Bloodlands (Albanian: Tokë Gjaku) is a 2017 Australian-Albanian horror film directed and written by Steven Kastrissios. It stars Gëzim Rudi and Suela Bako as members of a family that have a blood feud with a shtriga.
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Plot
Skender, a butcher in Albania, is struggling financially and facing bankruptcy. He refuses to allow his wife Shpresa to hold a job, but Shpresa is fearful of the damage that bankruptcy would cause to their reputation. Their daughter lliriana announces that she is moving to Italy with a friend. A being known as the shtriga begins to haunt the family after Skender harasses two people scavenging for pet food outside of his shop.
Cast
Gëzim Rudi as Skender
Suela Bako as Shpresa
Emiljano Palali as Artan
Alesia Xhemalaj as Iliriana
Ilire Vinca Çelaj as Drita
Dritan Arbana as Florian
Florist Bajgora as Erald
Andi Begolli as Leo
Enxhi Cuku as Lorena
Fioralba Kryemadhi as Vlora
Edvin Mustafa as Bako
Rina Narazani as Town Clerk
Ermal Sadiku as Olek
Production
Steven Kastrissios, an Australian, wrote and directed the film while the entire cast was Albanian. The story was inspired by Albanian blood feuds and stories told by Dritan Arbana, a friend of Kastrissios and a producer for the film. The cinematography was done by Leander Ljarja and Kastrissios composed the music.
Bloodlands was marketed as the first Albanian horror film. Filming in Albania started in October 2014. Kastrissios relied on translators as the cast did not speak English and shot the film in Albanian despite fears that not being in English would hurt its distribution.
Release
Bloodlands premiered at the Glasgow Film Festival on 25 February 2017, and was released in Tirana, on 22 September. It was shown at the Sitges Film Festival, Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival, Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, Fantasporto, and Melbourne International Film Festival. It was given a video on demand release on 30 January 2018.