The closing speech by festival host Ermira Babamusta during the Award Ceremony of IFFNY (AFW), 6th Edition
For the past 4 nights we have witnessed a great film festival held in United States, and the only one of its kind. The festival has been wonderful. I express my personal gratitude for those artists willing to share with us their talents, touching and inspiring us in the process. The beautiful art they create enhances and enriches our culture and festival.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to its success: to Mrika Krasniqi and Nil Production who build and designed the festival and all those who executed and participated in it.
We Dream with confidence!
Thank you to all the artists and filmmakers who struggled with confidence and overcame all hurdles in order to realize your project. Each one of you has taken the noble task – to express your creativity.
We want to provide a place for your artistic creation at the festival where you can show us how you see the world.
A festival of work and art
Here at Albanian Film Week we promote, encourage, spread and support the work of Albanian artists because first, we believe in you and your dreams; and second, your work is linked to our identity and culture.
Art and culture are two building blocks of humanity. Art is the language we communicate our ideas, feelings, experiences. And culture is the collective social structure that represents our values and traditions.
Albanian Film Week is a festival that affirms our embrace for cultural and artistic creativity.
We are privileged to have your work at our festival – because we are telling the world – we Albanians exist, we matter, we create; and we are damn good at it! Together we transform the world and life!
Celebrating local talent and global ties
We want to strengthen our Albanian-American friendship and we want to take Albanian art globally.
As we successfully close the 6th edition as New York Albanian Film Week, we welcome you next year under the new festival name “The International Filmmaker Festival of New York”.
We will continue to support Albanian artists and we open our platform to filmmakers world-wide. Let’s build on our current status and achievements and look ahead to a future of new possibilities.
During the festival we held an important round table discussion at Paul’s on Time Square about the importance of post-production. Thank you to our festival jury and Enkelejd Mezini for leading the debate and to all the filmmakers present who contributed to that intelligent conversation.
I salute the jury members for your professionalism, your wealth of knowledge and your hard work. Thank you from the heart to five very intelligent and creative individuals:
Fatrin Krajka
Jamal Hodge
Amina Zhaman
Lulzim Guhelli, and
Diar Xani.
It has been an honor to learn from you.
Thank you to my co-host and the festival moderator Enkelejd Mezini. You are a bright light that radiates, positive attitude, love and talent. You have been an amazing partner.
Thank you to Beqir Sina and Halil Mula, for giving a voice to our community. It is incredible people like you that is keeping our art and culture alive.
Special thanks to SVA Theatre, and the Producers Club Theatre, Alfred and Ernest Tollja for making our dream come true.
It is such an honor and pride to have legends like Peter Malota be part of Albanian Film Week. Thank you for your impact in cultural life. Congrats on your well-deserved Excellence in Arts Award. The award is given to outstanding artists who have demonstrated lifetime achievement in art.
A very special thanks to our partner sponsor since 2012, Giorgio Kolaj, Famous Familia. You are an exceptional human being. Your success story is a road map for businesses in United States. Your dignity and respect will last forever in our community and beyond. Thank you.
Our sincere thanks goes to our:
Partner sponsor:
HYDROKOS & MRAN from Kosova,
FAMOUS FAMILGLIA and our dear friend Giorgio Kolaj,
GREEN LINE USA & Mariglen Pacani ,
ALBANIAN FASHION AGENCY & the International Screenwriting Competition.
Our Sponsors:
PAUL’S on Time Square,
ALBANIAN THEATRE IN AMERICA and our great artist Xhevat Limani,
Producers’ Club THEATRE and brothers Fredy & Ernest Tollja,
and GIOVANNIE’S.
Supporter friends:
John Bytyqi,
Peter Luma,
PRISM MED SPA,
SALON ASSOCIATION & NOLI HAIR SALON
Media partners:
Prishtina Press and NY Elite Magazine, RTV21, Illyria Press, Bota Sot, Gazeta Dielli, etc.
Our Photographers:
Beqir Sina, Halil Mula, Innovation Media, Ivan Morales, Angie Montes, Nazim Salihu.
Special thanks to Julian Biba for working hard to help organize the event.
Thank you to all the special guests and the artists who participated in the Q&A and thank you to actor Isli Hoxha for opening our 3rd night of the film screenings.
Thank you to Mrika Krasniqi you are a pillar of our community.
And lastly I would like to thank our supporters and art lovers who came to our screenings. We look forward to seeing you again next year. Thank you all!
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