Erenik Beqiri with "A Short Trip" wins the "Best Orizzonti Short" award at the Venice Film Festival

The film "A Short Trip" by the Albanian director Erenik Beqiri won the best short film award at the Venice Film Festival, which marked its 80th edition this year. "A Short Trip" was declared the best short film in Venice, in the "Orizzonti" category. The film "A Short Trip" managed to win among 12 cinematographic productions in the "Orizzonti" category (for short films), where after this evaluation the director said that it was an unforgettable experience. "Thank you @labiennale for giving us an unforgettable experience that will stay with us forever. A big thank you to the whole team who shared this journey together!", says director Erenik Beqiri on social networks. The film, which has an Albanian story as its subject, took three years to make. In "A Short Trip" the great sacrifices made by Albanians in exchange for a foreign citizenship are shown. The evaluation in Venice, for the Minister of Culture Elva Margariti, is excellent news for Albanian cinema. "The film of an Albanian director triumphs at the Venice Biennale! Congratulations to Erenik Beqiri for another success! "A Short Trip" was declared the best short film at La Biennale di Venezia, in the "Orizzonti" category! An excellent news for Albanian cinema!", says Margariti on social networks. But the National Cinematography Center brings to attention another film by this director, which was at the Cannes festival before. ""Great success of the Albanian director Erenik Beqiri, who wins at La Biennale di Venezia. The film "A Short Trip" by Erenik Beqiri was declared the best short film of the 80th edition of the Venice Film Festival. His previous film "The Van", was the first Albanian short film, selected in the official competition of the Cannes Festival" says the KKK on its website.

The film in competition

The film "A short journey" by director Erenik Beqiri competed together with 12 other films in the "Orizzonti Cortometragio" category in Venice dedicated to films that represent new aesthetic and expressive trends in world cinematography, with a focus on young talents and cinematographers less known. With this award, director Erenik Beqiri with his film also won the festival nomination for the short film competition at the European Film Awards 2023 (EFA). The film, as a French production and with a cast of actors from Albania and Kosovo, has opened the way for many other successes. The film was shot in France and the director entrusted the roles in the film to Luana Bajrami, Tristan Halilaj, Arben Bajraktari and Walid Afkir. Erenik Beqiri studied years ago at the Tirana Academy of Arts, where he graduated in film directing. The Venice Festival, which this year marked its 80th edition, is one of the most important events in the world of cinema. The 80th Venice International Film Festival is organized by the "Venice Biennale" and this year took place from August 30 to September 9, 2023.