Shepparton doco to feature at Melbourne festival

Produced by Reg Qemal, who is president of the Shepparton Albanian Moslem Society, the documentary depicts the stories of three generations of Albanian migrants to Australia, exploring their experiences of sacrifice and contribution towards their adopted country.

Directed by Dritan Arbana, the documentary was filmed over the course of one year in Albania and Australia.

It depicts how the protagonists became a bridge between two vastly different cultures, and for at least one of them, presented the first opportunity to connect with long-lost relatives after nearly a century.

“The message really was that it’s the next generation that needs to keep the culture continuing on because if they don’t, it’ll be lost,” Mr Qemal said.

“We’ve been able to keep it now for 100 years and we’re into the third and fourth generations of Albanians here in Australia.

“I think my mother and father would be very proud.

“They’re not here with me today, but it’s something that is in my heart.”

Australia My Home: An Albanian Migration has been recognised by many international film festivals since its premiere, including the Tirana International Film Festival in Albania.

The documentary has also received international accolades, including winning the Exceptional Merit Award at the Docs Without Borders Film Festival and the Award of Merit at the Impact DOCS Awards in the United States.