Lendita Zeqiraj

Lendita Zeqiraj is born in Pristina, Kosovo in 1972. As a filmmaker and visual artist, Lendita has studied extensively in both arts in Kosovo and France. She graduates and postgraduates on visual arts at the Academy of Arts in Prishtina, Kosovo and followed post-master Film Aesthetics studies in Paris, France. She wrote and direct films which have participated at many International Film Festivals around the world. Her last film 'Balcony' is presented in over 100 International Film Festivals, including the Official Selection of festivals such as: Venice Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival, Palm Springs Short Fest, Hamptons Film Festival, Warsaw International Film Festival, Leeds Film Festival, Busan International Film Festival etc, and won many awards, including the Special Jury Prize at AFI FEST in Los Angeles. In 2014 she was declared 'National Filmmaker of the Year 2014', and wins The Annual Film Excellence Award for Cinematic Achievements by the Kosovo Ministry of Culture. FILMOGRAPHY as writer/director . The House, feature screenplay (2014) . Balcony, short film (2013) . Another chance, documentary film (2013) . Amnesia, short film (2012) . We're Not In Paradise, documentary film (2011) . Cry for recognition, documentary film (2010) . Albanian Egyptians, documentary film (2009) . Exit, mid-length film (2003) . Exit, short film (2002) FILM & SCREENPLAY AWARDS . Special Jury Award - AFI FEST 2013, Los Angeles . Special Jury Award- Bosphorus International Film Festival 2014, Istanbul, Turkey . Award of Merit - The INDIE FEST 2014, La Jolla CA, USA . Fiaticorti Award for Best Short Film - Fiaticorti Film Festival 2014, Istrana, Italy . Cinemabreve Special Mention for Best Short Film - Cinemabreve, Istrana, Italy . Best Director Award - Washington West Film Festival 2014- Washington DC . Best Narrative Short - New Jersey Film Festival 2014, Brunswick, USA . Best Narrative Short - Syros International Film Festival 2014, Syros, Greece . Best Narrative Short - Guam International Film Festival 2014, Hagatna, Guam . Best Directing - Red Dirt International Film Festival 2014, Stillwater, USA . Best Director Award - Albanian Film Week 2014, New York . Best Narrative Short - Red Dirt International Film Festival 2014, Stillwater, USA . Best Directing - Gwinnett Center International Film Festival 2014, Duluth, USA . Best Short - Trenton Film Festival 2014, Trenton NJ - USA . Best Directing - Oda International Film Festival 2014, Tetovo - Macedonia . Best Film - Swikos Kurzfilmfestival Basel 2014, Switzerland . Special Jury Award - Nile International Film Festival in Cairo Egypt - 2007 . Audience Award - Tirana International Film Festival, 2012 . Best Cinematography - New York International Independent Film Festival 2006 . Best Cinematography - Los Angeles Independent Film and Video Festival 2006 . Best Albanian Film Award - Tirana International Film Festival in Albania - 2005 . Grand Prix Award at Film Festival - Caen, France -2003 . Award for Best Short Film - Lausanne Underground Film & Music Festival 2003 . Special Jury Award, Nile International Film Festival 2007, Cairo, Egypt . SILVER AWARD - Beverly Hills Screenplay Contest 2015 . GRAND PRIZE - American Movie Awards 2014 . GOLD AWARD - Hollywood Screenplay Contest 2014 . OFFICIAL FINALIST - New York Screenplay Contest 2014