Milto Profi (1937 – 2018) | In Memory of…

Milto Profi (1937-2018)
Actor and director. Actor of the “Aleksander Mosiu” theater, Durres, the first director of the State Estrade and acted in several Albanian films.

Born in Durres on August 15, 1937. His artistic path began in 1950, but unlike many of his friends who were active in the artistic groups of schools or enterprises. Profi had a constant passion for cinema, so after finishing high school in Durrës, he enrolled in the “Jordan Misja” Artistic High School.

Started high school once again, for the sake of art. Word had spread about the formation of the Higher Theater School, and this was the best way to get closer to the objective. So Milto Profit had to, in order to take advantage of the scholarship at the Lyceum, continue his studies at the new theater school.

Together with Serafin Fanku, Luigj Gurakuqi, Viktor Bruçeti, Miho Gjin, etc. assigned to the first course of directing.

Teachers, masters Andra Mano, Kujtim Spahivogli, Mihallaq Luarasi, etc. Before completing his studies, Milto Profi is asked to prepare a show at the State Theater. From dozens of sketches that he finds in the archives of the Estrada theater, he creates a libretto, in collaboration with Aleksandër Banushi. “Pa prit e pa kujtu” was the first premiere directed by Milto Profi, which in the title introduced the arrival of a new director.

In fact, that’s exactly what happened. Profi, became the director of the State Estrada, after his professors considered the show as a thesis, while he defended the theoretical platform with Nazim Hikmet’s drama “Kafka / The Scull”.

Milto Profit’s activity on the stages of the capital ended in 1967, four years after graduation. He returns to Durres, as an actor, since the director’s position was occupied and his first role in the theater was that of an extra in the drama “The Fisherman’s Family”.

Milto had to move a window and vocally imitate the storm shaking it. He had just returned from his duties as the director of the State Theater in Tirana, but he was performing his duties as a supporting actor in the theater of his city, as if he were the main role of the show.

His acting skills quickly made him one of the beloved actors of the Durrës stage during the period 1967-1980. The actor stood out especially for his roles with a comic character, and without a doubt he was part of the constellation of artists who contributed to the theater. Alexander Moisiu”.

Profi was 30 years old when he started working as an actor in the theater of Durrës. In the parts where his interpretation stood out, we can mention: “The Prefect”, “Marriage”, “The Mill of Kostë Bardhi”, “People on the Rock”, “The Case of Engineer Saimir”. “Yellow card” etc.

For a period of time, he returned to directing with the children’s dramatization “Castle and poison” with the book by Ismail Kadare, and then a variety show. However, he finds another way to not leave directing, which he considered his “first love”.

Leads the company’s amateur troupes, together with passionate young people winning many flags and first places in the company’s theater festivals.

Profi works well with the amateurs of “NISH Goma”, the Railway, the Wine Canteen, the municipal enterprise, and many others, and the musical survey of the “Rinia” Palace, which he has directed for several years.

In 1975, the director Haxhi Rama staged the comedy “The Yellow Card” and the duo Teli e Foni, created with his colleague Mirush Kabashi, became quite popular. Almost 400 shows with “The Card” were given all over Albania. Together with Mirush Kabash, he also works in Gogol’s “Revizori”, directed by Vangjel Heba, but the duo Teli and Foni made them very popular.

Around this time, Milto Profi was removed from the theater for “a stupid thing”, for which today people can laugh with tears more than in a variety show.

However, Milto Profi works with the same seriousness for 18 months in the “Goma factory” and becomes one of the masters of it. He returns to the theater and plays with Mirush Kabashi in what was considered the “second series” of Kartela.

The director and librettist Haxhi Rama with “Player no. 10” brought back the happy atmosphere of situations and jokes, which circulated not only in Durrës for the two crazy fans who ate soap just to not miss the stadium. After he retires, he leaves for Greece, settling in Piraeus. Milto Profi was also active in several Kinostudio Albanian films such as: A difficult journey – 1977 / Dorina – 1979 / Decision – 1984 / Bitter spring – 1985 / etc.
Passed away on February 21, 2018

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Albanian Cinematography in activity since 2013
Source of information based on an interview given by the actor himself on the Durrës Lajm portal.