Blerta Basholli

Blerta Basholli is a writer and director with a unique realistic visual style. In her stories she focuses on social and gender issues in Kosovo, the country where she was born and raised. In 2008 she was awarded the Deans Fellowship at Tisch School of the Arts at the New York University. In New York City, where she lived for four years, she had the opportunity to work on several film projects as a student. Her short film “Lena & Me” screened and was also awarded at the following festivals: First Run Film Festival 2011, Dokufest 2011, Skena Up 2011, Tirana International FF 2011, Pogradec Food and Film Festival 2011, and 9/11 Film Festival 2012 (Best Actress Award). Her short film “Gjakova 726” (2008) was shown at the Rotterdam Film Festival 2009 (Shorts program), Busho Film Festival 2009 (Official Selection), Doku Fest 2009 (Official Selection), Toffifest 2009 (Official Selection), and Filmmor Women's Film Festival 2009 (Official Selection). Her documentary “Mirror, Mirror...” (2006) was officially selected for the Sarajevo Film Festival 2006, New York International Independent Film and Video Festival 2016, Tirana International Film Festival 2006, Balkan Black Box Film Festival 2006, and Berlin. In 2011 she returned to her birthplace where she wrote and directed many short and feature films. “Hive” is her feature debut which she has been developing since 2011.