Blerta Zeqiri, a renowned film director from Kosovo, was born in 1979 and hails from the region of Kosovo. Growing up in Suva Reka, she was an integral part of the local hip-hop scene during her teenage years. However, her life took a drastic turn in 1999 when her family fled their hometown amidst the chaos of the Kosovo War, ultimately leading to their immigration to France as refugees.
Zeqiri's journey in filmmaking began in 2004 when she co-directed the short film "Exit". Her subsequent short film, "The Return" ("Kthimi"),was a poignant portrayal of a couple reuniting after the war, shot in a remarkably short span of three days. The film garnered widespread acclaim, winning the Jury Prize in Short Film, International Fiction at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival in 2012.
Zeqiri's debut feature-length film, "The Marriage" ("Martesa"),was released in 2018, focusing on the crucial issue of LGBT rights. The film was a collaborative effort, co-written by Zeqiri and her partner, Kreshnik Berisha, and directed by Zeqiri herself. In recognition of her outstanding work, Kosovo selected "The Marriage" as their submission for the Oscars' best foreign-language film category in 2018.
Zeqiri's achievements did not go unnoticed, as she was awarded the esteemed title of Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters from France in 2019. Throughout her career, Zeqiri has consistently used her platform to raise awareness about pressing issues, such as missing people and LGBT rights, and has become a prominent figure in the film industry.
