East West East

Tirana, 1990: Former cycling champion, Ilo, now 50, is assigned by the government to assemble a team of five young cyclists to represent the country in an amateur race in France. While on their way to France, they visit Trieste, and on their first day there, the cyclists are still adjusting their eyes to the dazzling Western prosperity on display, when suddenly they discover, via their hotel TV sets, that full blown revolution has broken out back home. Now, worried for the safety of their loved ones, they must find a way of returning to their country – but with that country’s very existence now under question, they will need all the help they can get.
Screening Schedule

No physical screenings scheduled.
Script: Gjergj Xhuvani, Dhimiter Xhuvani, Jani Duri
Cinematography: Roberta Allegrini
Editing: Claudio Cutri
Sound: Bernie Signorin
Music: Enrico Ruggeri
Actors: Ndricim Xhepa (Ilo Zoto), Helidon Fino (Gimi), Fation Pustina (Ceti), Ervin Bejleri, Gentian Hazizi, Lulzim Zeqja, Romir Zalla
Production: Albanian General Vision, Albania & Fast Rewind, Italy T. +39 2365 63482 F. +39 2365 63482 f.tagliabue@fastrewind.it www.fastrewind.it
Producers: Arben Tasellari, Francesco Tagliabue
Art Direction: Durim Neziri
Costumes: Soela Zani
Format: 35mm Color
Production Country: Albania-Italy
Production Year: 2009
Duration: 100
Contact: High Point Media Group, UK T. +44 207 4246 870 F. +44 207 4353 281 sales@highpointfilms.co.uk www.highpointfilms.co.uk

Gjergj Xhuvani

Born in Tirana in 1963, he has become one of Albania’s most highly regarded film directors. His first short, Blanc and White, won at the Larissa Mediterranean Festival of New Filmmakers, but his break came some five years later with the short, Funeral Business, which was selected for Venice and won awards at a number of festivals including Montpelier and the Euro FF. This was followed by greater success with the feature film Slogans, which won the Youth Prize at Cannes IFF and Top Prize at Tokyo. His widely acclaimed feature Dear Enemy was awarded Best European Scenario at Sundance and participated at Toronto, Edinburgh and Bratislava.

Filmography

(selected)
1991 Blanc and White (short)
1992 The Last Sunday (short)
1994 The Last Love
1996 Tirana 96 (doc.)
1998 Funeral Business (short)
2001 Slogans
2004 Dear Enemy
2009 East West East/East West East - The Final Sprint