A SHELTER AMONG THE CLOUDS
Filmfest 2019
PT: EIN LICHT ZWISCHEN DEN WOLKEN
OT: STREHA MES REVE
Albania, Romania 2018
Original version with English subtitles
(Original: Albanian)
German Premiere
Director: Robert Budina
Section: International Independents
Besnik is a lonely shepherd and devoted Muslim who is haunted by unrequited love. He is the son of a Catholic mother and a formerly communist father, whom he takes care of in an Albanian village in the mountains. Up here, Christians and Muslims have found a way to coexist peacefully. Even after the discovery that the old mosque used to be a church and that the building had actually been shared by the two religions in the past, the calm of daily life is able to be preserved — with Besnik's help. After the death of his father, however, drastic changes threaten Besnik's multi-faith family, and the shepherd is forced to seek his own path.
Cast: Arben Bajraktaraj, Esela Pysqyli, Irena Cahani, Bruno Shllaku, Osman Ahmeti
Credits
Screenplay: Robert Budina
Director of Photography: Marius Panduru
Film Editor: Ștefan Tatu
Composer: Marius Leftărache
Production Designer: Leandër Ljarja
Costume Design: Gerta Oparaku
Sound: Marius Leftărache
Producer: Sabina Kodra
Production Company: Erafilm
Co-Producer: Critian Nicolescu
Co-Production Company: Digital Cube
World Sales: Pluto Film Distribution Network GmbH
Distributor: Neue Visionen Filmverleih GmbH
Director: Robert Budina
biography
Born in Korça, Albania, Robert Budina graduated from the Academy of Arts in Tirana with a degree in stage directing. His career began by writing and directing several stage plays. In 2001, he founded his own production company, Erafilm. Films he's made include the short films LULEBORE (2004) and SPIDERMAN 5 (2008), as well as the feature-length film AGON (2012), Albania's entry for the Oscar nomination for best foreign film. A SHELTER AMONG THE CLOUDS is Budina's second feature-length film.
