The feature film debut OPEN DOOR by Albanian filmmaker Florenc Papas, presented as FIRST FILMS FIRST project and “works in progress” at the 16th Sofia Meetings will have its WORLD premiere at SARAJEVO FILM FESTIVAL in the festival’s main competition.
A road movie co-produced by Albania’s Bunker Film, Kosovo’s Cricle Production, Italy’s Lupin Film and Macedonia’s Award Film & Video, and sold internationally by Dusseldorf-based Petra Spanou, it follows Rudina (Luli Bitri) who sets off on a long journey with her unmarried pregnant sister, Elma (Jonida Vokshi), to meet their strict, traditional father in the village where they were born. As they travel across the mountains, Elma comes up with a plan to enlist an ex-classmate to play the part of her husband.
Although this is his first feature, Papas is well-established in the industry. “Despite limited resources for filmmakers in Albania, I took every opportunity to work on film shoots, television shows and eventually even became the head programmer at Tirana International Film Festival,” says Papas. “I was also extremely fortunate to participate in many workshops and programs for writers and directors developing their projects outside of Albania.”
You can read the full interview at screendaily.com.