I Believe the Portrait Saved Me () is a Kosovar–Dutch documentary film by Alban Muja from 2025.
Synopsis During the Kosovo War, the Kosovar artist Skender Muja was abducted from his hometown of Mitrovica. In a former school that had been converted into a prison camp, he drew a portrait of a Serbian officer. Today, he believes that this drawing saved his life at the time.
Production The director Alban Muja (born 1980) is a Kosovar artist who studied at the University of Prishtina. Since 2009, he has exhibited internationally. In 2019, he represented Kosovo at the Biennale di Venezia. His body of work includes drawings as well as video installations. The film premiered on 16 February 2025 at the Berlinale, in the Forum Expanded section.
Reception Prime Minister Albin Kurti congratulated director Muja on the Berlinale selection and praised the Kosovar film industry.
In addition, the film was shortlisted for the 2026 European Film Awards.2026 – Shortlist. In: europeanfilmawards.eu (retrieved 3 October 2025).
See also Alban Muja Kosovo
References