Bloodlands (film)
| Bloodlands | |
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Film poster | |
| Directed by | Steven Kastrissios |
| Written by | Steven Kastrissios |
| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Leander Ljarja |
| Music by | Geir Brillian |
Production companies |
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Release date |
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Running time | 85 minutes |
| Country | Albania |
| Language | Albanian |
Bloodlands (Albanian: Tokë Gjaku) is a 2017 Australian-Albanian[1] horror film directed and written by Steven Kastrissios. It stars Gëzim Rudi and Suela Bako as members of a family that have a blood feud with a shtriga.
Plot
Skender, a butcher in Albania, is struggling financially and facing bankruptcy. He refuses to allow his wife Shpresa to hold a job, but Shpresa is fearful of the damage that bankruptcy would cause to their reputation. Their daughter lliriana announces that she is moving to Italy with a friend. A being known as the shtriga begins to haunt the family after Skender harasses two people scavenging for pet food outside of his shop.
Cast
- Gëzim Rudi as Skender
- Suela Bako as Shpresa
- Emiljano Palali as Artan
- Alesia Xhemalaj as Iliriana
- Ilire Vinca Çelaj as Drita
- Dritan Arbana as Florian
- Florist Bajgora as Erald
- Andi Begolli as Leo
- Enxhi Cuku as Lorena
- Fioralba Kryemadhi as Vlora
- Edvin Mustafa as Bako
- Rina Narazani as Town Clerk
- Ermal Sadiku as Olek
Production
Steven Kastrissios, an Australian, wrote and directed the film while the entire cast was Albanian.[2][3] The story was inspired by Albanian blood feuds and stories told by Dritan Arbana, a friend of Kastrissios and a producer for the film.[1] The cinematography was done by Leander Ljarja and Kastrissios composed the music.[4]
Bloodlands was marketed as the first Albanian horror film.[5][6] Filming in Albania[7] started in October 2014.[3] Kastrissios relied on translators as the cast did not speak English and shot the film in Albanian despite fears that not being in English would hurt its distribution.[1][8]
Release
Bloodlands premiered at the Glasgow Film Festival on 25 February 2017,[3][9] and was released in Tirana, on 22 September.[10] It was shown at the Sitges Film Festival, Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival, Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, Fantasporto,[6] and Melbourne International Film Festival.[2] It was given a video on demand release on 30 January 2018.[6]
References
- ^ a b c Heller-Nicholas 2018.
- ^ a b MIFF.
- ^ a b c KOHA 2017.
- ^ Cineuropa.
- ^ Davies 2018.
- ^ a b c Petković 2018.
- ^ Fraser 2023.
- ^ Tirana Times 2018.
- ^ SOT 2017.
- ^ Morton 2017.
Works cited
Magazines
- Heller-Nicholas, Alexandra (2018). "Blood Feuds and Blooalands: STEVEN KASTRISSIOS' ALBANIAN HORROR-FANTASY". Metro Magazine. No. 195. Australian Teachers of Media.
News
- ""Bloodlands", filmi horror shqiptar, me premierë botërore në Skoci". Koha Ditore. 16 January 2017. Archived from the original on 12 April 2025.
- "Filmi horror shqiptar "Bloodlands" shkon në festivalin e Australisë". Gazeta Sot. 4 November 2017. Archived from the original on 12 April 2025.
- "First ever Albanian horror movie makes world premiere". Tirana Times. 2018. Archived from the original on 12 April 2025.
- Davies, Katie (31 January 2018). "Bloodlands: Don't miss Albania's first horror film". New East Digital Archive. Archived from the original on 12 April 2025.
- Fraser, Colin (2023). "Unsung Auteurs: Steven Kastrissios". FilmInk. Archived from the original on 12 April 2025.
- Morton, Elise (5 September 2017). "First ever Albanian horror movie to premiere this month". New East Digital Archive. Archived from the original on 12 April 2025.
- Petković, Vladan (30 January 2018). "EXCLUSIVE: Trailer for first Albanian horror Bloodlands". Cineuropa. Archived from the original on 12 April 2025.
Web
- "Bloodlands". Cineuropa. Archived from the original on 12 April 2025.
- "Bloodlands". Melbourne International Film Festival. Archived from the original on 12 April 2025.
External links
- Bloodlands at IMDb