-Who is Eduart Grishaj?

I was 14 years old when I received my first camera as a birthday gift from my brother, who had emigrated to Italy. From that day on, I started seeing the world through its lens. At that time, while my dream was to make films, most of my peers dreamed of escaping Albania, risking their lives on small boats to reach Italy or other European countries. Witnessing their struggles only strengthened my desire to stay and create something meaningful in my own country.

-When did you realize that cinema would become the protagonist of your life?

I grew up with this idea, as much as I could understand from television. In the village where I was born, there was no cinema. When I started high school, I had to leave my family and move to a larger city. There, I began working at a local TV station. After a few years, I decided to challenge myself further and moved to the capital, Tirana, where I worked in national television. I also pursued my studies in directing at the Academy of Arts. During my time there, I made my first short film, Gjyshja (Grandmother), which turned out to be very successful. From that moment on, my only focus was cinema and taking it to a higher level.

-What inspired the idea behind The Passport?

The Passport is based on a true immigration story that happened in recent years in Albania. I have always wanted to make a film about migration and the struggles of Albanians who left the country illegally, facing extreme difficulties. Coming from a family of emigrants myself, this subject has always been close to my heart. Through this film, I aim to send a message to young people who are still considering leaving Albania illegally. Not only do they put their lives at risk, but unintentionally, they also contribute to the financial growth of human trafficking networks.

-Tell us about the international success of The Passport.

The Passport is currently being screened in major European cities, including London, Rome, Athens, Zurich, Berlin, and Brussels. After Europe, the film will also reach audiences in the United States and Canada. It has been very well received by Albanian audiences, who see their own stories reflected in it, but also by international viewers who have found it compelling and eye-opening. Where does cinema stand today? I believe that cinema, in general, is not experiencing its best days. I think we are currently facing a crisis, as people are moving away from movie theaters. With declining viewership, the entire film industry suffers. Online streaming is taking over and, unfortunately, diminishing the beauty of traditional cinema. It is making people lazier, less willing to go to the theaters, and this is something we feel more and more every day.

-How do you imagine the world of cinema 100 years from now?

With the rise of artificial intelligence, I fear that films will lose their true essence. The magic of cinema that we grew up with and experienced firsthand will be gone, and everything will feel artificial. Unfortunately, I believe that movie theaters will eventually turn into museums. People will abandon them, and they will remain as symbols of the past. Cinema will primarily be consumed on smartphones, stripping it of the authentic experience that once connected audiences to the true art of filmmaking.