Muharrem Fejzo (1933-2020)
He is one of the best Albanian directors, one of them who created the history of Albanian cinema, the Honor of the Nation, with an incomparable culture and finesse, the best example for every artist. Fejzo was not only a good director, as he was known by everyone, but also a genius sculptor. He also performed other roles such as make-up artist, prop artist.
Mr. Fejzo was born in Cologne on May 24, 1933. He graduated from the artistic Lyceum “Jordan Misja” in Tirana, defending his diploma with the sculpture “The Little Violinist”. His name will be found later in several exhibitions of visual arts, not leaving this profession even when he worked as a “butaforist” in the “Teatri Popullor” in Tirana, a sailor in the school of instruction, a brigadier in the “Migjeni” artistic company, a director in the House of Culture in Kukes or as a make-up artist at Kinostudio “Shqiperia e Re”, the place where he started working in 1956.
He started as a make-up artist in the film “Debatik” (1961). But before that, in 1959, he did a small specialization course abroad for plastic make-up and defended his diploma for make-up in the theater piece “Kremlin Hours”;
M. Fejzo starts again at Kinostudio, taking part in the film “Fortuna” as a make-up artist, and at the same time she establishes the make-up department at Kinostudio. 
In 1966, he graduated from the high school for actor, near the “Teatri Popullor” and worked as a teacher and later as a director in the theater of Kukesi. During this time, he also created several sculptures for the decoration and streets of the city of Vlora. At the same time, Fejzo works as an assistant director in the films: “Special task” – 1963; “Ambush” – 1968; “Guerrilla Unit” – 1969;
He made his first film as a director in 1970, “The Fitter”. In 1972, together with Hoshafi, they shot the first Albanian Cine comedy “The Captain”, which remained one of the most successful films of Albanian cinematography in the comedy genre, laying the foundations of our cine comedy; Among his later films that have resonated are: Operation “Fire” – 1973; “Threads that are cut” – 1976; “Mesonjetorja” – 1979, etc.
ARTISTIC CAREER
(according to the years):
1954 – Graduated from the Artistic High School – Graduated as a sculptor (O.Paskali-J.Paco)
1954 – Worked on the scenography of the operas “Rusallka”, “Ivan Suzanin”, “Sold Bride”. Participates in the national exhibition of fine arts.
1955 – Bust of the heroine “Zonja Çure”, Vlorë
1956 – Completes portraits and busts in reinforced concrete – Durrës
1957 – Deputy director of artistic works – MIGJENI
1958 – Make-up artist at Kinostudio “SHQIPĘRIA E RE”. Opened the make-up department for the first time
1959 – Specializes in plastic make-up at MOSFILM
1962 -1966 – Make-up teacher at ILA – Tirana
1966 – Graduated from ILA ACTOR (ped: A. Malo – S. Prosi – D. Agolli)
1966 – Graduated at ILA DIRECTOR (ped: K. Spahivogli)
1966 – Personal exhibition of painting and sculpture
1967 – Director of the Kukes stage shows
1970 – 1990 Director at Kinostudio “Shqipëria e Re” – Member of the League of Writers of Albania from 1962. – Member The “In Victim” honor of the Artistic Cultural Center – BRINDISI
1974 – Winner of the Literary – Artistic Competition, screenwriter of the film “Explosion”
Poems: “You” 1954, “Love” 1955, “Hope” 1956, “Homeland” 1956, “Erotic” 1961, “To Gjalica” (Poem) 1967, “To my sons” 1967, “Grimace”
1980 Drama: “Task and storm” staged at the Kukës Theater, “Fences”
1967, “Silent Stream”
1968, “Meat tongs”
1997 Actor: Aleko “Red Sky” by T. Çaushi; Llansi in “The Two Veronas” Shakespeare; Dawn in “Black and White” F. Pacrami. Screenplay and Directing:
1968 “A piece of dawn wanders” – Screenplay
1969 “Fillrojtėsi” – Screenplay
1970 “The Fitter” -Director, sk. Dh. Xhuvani
1971 “Captain” – Director (with BA)
1972 “Operation “Fire” – Screenplay and Directing – (with BA) Participant in the Balkan Festival – praised by critics
1974 “The Explosion” – Screenplay and Directing (with BA)
1975 “Threads to be cut” Directing, sk. N. Tozaj.
1976 “Coats over wire fence” Screenplay and Director (with BA) The first Albanian film with a historical theme.
1977 “The Mermaid in Mallakastër” Documentary – Director
1978 “Spring in Gjirokaster” – Director
1979 “Mesonjetorja” – Director. Appreciated by the Albanian press and media, winner of 9 awards, nominated for the Republic Award and director for “Merited Artist”. Participant in the Valencia International Festival. Assessed as a “monument of Albanian history”.
1980 “New Mornings” – Director
1981 “Treasure” – Director
1982 “Our Buildings” Documentary – Director
1983 “A Name Among People” – Director. Competes in the International Festival of Valencia 1985 “Bitter Spring” – Director
1986 “Mountain Village” Documentary – Director
1987 “Rails” – Screenplay and Director (with BA)
1989 “Living Wall” Director. Evaluated at the European Festival, Czech Republic. The First Albanian Kino-Legend. Unrealized:
1991 “Disappointment” (Exodus) – Screenplay for film
1993 “Operation Pelikani” – Screenplay
1994 “The Crash” – Screenplay
1997 “Ibrahim Kodra” – Screenplay
2000 “Goes and does not return” – Screenplay (with BA)
2003 “Albatroz” – Screenplay
1981-1984 “The Hit” sk. Sabri Godo. 
Television Films:
1996 – “Avalanche”,
1996 “Sipa Press”,
1996 – “A Painter in Paris”,
1997 – “Colossus of the Albanian Circus”,
1998 – “Night in Paris”, director.
Decor: “The White and The Blck” by F. Paçrami
Folk Theater “Duty and Storm” by M. Fejzo
Folk Theater Music: “Uncle Vanja” (Chehov) – composer M. Fejzo
“Atdheu” Poem – Author and Composer M. Fejzo
Sculpture – Painting: Portraits, busts, bas-reliefs, Statues in concrete. Over hundreds of painting works in various techniques located inside and outside the country.
Bronze monuments of: World Grandfather of Bektashism, Ahmet Myftar Dede, Vlora.
The founders of Bektashism, Haxhi Bektash Veliu, in the World Headquarters in Tirana.
Honored with the Order: “Naim Frashëri”.
Muharrem Fejzo passed away on November 22, 2020.
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It was first published in May 2016 on the page “Albanian Cinematography” on Facebook and was revised in the following years.
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