Kujtim Gjonaj (3 November 1946 – 1 March 2021) was an Albanian screenwriter, director of documentary films and cartoons, producer and publisher. Gjonaj began his career as an editor of documentaries scenarios in the film studio "New Albania".
Biography
Gjonaj is a descendant of members of the
Gjoni (Gjonaj)
Gjon (definite form: ''Gjoni'') is an Albanian male given name, clan, surname and onomastic element.
As given name
Etymology and history
''Gjon'' as a given name is a form of the English name John. It is the name of the apostle Saint John in ...
clan. He started his career in 1969 in Kinostudio.
In 1974 he began his career as a director of film documentaries and as a writer creating scenes for multiple films. His feature film contributions include the script for the 1976 film ''Call,'' his first feature film, the 1977 films ''They Were Four'' and ''Circus in the Village'' and the 1979 movie ''Advisors''. Gjonaj worked for Alba and later established his own film production house, "The Albanian World".
Gjonaj produced biographies of prominent figures such as
Ali Pasha Tepelena
Ali Pasha of Ioannina (1740 – 24 January 1822), was an Albanians, Albanian ruler who served as pasha of a large part of western Rumelia, the Ottoman Empire's European territories, which was referred to as the Pashalik of Yanina. His court was i ...
,
Faik Konitza
Faik Bey Konica (later named ''Faïk Dominik Konitza'', 15 March 1875 – 15 December 1942) was an important figure in Albanian language and culture in the early decades of the twentieth century. Prewar Albanian minister to Washington, his litera ...
,
Jeronim de Rada
Girolamo de Rada ( Arbërisht: ''Jeronim de Rada''; 29 November 181428 February 1903) was an Arbëreshë folklorist, journalist, lawyer, playwright, poet, rilindas and writer. He is regarded as one of the most influential Albanian writers of th ...
, Naim,
Mother Teresa
Mary Teresa Bojaxhiu, MC (; 26 August 1910 – 5 September 1997), better known as Mother Teresa ( sq, Nënë Tereza), was an Indian-Albanian Catholic nun who, in 1950, founded the Missionaries of Charity. Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu () was bo ...
and
Sulejman Pitarka
Sulejman Pitarka (1924–2007) was an Albanian actor, writer, and playwright originally from Debar. His family moved to Durrës, Albania, when he was five. His brother was Bashkim Pitarka, who became an Albanian diplomat.
He was active in film ...
(People's Artist)).
A tribute to Gjonaj was commemorated during the Festival Cup XII of the Albanian Documentary Film Association in
Tirana
Tirana ( , ; aln, Tirona) is the capital and largest city of Albania. It is located in the centre of the country, enclosed by mountains and hills with Dajti rising to the east and a slight valley to the northwest overlooking the Adriatic Sea ...
, Albania, in 2006.
On 16 July 2012, Gjonaj was awarded with the title "Grand Master" ( sq, Mjeshtër i Madh) by the Albanian National Film Archive. (AQSHF).
Filmography
Scenarios
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Këshilltarët, (1979)
*
Ata ishin katër, (1977)
*
Thirrja, (1976)
Directing
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Shëmbja e idhujve, (1995)
*
Djemtë e Valiasit, (1984)
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gjonaj, Kujtim
1946 births
2021 deaths
Albanian screenwriters
Albanian film directors
People from Tirana