IFFNY 2018 Theme

Have you ever seen the President deliver his speech at the Capitol in the House Chamber? Well if you have watched it on TV, you know how the speech starts. It always starts with the President, in the majestic chamber. The President is there to speak on behalf of the American people, to address our concerns, hopes and dreams, our hardships and victories, our heroes, and to believe in the beauty of America, in unity, in being one with one another and humanity.

You might be wondering what does this have to do with the International Filmmaker Festival of New York?

Tonight I will share with you some important lessons. And if you follow along, not only will you learn some important steps about how to succeed in life, but you will be empowered with confidence and gain a new mind-set for leadership and legacy.

My name is Ermira Babamusta, and I am the host and the International Liaison Director of the IFFNY Film Festival. My professional doctoral background is in International Relations and Diplomacy. And my true passion is in cultural diplomacy. I see the film festival as a diplomatic tool of developing cross-cultural understanding and cooperation between nations and amazing talents, some of whom we are honored to have among us tonight. Thank you for gracing us with your presence and for giving us your commitment. You matter to us. Special thank to our esteemed jury panel: Iber Deari, festival selector,(director producer writer) Jotti Ejlli, president of the jury (director, producer, writer), John Blenn, (director, producer, writer), Margherita Peluso (actress, writer, director) and Kendrick Merdani, (actor, teacher) who are doing a terrific job and have dedicated an incredible amount of hours towards the films considered this year at the festival.

Welcome to all of the esteemed members, the dignitaries from the US Congress, Congressman TOM Souzzi, the diplomatic core from different embassies, General consulate of Brazil, Albania, Kosovo. Welcome to our special guests, media, journalists, VIPs, filmmakers, and cinema lovers for joining us tonight.

It’s an honor to once again host this inspiring festival that celebrates creative expression and recognizes diverse talent of current filmmakers. The International Filmmaker Festival of New York is leaving behind incredible legacies, igniting a spark in the next generation, opening new possibilities to a greater future for film and arts.

I am especially honored that the festival is hosted at the legendary Kaufman Astoria Studios, the original home of Paramount Pictures. Today it is considered Top Movie production location, making entertainment history for over 90 years, the era of silent films. What a great honor to share the stage, as well as the original 1920 floor that you are standing on right now, with esteemed stars, some of them my favorite like Al Pacino, Meryl Streep, Demi More, Harrison Ford, Ben Stiller, Matt Damon and many more.

Before Al Pacino became the legend we know him as today, before the Godfather days, which gave him international acclaim, and the Oscar Nomination, he was a student at two great acting studios right here in New York. And then he went on to build a lifelong career portraying roles that we all fell in love with.

The festival theme in 2017 was to “Dream With Confidence”. In 2018 our Motto is about “Leaving a Legacy”.

Legacy is understood as what is handed down from the past. As Forbes points out, “for many, leaving a legacy is associated with the end rather than the beginning or the next phase in one’s career.” You leave a legacy by passing on life experience. We need to look at legacy not as an end-goal, but as a mind-set, as we prepare to uncover the best of us throughout this life’s journey.

Legacy represents your work at each stage of your career, as you build the foundation along the way to acquire wisdom, learn from mistakes, get the courage to try again and keep going, until you have discovered a stronger you with new bold ideas that are yours. Those ideas can inspire others, beyond your imagination, if they stem from a place of care, honesty and courage.

If you look deep down within yourself today, right now ask yourself “Are you happy with what you are doing with your life?” What is your answer going to be? Are you truly happy? What are you doing? What are you not doing? What could you be doing more?

You can start making your mark on the world today by pushing yourself to greatness! Each one of us is born a genius, if we exercise our God given talents.

This prestigious film festival – the International Filmmaker Festival of New York, creates a historic platform for all filmmakers to turn their dreams into a reality. It started with the creative vision and the desire of one filmmaker, an amazing woman from Kosovo, with the purpose of bringing Albanian cinema in Manhattan. Today as the festival has grown over the past seven years, reaching one success after another, it has become a place of unity for international cinema. Director Mrika Krasniqi took upon herself, the noble and courageous mission to give back to the world, and to dedicate her life to the world of arts. We are forever indebted to you Mrika for being extraordinary, compassionate and kindhearted. Today we are seeing your legacy on this world stage with the amazing International Filmmaker Festival of New York. So thank you!

I have had the privilege to work for President Obama and for the United States Congress, in both the Senate and the House. Through this journey, and during my many blessings, I have taken with me 5 important lessons that have prepared my mind-set for legacy and leadership.

Reach for the Stars, Be a Gamechanger, Take Positive Action, Choose Significance, and Be a Gift to the World.

Reach for the Stars

First, reach for the stars. Be ambitious and Dream big. You have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach the stars and change your world first, and then change the world around you.

For some it started with a notebook, writing a script, or picking up a camera and discovering the world around them exploring their curiosity. For aspiring actors, it was the dream to be on stage, unveiling their emotional intelligence through the characters they portray. The stories that you will see in this festival will touch your hearts and minds, as we get inside the filmmakers’ imagination. Thank you to the filmmakers for sharing your art with our IFFNY family during our five day program.

Be a Gamechanger

Second, be a gamechanger. As a filmmaker you have the responsibility to influence, inspire, and stir up discussion on matters important to our everyday life and to our planet a whole. In society today, does it really matter what you do? Can one filmmaker bring about change in the world with a film? I believe film is a powerful tool to send an important message across, and bring about positive change.

Take Positive Action

If you have something to say, don’t just stop there. By bringing ideas, films and projects that are engaging, and compelling to cause a ripple affect it can build a bridge between the creator – being the filmmaker and the audience, working together for a good cause. In some of the films in our program you will see films inspired by great causes like the ME TOO movement, etc. So it is important to consider the outcome, and not just the goals when we entertain an idea, or engage in a project.

Choose Significance

I have the power to change and so do you! This means Helping others achieve success. Optimize your gifts and talents for the development of others. It’s about us as a collective. What we do in life, ought to serve a purpose that by pursuing our own ambitions and desires, we are building a stronger community around us. So in a sense by building ourselves up, by helping others achieve their success, we give it right back – we are creating a larger family with a strong foundation that offers support, love and care, and motivation. So choose success. Choose significance.

Be a Gift to the World

And finally, be a gift to the world. Some of us tend to hold ourselves back in fear of losing. No one can stop you from winning but you. You are the greatest gift you can give this world. And here at the International Filmmaker Festival of New York we value you as a human being. YOU ARE WORTHY. YOU MATTER TO US. And we want to show on a world stage- all that you can offer us, your talents and creativity.

Let us build together a strong tradition that allows for each of you to flourish, to create, to succeed, to be valued, and to be remembered for a legacy that you will leave behind and inspire other generations.

AND NOW it is my honor to invite on stage a very special guest MR. GIORGIO KOLAJ who is a pillar of our community here in NEW YORK an extraordinary individual whose acts of kindness and accomplishments make us proud here at home and globally.

Tonight we are presenting to Mr. GIORGIO KOLAJ the congressional award of ‘BUSINESS EXCELLENCE’. This award, along with the American flag flown over the us capitol building, is given from the honorable office of congressman ELIOT ENGEL, member of the CONGRESS, in honor of Giorgio Kolaj, for business excellence. Your dedication to our community in New York is commendable. You serve as a great example of American and Albanian exceptionalism. You truly are a great ambassador of the entrepreneurship spirit.

Please welcome on stage MR GIORGIO KOLAJ. Presenting the award of BUSINESS EXCELLENCE is MRIKA KRASNIQI the founder and director of the INTERNATIONAL FILMMAKER FESTIVAL OF NEW YORK.

The New York Premiere of THE KISS

The KISS – directed by MURILO BENICIO

Special Guests
Q&A – PABLO RIBIERO
CLAUDIO MASCARENHAS

 

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