Balkan Student CineFest

05/06/2026

Nicholas Snyder is an Italian-American film director and producer based in Brussels He studied film in Norway, where he began his career as a set production assistant and worked as a film projectionist for the local cinematheque.
Snyder has spent over a decade working in film, taking on roles including director of photography, co-producer, production assistant, script supervisor, and actor. As a director, his works include the surreal animated short Hot Air Hippo and the documentary The Astrology of Pandemics, available on Amazon Prime and DVD. He is also the co-producer of Christspiracy, a documentary exploring the relationship between religion and animals.

As an actor, he has appeared alongside Emma Watson and Daniel Brühl (Colonia), Adam Driver (Annette), and Rupert Everett (The Happy Prince). His latest appearance was in A Man of His Time, winner of the Best Screenplay Award at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

He currently works as a creative collaborator for the Swiss production company Célestes Images, while also developing film projects with Belgian production companies.

05/06/2026

Meri Dishnica is an alter-disciplinary storyteller, screenwriter, director, performer, and visual artist She is the director of the award-winning short film Bubbles (2023) which screened at over 130 global festivals, and the author of “Shënime minimale” (2023) She is the Creative Director of the Piano B International Film Festival in Rome and jury member of the Colli Albani Film Festival and has served as a script consultant for RatPac Entertainment 🎬

05/06/2026

Enea Gramo is a producer based in Tirana, Albania In 2022, he joined the Sarajevo Talents Program / Producers Summit and produced the short Diell (2022) by Rain Nikolla, as well as co-producing The Planting of the Trees (2022) by Fabio Seferi, both picked up by French distributor Next Films.

He previously produced The Delegation (2018), an Albanian-French-Greek-Kosovo co-production that premiered at Warsaw IFF, winning the Grand Prix for Best Feature, with support from the Albanian National Film Fund. In 2022-2024, Enea participated in Cinelink, EAVE Producers Workshop, Ace Producers Poland, and Rotterdam Producers Lab.

He co-produces Francesca Scalisi’s debut feature You, Me and Gods (Italy/France/Switzerland/Albania) and Domenico De Orsi’s A Peaceful Sunday (Albania/Italy). In 2025, he joined Lake (Greece/Albania/North Macedonia) and We All Die Naked (Albania/ Switzerland/ Finland/ Kosovo), both entering production in 2026. Enea holds a law degree and a master’s in Film & TV Directing from the University of Arts, Tirana 🎬

05/06/2026

Abdullah Harun İlhan is a film director and photographer from Türkiye .harun.ilhan He began making films at eleven and has since screened award-winning shorts and documentaries at hundreds of festivals worldwide.

A graduate of Bahçeşehir University’s Cinema Department, he furthered his film education in the U.S., U.K., South Korea, and Qatar. Ilhan has contributed to film projects in more than 75 countries and held solo photo exhibitions. He earned master’s degrees from Ibn Haldun University and the University of the Arts London.

Currently developing his debut feature, he continues to explore stories through film, guided by a deep interest in philosophy, memory, and human resilience

05/06/2026

Abdullah Harun İlhan is a film director and photographer from Türkiye .harun.ilhan He began making films at eleven and has since screened award-winning shorts and documentaries at hundreds of festivals worldwide. A graduate of Bahçeşehir University’s Cinema Department, he furthered his film education in the U.S., U.K., South Korea, and Qatar. Ilhan has contributed to film projects in more than 75 countries and held solo photo exhibitions. He earned master’s degrees from Ibn Haldun University and the University of the Arts London. Currently developing his debut feature, he continues to explore stories through film, guided by a deep interest in philosophy, memory, and human resilience 🎬

05/06/2026

Abdullah Harun İlhan is a film director and photographer from Türkiye .harun.ilhan He began making films at eleven and has since screened award-winning shorts and documentaries at hundreds of festivals worldwide.

A graduate of Bahçeşehir University’s Cinema Department, he furthered his film education in the U.S., U.K., South Korea, and Qatar. Ilhan has contributed to film projects in more than 75 countries and held solo photo exhibitions.

He earned master’s degrees from Ibn Haldun University and the University of the Arts London. Currently developing his debut feature, he continues to explore stories through film, guided by a deep interest in philosophy, memory, and human resilience 🎬

26/05/2026

4 days left to submit ⏳ If you have a story you care about—share it with us 🔗 Link in bio to submit.
🎟️ Use waiver code: CineFest2026Berat

11/05/2026

15/04/2026

Volunteers needed 🙌🏻🤍

06/06/2025

🎬 Film Production in the Balkans ☀️
From renowned Albanian director Eno Milkani, this workshop offers a unique insight into the art and craft of filmmaking in the region 🎞️

alkan Cinefest is a vibrant film festival celebrating the rich cinematic heritage and emerging talents of the Balkan region. Showcasing feature films, documentaries, and shorts, the festival brings together filmmakers, artists, and audiences to explore powerful stories and cultural voices from South...