out Film Connecticut, US**
    • Reelout Queer Film + Video Festival, Canada**
    • Leeds Queer Film Festival, UK**
    • BFI Flare: London LGBTQ+ Film Festival, UK**
    • Final Girls Berlin Film Festival, Germany*
    • BFI Future Film Festival, London, UK*
    • Macabro Film Festival, Mexico City, 2019*
    • Vancouver Horror Show Film Festival, Canada, 2019*

    *Cinematographer for Dulce Hogar, Directed by Gio Olmos
    **Cinematographer for Silvia dans Les Vagues, Directed by Gio Olmos

    2018

    • West Virginia Mountaineer Short Film Festival ★Winner of Best Border Theme
    • Official Selection Prends ça court! ★ Winner of Prix AIR CANADA Enroute  prend-ca-court-1-765x510
    • Fantasia International Film Festival, Montreal, Canada*
    • TOHorror Film Fest, Torino, Italy*
    • Frostbiter: Icelandic Horror Film Festival, Akranes, Iceland*
    • Nitehawk Short Film Festival, New York, US*
    • SPASM Film Festival, Montreal, Canada*
    • Bloody Mary Film Festival, Toronto, Canada*
    • Zinema Zombie Fest, Bogota, Colombia*
    • Paris International Fantastic Film Festival, France*
    • Rendez-vous Québec Cinéma, Canada**
    • Festival Massimadi des arts et film LGBTQ + afro de Montréal, Canada**
    • Outfest Fusion LGBT People of Color Film Festival, Los Angeles, US**
    • Translations: Seattle Transgender Film Festival, US**
    • CineYouth Film Fest presented by the Chicago Int’l Film Festival , US ★ Out-look Award winner**
    • Fem Tour Truck International Feminist Video Art Festival, Multi-city (Spain, Portugal, UK, Ecuador & Colombia) ★ Best short film**
    • Ivy Film Festival, Brown University ★ Best international film**
    • Emerge Film Festival of Maine, US**
    • CineArte: A Latinx Queer Festival, Los Angeles, US**
    • Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival, Canada**
    • Outview LGBT Film Festival, Athens, Greece**
    • Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ Film festival, US**
    • CineYouth 2018 ‘Best of the Fest’ at 54th Chicago International Film Festival, US**
    • Indie Memphis Film Festival, US**
    • Citizen Jane Film Festival, Missouri, US**
    • Sheffield’s Trans Film Festival, UK**
    • Urbanworld Film Festival, NYC **
    • NFFTY, Seattle, 2018 ★ Best Fiction**

    *Cinematographer for Dulce Hogar, Directed by Gio Olmos
    **Cinematographer for Silvia dans Les Vagues, Directed by Gio Olmos

    2017

    • CINERAMABC 7th International Film Festival in Balneário Camboriú, Santa Catarina, Brazil
    • Festival International du Film Indépendant de Bordeaux, France**
    • Festival des Films LGBTQ+ Chéries-Chéris Paris, France**
    • Pentedattilo Film Festival, Italy**

    **Cinematographer for Silvia dans Les Vagues, Directed by Gio Olmos

    2016

    2015

    2014

    2013

    2012

    2011