Zana Hoxha (born 1981) is a professional theater director, founder, and executive director of the Artpolis – Art and Community Center, an organization that promotes art and diversity through social dialogue and community integration.
She has created more than 20 theatrical performances which have been presented in the largest theaters in Kosovo, in the Balkan region (Albania, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Croatia, Turkey), and has also presented her work as an artist/activist/trainer in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa.
Her work has been highly valued and has won several awards over the years: The musical “Spring Awakening” was rewarded with the best performance for 2020 by Ministry of Culture of Kosovo; “Best Director” in the “Albanian theater in North Macedonia” festival; Best performance – “Grand Prix” Award, in the fourteenth edition of ITF SkupiFestival 2020; The performance “Artemis’s Huntresses” was awarded in Etno Fest 2020 with two prices Best Show and Best Performance; The performance “Bits and Pieces” was awarded in Etno Fest 2019 with two prices: Best Director and Best Actress.
Her artistic activism has expanded in 2022 with the creation of two theater performances: “The Bug” which was presented for 10 days during May at the House of Leaves in Tirana, Albania; while “Haunted Land”, opened the 10th edition of the FemArt Festival on June 14th.
Zana was the Director of the Theater Department at the SKENA UP festival during 2004-2011, the Artistic Director of the Professional Theater during 2011-2014, and also the Founder and Director of the ARTPOLIS Organization and the largest feminist festival in the Balkans of artists and activists, FEMART. She is also selected as IVLP Aluminum (International Program for Foreign Visitors to the United States of America) and the winner of many awards for her contribution as a director in Kosovo and the region. Combining art and activism, she uses theater as an advocacy tool for social rights that focuses on raising awareness of gender-based violence, human rights, and diversity.
Zana is the Laureate of “Future Leaders” program by French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for her leadership in gender equality, advocacy, social enhancement, and women rights.
She is proud to be part of the board of the Kosovo Women’s Network, a lecturer and trainer specializing in Forum Theater, and a supporter of the empowerment and emancipation of women activists.
Zhaneta is a professional actress born and raised in Prishtina. Her love for art started in her early high school years where with a group of students and the support of the teachers, they made the play “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” which was selected in a festival in San Remo, Italy.
Besides graduating in acting, she also finished Prenk Jakova music school for canto and piano. She was part of various plays and music concerts.
Zhaneta functions with the following principles: active listener and constructive in discussions about different cases/topics; pragmatic and flexible; respectfully works in groups; responsible with tasks and time; creative, with humor and compassion; finds solutions for the obstacles with empathy and thorough attentiveness.
She recently joined the group of professional actors of Artpolis Centre, where she contributes to the organisations politics by being professionally and emotionally involved.
Edlir Gashi studied in Acting at the Faculty of Arts at Hasan Prishtina University. It has been and continues to be part of various shows for children, theater forum, dance theater and music shows, performances, films and various television series.
Some of the plays he has played are: Destur (National Theatre), Trojan Women (La Mama NYC), Beni (ODA), Barbara (Dodone), Çimka (Artpolis/ experimental theater Spahi Vogli Tirana).
He is also a dancer. Currently he is part of the Artistic Resident Troupe of Artpolis. He also works as a coach with youth and adults in theater-based education.
Labinot Raci is a Kosovar actor born in 1989 in Prishtina. In 2016, he completed his studies at the Academy of Arts, Acting module at the University of Prishtina.
He has performed many roles in theater, series and films.
His first role was during his studies in 2014 in theater performance “Bark Tupani” at the Oda Theater, directed by Lirak Çelaj, continuing with the plays: “Emigrantët” in Multimedia Theater directed by Arianit Geci, “John Cages Hamlet” in Theater Labirator Loja directed by Bekim Lumi, “Rruga e Botës së Lirë” Oda Theater directed by Florent Memeti, “Tregtari i Venedikut” Kosova National Theater directed by Matthew Lenton, “Dëshira Tours” Kosova National Theater directed by Ardi Mejzini, “Zoti Masakrës” Kosova National Theater directed by Besfort Idrizi, “Arturo Ui” Kosova National Theater directed by Bekim Lumi, “Zgjimi i Pranverës” co-production Artpolis – Kosova National Theater directed by Zana Hoxha, “Bryma e Vdekjes” Kosova National Theater directed by Burbuqe Berisha, “Pa Mua” Kosova National Theater directed by Alban Beqiraj, “Pashumbja” Oda Theater directed by Florent Mehmeti, “Arbri” Oda Theater directed by Lirak Çelaj.
He has performed many roles in theater, series and films.
His first role was during his studies in 2014 in theater performance “Bark Tupani” at the Oda Theater, directed by Lirak Çelaj, continuing with the plays: “Emigrantët” in Multimedia Theater directed by Arianit Geci, “John Cages Hamlet” in Theater Labirator Loja directed by Bekim Lumi, “Rruga e Botës së Lirë” Oda Theater directed by Florent Memeti, “Tregtari i Venedikut” Kosova National Theater directed by Matthew Lenton, “Dëshira Tours” Kosova National Theater directed by Ardi Mejzini, “Zoti Masakrës” Kosova National Theater directed by Besfort Idrizi, “Arturo Ui” Kosova National Theater directed by Bekim Lumi, “Zgjimi i Pranverës” co-production Artpolis – Kosova National Theater directed by Zana Hoxha, “Bryma e Vdekjes” Kosova National Theater directed by Burbuqe Berisha, “Pa Mua” Kosova National Theater directed by Alban Beqiraj, “Pashumbja” Oda Theater directed by Florent Mehmeti, “Arbri” Oda Theater directed by Lirak Çelaj.
Libri i tij “The Balad of Ant” (2022) është botuar së fundmi nga Dukagjini, Prishtinë. Së shpejti do të publikohet në italisht nga CrocettI.
Shpëtim Selmani is a writer and actor, born in1986. He studied at University of Prishtina. As an actor he is on stage in Kosovo and abroad. He has published several books: Shënimet e një Grindaveci (Hot-tempered Notes), 2015 published by Multimedia. Selected Poems 2010-2017 – Poetry in Time of Blood and Despair (Multimedia, 2017, Prishtina).Libërthi i dashurisë (Booklet of Love), 2019 by Armagedoni in Prishtina.
This work was awarded with the 2020 EU Prize for Literature and has been translated and published in German and French. His book “The Ballad of Ant” (2022) has been recently published by Dukagjini, Prishtina. Soon will be published in Italian by CrocettI.
Donikë Ahmeti is an actress, performer, producer and activist. She has acted in dozens of theater plays for more than a decade, collaborating with many local and foreign directors.
Donika is a resident actress at the Art and Community Center – Artpolis since 2021, and has performed in plays such as “Haunted Land” directed by Zana Hoxha, “Totem and Taboo” by Robert Nuha directed by Zana Hoxha, “Top Girls” directed by Shkurte Aliu, and “Hunters of Artemis” directed by Zana Hoxha etc. In addition to working as an actress, she is also a trainer in the “Theatre-Based Education” training.
Some of her other collaborations include the performance “Shkrepëtima” by Petrit Halilaj, “Pantallonat e Kangusë” by Melihate Qena, “Pergynti nga Kosova” directed by Agon Miftari, “Mother and the child” by Bekim Lumi, etc. Donika has also been part of several local films and series.
Blerta Gubetini was born in May 16th, 1997 in Vushtrri. She finished her studies for Acting in Universityof Prishtina, Faculty of Arts in July 2020. She was part of over 10 theater plays until today, and some films too.
She’s been part of Artpolis artistic resident troupe since march 2021.
Qendresa Kajtazi completed her acting studies at the Academy of Arts at Hasan University of Prishtina. He has been part of various shows, including here (shows for children, Forum Theater, Dance Teater Musical show. She has worked with different local directors, choreographers, composers and international.
Some of the plays she played are: “Trojan Women” (La Mama in New York), “Carnivals of Korça” (National Theatre), “Dëshira Tours” (National Theatre), “Forgotten” (Theatre National), “Portreti” (National Theatre), “Barbara”(Dodona Theatre), “Totem and Taboo” (Artpolis), “Haunted Land”(Artpolis), “Question of Habits” (Artpolis), “Beni”(Teatri Oda), “I’m a man”(Center Multimedia), “Two dreaming mammals” (AAB Faruk Begolli Theater).
She is currently works as a resident actress at the Art and Community Center Artpolis, as well as Resident actress at the “Muharrem Qena” Theater in Mitrovica. From time to time, she also works as a coach for children and adults in different communities Theater-Based Education.
Mikel Markaj has born in Gjakova, 27th of April 1995. In his eyes art was always a form of expressing himself, it started with singing to learning an instrument to finally study acting. During the way he learned different forms and ways of expressing and by working with the community he learned different reasons to use art.
Some of the plays he was part of are: Trojan Women – La Mama Theatre (Andrei Serban), Destur – Sweet Blasphemy-Rumi (Zana Hoxha), Inferno – Dante Alighieri (Kushtrim Mehmeti), “Much ado about nothing” – William Shakespeare (Zana Hoxha), “Totem and Taboo” by Robert Nuha (Zana Hoxha), “The Bug” – Shpëtim Selmani (Zana Hoxha), “Haunted Land” – Shqipe Malushi (Zana Hoxha).
He has also played in television series and films, such as: “Shengen Visa”, “Rrushe”, “Hero of the Desert” – Nadif Prices. Mikel also has won awards such as: “Much ado about nothing” – Best supporting actor, PITF Prishtina, “Hero of the Desert” – Golden Earth Film Award Best Actor Male (Leading) and Europa Film Festival Best.
