"Woke up" of records: 35 thousand tickets for 75 days

The line in the country's cinemas to watch "Zgjoi" continues to be long. This has made the film directed by Blerta Basholli continue and stay in the repertoire of cinemas, even more than two months after the premiere on the big screen. Producer Yll Uka has said that the records set by "Zgjoi" are a good omen for the path that awaits him towards "Oscar".

"The film 'Awake' continues to remain one of the most watched films on 'Cineplexx'", is the post with which the largest cinema network in the country started the day. About 200-300 visitors a day still stop at the "Cineplex" box office for the film directed by Blerta Basholli. It was the most watched movie of 2021. It set a record in terms of ticket sales in the country. About 35 tickets have been sold since the film premiered on October 22, 2021.

"Woke up" was considered as a narrative that reveals the deep wounds that the last war inflicted on people's destinies, while also serving as an inspiration for survival. The film, for which Basholli also wrote the script, is based on the story of Fahrie Hoti and shows the challenges faced by women in the absence of men as a result of the recent war in Kosovo.

Defrim Puka, marketing and communication manager, has shown that only in "Cineplexx" the film has 32 thousand tickets sold.

"It is the most watched film of 2021, even if we compare it to world premieres," he said. It has shown that the second most watched movie with the most tickets sold is "Fast & Furious" with 15 tickets.

"This is a pretty big achievement for local cinematography to be able to surpass international premieres in terms of ticket sales within a year", he said, adding that "Woke up" is a very well made film and the interest in the movie is still going on.

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"Even though it's been almost three months since the movie was shown in the cinema, it continues to be seen with about 200-300 visitors a day and therefore I believe that we will keep it in the cinema for another month due to the interest", he said. . According to him, this year is expected to be very good for cinematography and it is also expected that there will be very big premieres.

"It is expected to have a year of films with heroes as we expect four films from DC and Marvel," he said. Leaving a little from "Wake up", he added that the next performance of this cinema is the film "Scream" directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, for which on January 13 the special event "Horror Night" will be organized. .

As for "Zgjoi", he said that such a large number of interested people were attracted by the story, but also by the artistic skill shown by the director Basholli.

The disappearance of Fahrije Hoti's husband in the war is the beginning of challenges, sufferings and difficulties, in front of which the heroine of the film - who is portrayed by the actress Yllka Gashi - does not give up. The cast of the film includes the actors: Çun Lajçi, Aurita Agushi, Kumrije Hoxha, Adriana Matoshi, Kaona Sylejmani, Ilir Prapashtica, Molike Maxhuni, Blerta Ismaili, Xhejlane Terbunja, Shkëlqim Islami and Astrit Kabashi.

The national premiere of the film in August 2021 came with the news that it is Kosovo's candidate for nomination at Europe's "Oscar". And on December 21, it was announced that "Zgjoi" is on the short list for "Oscar". Meanwhile, on February 8, the 5 films nominated for the best international film announced by the American Academy will be announced, and the main ceremony is expected to be held on March 27.

Producer Yll Uka has said that so far in total there are more than 35 thousand tickets sold for "Zgjoi". The film, in addition to "Cineplexx" - in Prishtina and Prizren - was also shown in "Cinemarine" in Prizren and since November 28, with the opening of the "Hyrije Hana" cinema in Gjakovë, it was part of the repertoire of this cinema as well. After more than three decades "Hyrije Hana" started work in the former space of the former cinema in the "Asim Vokshi" palace of culture and even precisely with the screening of the film "Zgjoi".

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"We have been told by all the cinemas that they will continue to show the film as there is still interest in it and of course this is very good for us as a production, but also for the cinemas. We are very glad that the local public is welcoming Fahrije Hoti's story and cooperating with him. It is an inspiring story for all of us", he said. According to him, the records set by "Zgjoi" are a good warning for the road ahead towards "Oscar".

A decade ago, the director and screenwriter Blerta Basholli was going to work to weave the threads of the project for a film with the story of Fahrije Hoti. Among the many difficulties during the realization, there was hope that at least the film would have its premiere at the "Sundance Film Festival". The courage to dream was rewarded with the largest American film festival held in Utah. From there "Zgjoi" came out adorned with three trophies: the Grand Jury Prize, the Audience Prize and the Prize for Directing. And this was only the beginning of the opening. The successes that were recorded made Kosovo, precisely with "Zgjoi", be close to "Oscar" like never before.