KINENOVA
A Shelter Among the Clouds
Directed by: Robert Budina
Synopsis
Besnik is a lonely shepherd and devoted Muslim, haunted by unfulfilled love. He is the son of a Catholic mother and formerly Communist father whom he takes care of in an Albanian village in the mountains. Up here, Christians and Muslims have found a way to co-exist peacefully. Even after the discovery that the old mosque used to be a church and that the building was actually shared by the two religions in the past, the calm of daily life can be preserved – with Besnik’s help. After the death of his father, however, drastic changes threaten Besnik’s multi-faith family and the shepherd is forced to seek his own path.
Cast & crew
Written and directed by: Robert Budina
Cast: Arben Bajraktaraj, Esela Pysqyli, Bruno Shllaku, Irena Cahani, Muzabajdin Qamili, Osman Ahmeti, Suela Bako, Virus Shala, Arben Spahija, Helga Boshnjaku
Producer: Sabina Kodra
Co-producer: Cristian Nicolescu
Director of photography: Marius Panduru R.S.C.
Editor: Stefan Tatu
Original music: Marius Leftărache
Production design: Leandër Ljarja
Costume design: Gerta Oparaku
Make-up artist: Besa Islami
Sound mixer: Darko Spasovski
Supervising sound editor and re-recording mixer: Marius Leftărache
Props master: Andon Koja
Production manager: Erjola Fiore
Script editor: Laura Buna
Assistant director: Edo Tagliavini
Production: Erafilm (Albania), Digital Cube (Romania)
Awards & recognition
Premiere and Official Selection Competition — Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, 2018
About the director
Robert Budina is an acclaimed filmmaker and co-founder of Erafilm. His thriller "Pikë Uji" (Waterdrop, 2024) earned high praise from Variety, won Best Feature Film at the Montevideo World Film Festival, and became Albania's official 2025 Oscar entry. The film also won Best Screenplay and Best Actress at the Alexandria International Film Festival. Budina also created "Katrori i Pushtetit" (2022), a highly popular and widely watched TV series exposing the toxic ties between media and politics. His impressive career includes his debut feature "Agon" (2012), which served as Albania's 2014 Oscar entry, and the drama "A Shelter Among the Clouds" (2018), which premiered at the prestigious Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival and won many international awards worldwide.
Filmography
Pikë Uji / Waterdrop (2024) — feature thriller
Katrori i Pushtetit (2022) — TV series
A Shelter Among the Clouds (2018) — feature drama
Agon (2012) — debut feature
Film stills
