Encounter in the Air
| Encounter in the Air | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Ardit Sadiku |
| Written by | Ardit Sadiku |
| Starring | Herton Meta |
| Cinematography | Adi Grishaj |
| Music by | Marcus Fong |
Production company | Ardit Sadiku Film |
| Distributed by | Ardit Sadiku Film |
Release date |
|
Running time | 90 minutes |
| Country | Albania |
| Language | Albanian |
Encounter in the Air is a 2019 Albanian-language drama film written, directed and produced by Ardit Sadiku. The narrative focuses on a broadcast technician and a young man who suffers from mental illness. The young man, desperate to find asylum in a foreign country, hires the broadcast technician to film a video of him discussing his mental condition — in the hopes that the video will convince foreign officials to grant him asylum.
Plot
Blerim, an employee of a TV station, takes on a highly unusual side gig — one that immerses him in a world of mental illness, paranoia, and blurred reality. Blerim’s colleague introduces him to Drin, an unemployed young man who claims to be mentally ill — despite his neurologist’s belief that his symptoms are merely psychosomatic. Drin, convinced that he must leave his home country in order to become “well,” commissions Blerim to film a video of him discussing his unusual neurological condition — in the hopes that the clip will convince a foreign nation to grant him asylum. Blerim, tasked with shooting the video and somehow convincing his boss to broadcast it on the TV station, finds himself obsessed with the project — to the detriment of his professional and personal relationships.[1]
Cast
- Herton Meta as Blerim
- Todi Kasemi as Drin
- Auron Mimaj as Gëzim
- Sajmir Pepushaj as Ilir
- Sebina Matlija as Mira
- Mirsad Çanga as Albert
- Gerti Palali as Arbër
Production
Auditions for Encounter in the Air started in February 2019, and lasted until April. Filming was done near Shkodër.[2]
Release
Encounter in the Air premiered in Tirana, on 12 December 2019,[2][3] and was shown at the Tirana International Film Festival.[4] It was one of the possible options for Albania's nominee for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film at the 93rd Academy Awards, but Open Door was selected instead.[5]
See also
References
Works cited
- "Official Selection 2020". Tirana International Film Festival. Archived from the original on 17 April 2025.
- ""Takim në ajër", flet regjisori: Për dy javë fika telefonin". ABC News. 16 December 2019. Archived from the original on 17 April 2025.
- "The film "Open Door" by Florenc Papas, represents Albania for Oscar". Koha Ditore. 28 October 2020. Archived from the original on 17 April 2025.
- Vrapi, Julia (5 December 2019). "Filmi "Takim në ajër" premierë në Tiranë, me temën e emigrimit dhe rolin e medias në shoqëri". Gazeta Sot. Archived from the original on 17 April 2025.