"Djali i disco" the best film at the "Dea Open Air" festival, director Giacomo Abbruzzese: In my next film I will make Albania the protagonist

The "Dea Open Air" festival ended on Thursday evening, where the best film was declared "Disco Boy" by director Giacomo Abbruzzese. In the 11th edition, 39 films from 25 countries competed for the festival's awards this year, which ended with the atmosphere of the gala evening. This edition of the festival also brought a different atmosphere to the capital, where through it different film productions were brought to the public and the focus of them this year was on the individual with all his problems. Director Giacomo Abbruzzese said through a greeting video that he hopes that our country will be the protagonist in his next project. "I would like to thank the jury for awarding me with this award, also a special thanks goes to "Dea Film Festival" for inviting me to participate. Together we are two friendly countries. In my next film, I will make Albania the protagonist and maybe next year I can be there again with my film", he said among other things. For artistic director Mirela Oktrova, this edition, which was held from June 9-13 for the eleventh time, brought everyone together around quality cinema. "With 39 films from 25 countries of the world and about 30 invited filmmakers from 15 countries", said the artistic director of the festival, Mirela Oktrova. At the opening of the awards ceremony, the director of the festival, Edmond Topi, said that the filmmakers have said everything in these 5 days, with their 39 films. "I have a very big thank you for all of you who watched the films every day, for the filmmakers who came, who worked. We don't know how we will continue, but the University of Arts, which has raised us all, has been our support for 6 years. I always think that we will not do this festival again, but I am sure that tomorrow we will start the 12th edition", said the director of the festival.

 Rated movies and actors

Nominees in the Best Feature Film category were: Disco Boy - Giacomo Abbruzzese - Italy, France, Belgium, Poland 2023; Dulcinea - Artur Serra Araujo - Portugal 2023; Okarina - Alban Zogjani - Kosovo 2023. According to the press office of the festival, the competition in this program was followed by the jury of the feature film, consisting of: Frank Dohmann (chairman - Germany), Chema Gonzalez (member - Spain), Ylli Pepo (member - Albania), Marco Morini (member - Italy), Naser Shatrolli (member - Kosovo), where the "Dea" cup went to "Djali i discos" (Disco Boy) - Giacomo Abbruzzese. This film was praised for its motivation as a film that accompanies its protagonists in a dangerous and dystopian world in which, despite all the unimaginable obstacles, there is still a small space for self-determination and human response. The film "Influenza" - Feliks Schaeffer (Germany) won the special prize of the festival. The "Dea" Cup for the best student film went to: Sera "Greenhouse" - George Georgakopoulos - Greece 2023. The best short film was announced: Sisters - Jordi Sanz Angrill - Spain 2023. Special media prize in the film competition short went to "Aquarium" - Gianluca Zonta - Italy 2024, while for the feature film it went to "Ocarina" - Alban Zogjani - Albania 2023. The "Dea" Cup for the best actor in a feature film was for Echoes Gorani in the movie "Ocarina". In the "Dea" category for the best screenplay in a feature-length film, the award went to Artur Serra Araujo - Dulcinea - Portugal 2023, while in the "Dea" category for the best direction in a feature-length film, the "Dea" cup ” went to Alexandra Likhacheva - Kretsul - Moldova 2023. Later, during the gala evening, other prizes were awarded.