Florenc Papas’ sophomore feature, a coming-of-age drama titled Luna Park, has completed post-production, Cineuropa has learnt. Papas’ debut, Open Door [+lee también:
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Set amidst Albania’s civil unrest in 1997, Luna Park follows Mira (played by Adriana Matoshi) and her son Toni (Orion Jolldashi) as they struggle to survive. Mira, a single mother in Elbasan, invests in risky projects and has a brief affair with Berti (Nik Xhelilaj), a wealthy figure running an investment scheme. As the country plunges into anarchy owing to collapsed pyramid schemes, Mira and Toni flee, facing danger at the border. After they are separated in Greece, Toni searches for his absent father and finds solace near the closed Luna Park, symbolising fleeting hope in a time of uncertainty. The script was penned by Papas himself together with Glykeria Patramani.

“Luna Park is a heartfelt period drama inspired by my childhood in 1990s Albania. The film tells the story of an Albanian family facing economic struggles, set against the backdrop of the 1997 crisis. It follows the challenges of a missing father who’s been living illegally in Greece for four years, a common theme as many Albanians sought better opportunities abroad after communism fell in 1990,” the director tells Cineuropa.

“This project reflects my own experiences growing up during a time of civil crisis, immigration and separation. The year 1997 holds a darker meaning for Albanians. It’s a period that we, as a nation, often avoid discussing, but acknowledging it is essential for our collective healing. As a filmmaker born in 1991, the 1990s resonate with me, shaping the narrative of Luna Park. Beyond being the story of one family, it captures the struggles of numerous families in that era, exploring how our past influences who we are today,” he continues.

The cast is rounded off by Suela Bako, Olivia Hysolli, Kristaq Pilo, Artan Islami, Elidon Aliko, Donald Shehu, Urim Aliaj, Eno Milkani, Denardi Neziri, Milto Kutali, Xheni Halluli and Roan Kumbria. Key creatives include DoP Simos Sarketzis, editor Federica Forcesi, composer Matej Merlic, production designer Durim Neziri, art director Rei Pema, costume designer Stela Laknori, and make-up artist and hairstylist Ioanna Lygizou.

Luna Park is being produced by Albania’s On Film Production with Italy’s Lupin Film, Greece’s Atalante Productions, Croatia’s Corvus Studio and Kosovo’s Buka Production. The attached producers are Dritan Huqi, Riccardo Neri, Vincenzo Filippo and Ioanna Bolomyti, whilst the co-producers are Zvonomir Munivrana and Fatmir Spahiu. The project has received backing from the Albanian National Center of Cinematography, the Greek Film Centre, ERT, the Croatian Audiovisual Centre, the Kosovo Cinematography Center and the SEE Cinema Network.