I am a filmmaker and photographer, with a background in design, based in Montreal, Canada. I was born in Albania and lived extensively in Greece before moving here. Through my work, I like to explore aspects of origin, memory and human relationships with technology. My work is versatile 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 2015, I collaborated with the team behind 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. 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)
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
2020
- CINEQUEST Film Festival, US, 2020*
- Les Rendez-vous Québec Cinéma, Montreal, Canada (Sound design)
*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
- 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
- Independent Days International Filmfest (IDIF), Karlsruhe, Germany, April 3rd,
- Festival du Film Étudiant de Québec (FFEQ), Quebec City, April 2-3, 2016
- CinéWomen (Interview), Online, February 2016
- North America Teaser Future Film Festival 2016
2015
- Festival des Films du Monde, Montreal (August 27 – September 7th, 2015)
- International Festival of Patmos, Hora , Patmos, Greece (July 23-29)
- Concordia Film Festival (Film I Screening), at Henry F. Hall Building, Concordia University (May 2)
- Sarmat International Independent Film Festival 2015
- Salair International Independent Film Festival 2015
2014
- The Dark Room 3.0 (Scotiabank Contact Photography Festival), at Gallery 918, Toronto, ON (April 24 – Opening Day)
- Occam’s Razor: Art, Science & Aesthetics, at !dea Gallery (Ontario Science Centre), Toronto, ON (May 3-June 1)
- Occam’s Razor: Art, Science & Aesthetics, at Propeller Centre for the Visual Arts, Toronto, ON (April 2-20)
- The Sex Show, at Gallery 1313, Toronto, (Feb 5-16)
- Eco Art Exhibition, at Gallery 1313, Toronto (Jan 8-19)
2013
- 100 Urban Trends, at Guggenheim Museum BMW Lab, New York City, via Aziza Chaouni Projects (ACP) (Oct. 2013 – Jan. 2014)
- Green Line Ideas Competition, at GreenLineToronto.ca, via Aziza Chaouni Projects (ACP)
2012
- Aesthetics/Anesthetics, at Storefront for Art & Architecture, New York City, via Aziza Chaouni Projects (ACP)
- Valtari Mystery Film Experiment, at Talenthouse Website
- Entropy, at Hart House Arbor Room, University of Toronto
- 59th Annual Progressive Architecture Award, via Prof. Aziza Chaouni, UofT
2011
- Future Cities Exhibition, Chicago Museum of Art, via Aziza Chaouni Projects
- re:encounter, at Artscape Triangle Gallery
- Glitter Skirts & Shorts : Trans Film Night Pride Edition, at University of Toronto
- Coterie 21: Visual Studies Thesis Show, at University of Toronto
- Coat of the Cat: Thesis Fashion Show, at University of Toronto
- Cabaret Voltaire, at Arbor Room, Hart House, University of Toronto
