Lazer Filipi (1921 – 2016) the legend of Albanian acting!

Lazer Filipi 1921 – 2016 Merited artist, actor, director and screenwriter! He was born on February 7, 1921 in Shirq of Shkodra. The wide cultural life of the city of Shkodra will make him fall in love with the theater from an early age, since he was a student at the "28 Nëntori" school, playing in small theatrical parts staged by his teacher. the outstanding writer and patriot Milosh Gjergj Nikolla (Migjeni). The most impressive performances for him at that time would be the pieces "Red Ruba" and "Ali Pasha Tepelena and the suljotets" staged by the cultural societies "Rozafa" and "Vllaznia". In 1938 he left Shkodra for Tirana. The occupation of the country by the Italian fascists will cause him to connect with the anti-fascist movement to fight the enemy with arms in hand. But he doesn't forget the theater either. Thus, with the organization of the Antifascist Youth Theater in 1943, in More t Krujës, he will also perform his first role, which was also the main role in the play "Albanian Uprising" conceived and staged by Kolec Ilia. With the continuation of the war, even the artistic life takes a back seat, but after the Përmet Congress, another theater group nicknamed " Priska's Group" in which Lazër Filipi would take an active part together with the People's Artist, Naim Frashëri. With this group, they will stage "Mother" by Fatmir Djata, "Prison" and "Partizani". The drama "Partizani", a drama with three acts, would be the play selected on the occasion of the Independence Day on November 28, 1944, performed for seven consecutive nights, being the first play in Tirana and then in liberated Albania. After the end of the war, he enters the dramatic school, in addition to being involved in the theater group. In April 1945, he will participate in the first Festival of Amateur Groups with the role of Majordom in the French part "Topazi". He will perform this role in the inaugural performance of the People's Theater (today the National Theater) on May 30, 1945, being one of the founders of this Theater. In 1947, he will leave for Zagreb to study acting, but the break with the Yugoslavs will cause these studies to continue and end in 1950 in the Czech Republic. Upon returning to his homeland after his studies, Lazër Filipi will give art lovers a whole gallery of roles that will endear him to the public. Here we can single out the role of Lenin in the drama "Kremlin Hours" by N. Pogodin, a role for which he was awarded in November 1957 with the 1st Prize of the Republic. The role of Uncle Shazo in the play "The Fisherman's Family" by Sulejman Pitarka (People's Artist), the role of Clark in "Arturo Ui" by Bertold Brecht, the role of Ophelia's father in the play "Hamlet" by Shakespeare, etc. In 1977 he retired, but his engagement with the theater will continue. So in 1991 he will create the theater troupe "Tirana" with which he will perform the plays "The Fate of a Refugee", "Napoleon Bonaparte" by Aleksandër Moisiu where he plays the role of Napoleon Bonaparte, "Ali Pasha Tepelena" where he plays the role of Ali Pasha. He will also perform this last role in the tour that this theater company held in Kosovo in 2005, where in the city of Gjilan he was awarded the Special Prize for his artistic merits. He would return to the National Theater in Ruzhdi Pulaha's "Shelter of the Forgotten" in May 2004. His roles in cinematography have also been numerous. So in 1958 he will be one of the actors who will perform in the first entirely Albanian film "Tana". Other roles continued, such as the role of uncle Shazo in the film "Oshetime ne Bregdet" in 1966, the role of Ropi, the Party functionary, in the film "Captain" in 1972, the role of Shaqo Breg in the film "At the beginning of summer" in 1976, for which he would be honored with a Special Award at the 1st Albanian Film Festival held from April 5 to 11, 1976 in Tirana, the role of Dash Cungeli in the film "The Fall of Idols" in 1977 etc. His most recent role will be in 2009, the role of Lazar Korita in the film "Ne dhe Lenini". For his artistic merits, in the interpretation of more than 80 roles in theater and cinematography, Lazër Filipi has been awarded the high title of "Honored Artist". He changed his life at the age of 95 on December 16, 2016. Cinematography 2009 — Ne and Lenini (Llazar Korita) 2000 — Adultery (Waiter) 1991 — Enigma 1989 — The Ballad of Kurbin (Vuhan Pasha's Counselor) 1988 — The Mission Across the Sea (Priest) 1987 — In the Name of Freedom (Elmazi) 1984 — Time Waits (TV Movie) Mallzemi 1983 — A Name Among the People (Nazmiu) 1980 — The Bride (Sadik Alia) 1977 — The Counselors (Mitrua) 1977 — The Fall of Idols (Dash Cungeli) 1976 — The Forest of Freedom (Priest) 1975 — At the Beginning of Summer (Shaqo Bregu) 1974 – The explosion 1972 – Captain (Ropi, party functionary) 1972 – Consciousness (Director) 1969 — Why does this drum beat (Director) 1966 — Noise on the coast (Uncle Shazua) 1959 – Storm (Uncle Demiri) 1958 — Ours

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Theater — /–/ 2005 — "Napoleon Bonaparte" by Aleksandër Mojsi – Napoleon Bonaparte — /05/2004 — "Shelter of the Forgotten" by Ruzhdi Pulaha — /– /2003 — "Ali Pasha Tepelena " – Ali Pashë Tepelena 24/03/1974 — "Fisherman's Family" by S. Pitarka (AP) – Uncle Shazua 28/11/1973 — "Prefect" by Besim Lëvonja (Honored Artist) 24/01/1973 — "Red Signal" by Bashkim Kozeli 03/04/1971 — "Arturo Ui" by Bertold Brecht – Clark 13/02/1969 — "Friends" by Bashkim Kozeli 21/01/1968 — "The Heroes of Linas" " by Sulejman Pitarka (People's Artist) 07/03/1967 — "Cuca e Maleve" by Loni Papa 12/11/1966 — "Perkolgjinajt" by Kola Jakova 12/07/1965 — "Ljubov Jarovaja" by Konstandin Tranjevit 27/03/1965 — "Guard under the neon lights" by Shen Shi-Men and Lu Shin Cen 16/02/1964 — "Three days of doom" by Luan Qafëzezi 16/03/1963 — "Inhabitants of degree no. 6" by Kin Dushi 09/01/1963 — "The Gardener's Dog" by Lope de Vega 13/01/1962 — "Lady of the Inn" by Carlo Goldoni 22/06/1961 — "The Fox and the Grapes (Aesop) " by Guilherme Figueiredoa 24/06/1960 — "Hamlet" by Shakespeare – Father of Ophelia 21/06/1958 — "Mashenka" by AN Afinogenov 03/11/1957 — "The Kremlin Hours" by N. Pogodin – Lenin 26/11/1956 — "Family Matters" by Ezhi Ljutovsky 23/02/1946 — "Marriage" by Gogol 30/12/1945 — "The Road" by K. Nase – Vasili 24/09/1945 — Gogol's "Lover-Gjido" 30/05/1945 — "Topaz" – Maghordomi — /– /1944 — "Prison" — /05/1944 — "Mother" 28/11/1944 — " Partizani" — /– /1943 — "Albanian Uprising" Director in the Theater "19 days" by Fadil Paçram (as/director) 21/01/1968 — "Heroes of Linas" by Sulejman Pitarka (People's Artist) Screenwriter Cinematography 1974 — Theater Explosion "Love that survived the flames" "Mother Teresa" Awards and Titles Meritorious Artist 2008 Special Award for the interpretation of the role of Ali Pasha Tepelena in the drama "Ali Pasha Tepelena" in Gjilan. April 11, 1976 Special Award for the interpretation of the role of Shaqo Bregu in the film "Early Summer" at the 1st Albanian Film Festival held in Tirana from April 5 to 11, 1976.

November 1957 First Prize of the Republic for the interpretation of the role of Lenin in the drama "Kremlin Hours" by N. Pogodin.

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Albanian cinematography in activity since 2013

Reference: Albanian Encyclopedia, Theater and Cinema – Toena 2009 / J. Papagjoni & a selection of news and information published online from various newspapers 2003-2007. Published for the first time on the page "Albanian Cinema" on Facebook in v. 2013. The text was revised several times during the following years.