Tell me about yourself.
Paul Kurti: I am a film director. I was born in Albania and moved to Canada in my teens. I studied filmmaking in New York. Over the years, I have directed various music videos, documentaries and short films including the award-winning “Restless Wanderer”. In 2012, I directed my first feature film, a love story taking place in New York City. The film is currently screening in various festivals around the world.
I believe in creating stories and images that search to illuminate what defines and connects us as human beings. I do this through film because I find it to be the most powerful medium of communication, since it includes in itself many other art-forms such as photography, music, literature etc.
Your current film in a few words
Paul Kurti: My current film “Out of Sight” is a documentary that looks at Albania through the eyes of children that live in different areas of the the country in different social and economic conditions. Through their voices, thoughts and stories, this film offers some insight into the present and a reflection on the future of Albania.
It was sponsored by Soros (Open Society Foundation for Albania) and it will premiere on the Top Channel TV station this Fall.
What inspired you to make this film?
Paul Kurti: I left Albania in the year 2000, after living through the 90s, a confused decade of transitions for the country and the Albanian society. Every time I visit Albania, I see a lot of aesthetic changes. However, I still find the same confusion about the future as before.
Thus, I decided to make a film, about children who were born after I left the country. Children that did not live through the fall of communism and rise of democracy of the early 90s; the pyramid schemes and rebellion of the mid 90s; or the Kosovo war of the late 90s.
I wanted to explore what it means to be an Albanian child in the new millennium. And since these children are the future of the country, we could get a glimpse into the society of tomorrow.
Andri (Out of Sight)
Arza (Out of Sight)
Talk about the protagonists of this documentary.
Paul Kurti: We interviewed 17 children from cities such as Tirana, Shkodra, Durres, Elbasan, Saranda, Berat, Gjirokaster, etc. Each one of them had a unique point of view and story.
However, because of the tv schedule, we were only allowed a limited length for the documentary. Thus, only 4 children made it into the final film. I chose 4 stories that represent a wide spectrum of emotions, hopes, dreams, beliefs, while together they form a strong narrative for the film.
What do you hope audiences take away from this film?
Paul Kurti: While working on the film, I came across some situations that I was not aware of. On the suburbs of Tirana I saw extreme poverty. Children that were forced to leave school at a younger age because their parents could not afford to buy them books and clothes for school. We show the story of a girl in a similar situation in the documentary. Her parents had removed her from school in grade 4 and she had been sitting at home for the last 4 years. In the meanwhile, her 3 younger sisters were also being removed from school once they got to grade 4. I had never met a child that spoke about school with such passion as her. It was all she has been thinking for the last 4 years, while slowly realizing that she might never get another chance at education.
There are many similar stories that are untold and that people in bigger cities are seldom aware of. That is why I titled the film “Out of Sight.”
I hope that after watching this film, audiences will become more aware that there is so much we can learn from these children. Concepts such as education, order, cleanliness and poverty, become so much more powerful through their voices.
Ralfi and director Paul Kurti (Out of Sight)
What are you conscious of when making films?
Paul Kurti: As a filmmaker, you have to always be aware of everything that is happening around you. It is not easy to make a documentary with children, as they get distracted easily or do not like to sit in the same place or discuss a topic for too long. Thus, it was essential to first gain the trust of these children and then communicate at their level, asking questions that they would understand and be able to talk about, without intimidating or manipulating them. At the same time, you have to always keep in mind the kind of film you are making and recognize those few moments in an interview that can get you closer to what you are exploring.
How has technology changed the way you make films?
Paul Kurti: Technology has and keeps changing the way everybody makes films. It has become much easier from a technical point of view for every person with a vision to create a short film or even an independent feature. Personally, being able to get high resolution images on an affordable camera and being able to edit at home from my computer gave me the confidence to make my very first short film. However, technology will never replace a strong narrative. Ultimately, it is the story that carries a film and that is as difficult as it has always been to achieve.
Who were your filmmaking inspirations?
Paul Kurti: There have been too many great films and filmmakers that have influenced and shaped the way I view and understand film. However, the work of German director Werner Herzog is a continuous source of inspiration, for the mystical and poetic way he views the world and fearlessness with which he can make a film about any subject.
What project are you thinking about doing next?
Paul Kurti: Since the length of the documentary was limited due to the TV schedule, I would like to expand this documentary and include the stories of more children. I already have hours of extra footage from other interviews, and at the same time I would like to keep exploring more stories and voices.
Once the documentary screens on TV, I hope to find the funds to expand the documentary, or a platform where I can present a longer version. I believe that this is a topic of extreme importance that audiences not only in Albania but also abroad should be aware of. I hope that this documentary will make one reflect and encourage conversations about what kind of action we can take to improve the future of children and society.
For more information about Paul’s work, please visit: