YLLKA GJOLLESHA
FOUNDER AND FESTIVAL PRODUCER
Yllka Gjollesha (b.1985, Albania) is a Tirana-based video artist and curator, and the Founder and Producer of the Gjon Mili International Video Art Festival (IVAF). With a multidisciplinary background in video art, media, and museology, she has curated key cultural institutions such as the Gjon Mili Museum, the Ethnographic Museums of Gjirokastra, Kadare House, Kruja, and Kavaja.
Formerly Head of Production at Albanian Radio Television and co-founder of Agora Art Center, her work focuses on cultural preservation, visual storytelling, and artistic innovation. She is also the author of the documentary “Dritë (Light)” about Gjon Mili and is currently involved in the development of the Archaeological Museum of Durrës.
ARTUR SOKOLI
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
With over two decades of experience in national and international event management, Artur Sokoli is a seasoned professional who seamlessly combines strategic organization with artistic vision. As the Founder and General Manager of Event Stories Tirana 18, he has conceived and delivered high-profile cultural, institutional, and artistic events in collaboration with prestigious partners in Albania and abroad.
His approach blends rigorous planning, structured execution, and precise budget management with a refined aesthetic sensibility, resulting in experiences that are both operationally flawless and visually compelling. He has led festivals, exhibitions, fashion shows, concerts, and large-scale public events, consistently maintaining the highest professional standards and public impact.
SUELA BAKO
FESTIVAL DIRECTOR
Suela Bako is an accomplished director and actress, holding a degree in Acting as well as in Film and Television Directing from the University of Arts. She has directed numerous short films and documentaries that have been featured and recognized at prominent international festivals. In 2018, Suela made her debut as a theater director and has earned awards for her work in both film and theater, including the prestigious “Best Actress” award at the Nashville Film Festival. She serves as an assistant lecturer in the Film Directing Department at the University of Arts actress at “Aleksandër Moisiu” Theater. Her first feature film, Ne Të Treja, was awarded the grand prize at DotOnTheMap Film Days in Cyprus in 2020.
GENTIAN GJIKOPULLI
FESTIVAL SELECTOR AND JURY MEMBER
Gentian Gjikopulli, (born in 1974) currently lives in Tirana, Albania. Graduated in Monumental Painting Section at Academy of Fine Arts Tirana, Albania. In 1996 he specialized in “arts plastique” in Luminy-Marseille, France. He is a multidisciplinary artist working in painting, video, directing, and screenwriting.
GLORIA KATIRAJ
FESTIVAL COORDINATOR
Glorja Katiraj, born in Tirana in 2002, is a young and promising artist and designer. She completed her Bachelor’s studies in Art and Design at Polis University, where she developed her aesthetic sensitivity and creative vision. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Applied Design, further deepening her knowledge and contemporary approaches in the field. For the past two years, she has been working as a graphic designer, blending creativity with professionalism in various visual projects.
SEVASTI NDINI
FESTIVAL COORDINATOR
Sevasti Ndini, born in Athens, Greece in 2003, completed her Bachelor’s degree in Art & Design at Polis University, where she refined her skills and expanded her creative vision. Currently, she is building her career as a freelance Graphic Designer, continuing to explore and express her artistic identity through diverse visual projects.
SARA TAFARAM
FESTIVAL COORDINATOR AND PRESENTER
Sara Tafaram, born in Tirana in 2002, is a young artist with a deep aesthetic sensitivity and a well-formed vision from an early age. She completed her Bachelor’s studies in Art and Design at Polis University, where she further developed her creative inclinations and conceptual approach to art. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Applied Design, delving deeper into contemporary forms of visual expression. With an innate passion for art, Sara has been involved in creative projects since childhood, combining imagination with professionalism in the development of visual identities and graphic communication
SILVI RUCI
MARKETING AND COORDINATOR
Silvi Ruci is a marketing professional and project manager based in Albania. She works at R&T Advertising—one of the country’s longest-established agencies as a Client Service Director—collaborating with well-known brands across a range of campaigns. She also manages projects in the events industry in collaboration with Event Stories Tirana 18, overseeing planning and execution from concept to delivery.
