Luljeta Bitri (born 27 June 1976), better known by her stage name Luli Bitri, is an Albanian actress, director, screenwriter, producer, and voice actress.

Early life Luli Bitri was born in Lushnjë, Albania, on 27 June 1976. She initially pursued medical studies but abandoned them after her first year to follow her passion for the arts. She then studied drama at the Academy of Fine Arts in Tirana, earning a diploma in professional acting in 2004.

While still a student, Bitri appeared in numerous short films, feature films, and theater productions. She launched her international career with the 2007 film Father and Godfather, directed by Dhimitër Anagnosti, followed by Alive! (2009), directed by Artan Minarolli, and Amnesty (2011), directed by Bujar Alimani. The latter two films were Albania's official submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2009 and 2011, respectively.

In 2018 she starred in the film Holy Boom, directed by Maria Lafi.

Career Bitri gained international recognition for her portrayal of Elsa in Bujar Alimani's Amnesty, in which she played the title role to great acclaim, earning widespread media attention. The film won the C.I.C.A.E. Prize at the Berlinale International Forum in 2011. That same year, Bitri was nominated for Best Actress at several international film festivals, including the Sarajevo Film Festival, Copenhagen International Film Festival, Lecce European Film Festival (Cineuropa, FIPRESCI, Jury Prize), Jerusalem Film Festival, and Prishtina International Film Festival in Kosovo.

Following Amnesty, she starred in numerous feature films across different countries, including Dimmi che destino avrò (Italy) by Peter Marcias and Holy Boom (Greece) by Maria Lafi. She is also an established stage actress, performing at the National Theatre of Albania.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2006 Club by Erion Kame The lover Short film 2006 Gjoleka, djali i Abazit by Dhimiter Anagnosti Nejmeja 2007 Il Primo Kinematografo by Jesus Buonggioaninni Herself Documentary film 2008 Alive by Artan Minarolli Pool girl2010 Zheg by Kelmend KaruniNeviShort film 2011 Amnesty by Bujar AlimaniElsa Leading role 2011 Dyer, dyer, dyer by Kreshnik SaraciDaughterShort film 2012 Dimmi che destino avrò by Peter Marcias Alina Leading role 2013 Më në fund në shtëpi by Kreshnik Saraci Mother Leading role 2015 Breath by Artur GorishtiProducer Short film 2017 Water for the Roses Director, producer Short film 2022 The Black Pelicans Screenwriter, director, producer Short film 2018 Holy Boom by Maria LafiAdiaLeading role 2018 Open Door by Florec PapasRudinaLeading role2019Love by Dionis PapadhimitriElaCo-protagonist2022Winter Fireflies by Artur Gorishti AfinaLeading role

Theatre

Year Title Role Director and company2023 Woyzeck by Georg Büchner Marie Kuniaki Ida, National Theatre of Albania2023 Fallait pas le dire by Salomé Lelouch Elle Artan Imami, National Theatre of Albania 2022 Ivanov by Anton Chekov Anna PetrovnaHervin Culi, National Theatre of Albania 2021 Edmond by Alexis Michalik Rosemonde Andia Xhunga, Indrit Cobani, National Theatre of Albania 2019 August: Osage County by Tracy Letts Barbara Fordham Spiro Duni, National Theatre of Albania 2019 Angels in America by Tony Kushner Angel Arben Kumbaro, National Theatre of Albania 2018 Macbeth by William Shakespeare Lady Macbeth Kled Kapexhiu, National Theatre of Albania 2017 Equus by Peter Shaffer Hesther Salomon Dino Mustafic, National Theatre of Albania 2015 Marat/Sade by Peter Weiss Charlotte Corday Arben Kumbaro, National Theatre of Albania 2013 Un bacio sul cuore by Michele PlacidoTeresa Stolz Michele Placido, Teatro dell'Opera di Roma2011 Why Not Stay For Breakfast by Ray CooneyLouise Rozi Kostani, National Theatre of Albania2010 Plus vraie que nature by Martial Courcier Chloe Rozi Kostani, Metropol Theatre2006 Closer by Patrick Marber Alice Kico Londo, National Theatre of Albania2006 La Musica deuxième by Marguerite Duras Anne Marie Sonila Kapedani, Academy of Arts of Albania2005 Ivory Tower by Ronald Harwood Emmi Straub Erion Kame, National Theatre of Albania2004 The Miser by Moliere Elise Hervin Culi, National Theatre of Albania2004 Miss Julie by Strindberg Miss Julie Andia Xhunga, Academy of Arts of Albania2004 The Father by Strindberg Laura Niko Kanxheri, Academy of Arts of Albania2003 Goodbye My Love The Girl Arben Kumbaro, National Theatre of Albania2003 Dull Season in Olympus by Ismail KadareThe Prostitute Gezim Kame, National Theatre of Albania

Voice acting Year Title Role Notes 2004 Thumbelina Thumbelina 2005 Mulan II Mulan 2005 The Incredibles Elastigirl 2005 Shrek 2 Princess Fiona 2005 Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl Elizabeth Swann 2006 Finding Nemo Nemo Redub 2010 The Princess and the Frog Tiana 2011 Megamind Roxanne Ritchi 2013 Epic Mary Katherine 2017 Finding Dory Nemo 2018 Incredibles 2 Elastigirl 2021 Winx Club Bloom Seasons 7–8

Awards and nominations Year Venue Award Result 2011 Prishtina International Film Festival Best Actress 2011 Sarajevo Film Festival Best Actress 2011 Copenhagen International Film Festival Best Actress 2011 Jerusalem Film Festival Best Actress 2011 Festival de Cinéma de Vernon Best Actress 2011 Akademia e Çmimeve Kult Best Actress 2012 East West International Film Festival, Orenburg Best Actress 2012 Albanian Film Festival Best Albanian Actress 2013 Busto Arsizio Film Festival Best Actress 2017 New York Albanian Film Festival Outstanding Artistic Achievement 2019 Aswan International Women Film Festival Best Actress 2019Calella Film FestivalActress Special Mention

Notes

References Luli Bitri Showreel Frankfurter Allgemeine Berlino 2011 Amnesty Close - Up Cineuropa Film Focus Berlin Film Festival The Academy Awards Museum of Modern Art (New York) Shekulli Un bacio sul cuore https://cinando.com/en/Film/winter_fireflies_292617/Detail https://www.inkasfilms.com/movie/holly-boom/ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4557810/ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6842558/ https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/open-door-sarajevo-review/5142082.article https://films.sff.ba/en/detail/?film=Open-Door https://mia.mk/2019/09/open-door-film-premieres-at-manaki-brothers-film-festival/?lang=en

External links

Allocine.fr

Amnesty Justflick.com Lajme.gen.al Akademiakult.com