BINI - The Kosovo war through the eyes of a child
Directed by Erblin Nushi - Short (20 min.)
A story of survival and hope, BINI is based on the filmmaker's experience when he was 6 years old. With his family he survived the horrors of the Kosovo War (1998-1999) after fleeing to a refugee camp in Albania. His film is the true story of how they became refugees after being forced out from their home at gunpoint and brought in trucks to the border of Albania. The film opens on what seems to be a regular day for Bini, played in the short by Lurni Krasniqi, and the only thing that he is worried about is to protect his prized candy from his sister. Suddenly his world turns upside down as he and his family are packed into a crowded truck. Bini learns that the candy may not be the only thing of value he loses that day. The short also features the two Kosovar actors, Eshref Durmishi and Armond Morina, who starred in the Academy Awards nominated short film SHOCK in 2016.
Nushi's command of great acting techniques is reflected in his characters who look natural and convincing. Filmed entirely in Kosovo, the location shooting gives the film a fresh breath of hope to an otherwise depressing and heart wrenching story. Its universal theme of survival will resonate with everyone who has witnessed or lived in similar devastating situations of emotional turmoil.
Filmmaker Erblin Nushi is born in Peja, Kosovo in 1992. He has been taking acting lessons since he was ten years old. He moved with his family to the United States in 2010. BINI is Erblin Nushi's senior undergraduate thesis film at George Mason University. He transferred to Mason after two years at Northern Virginia Community College, where he focused his studies on acting. During the two years at Mason University he directed 10 short films.
BINI has been officially selected at many short film festivals such as Prishtina International Film Festival, Stockholm Independent Film Festival, DC Shorts in Washington DC, and Holly Shorts in Los Angeles. Also, BINI has advanced to the semifinal round of the 45th annual Student Academy Awards.
Since gaining independence in 2008, Kosovo has submitted 4 films to the Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Language Film category. Three Windows and a Hanging in 2014, Babai in 2015, Home Sweet Home in 2016, and Unwanted in 2017. We believe that BINI has a very powerful potential to become a feature length film someday and join these films in the near future.
BINI Official Trailer from Tilia Entertainment on Vimeo.
