This is her second win of the night, after \”Electricity\” won Best Dance Recording, her track with Silk City aka Diplo and Mark Ronson.

\”I want to say thank you to my fans who have allowed me to be the best version of myself,\” Lipa said in accepting the award.

Born in 1995 in London to Albanian parents originally from Kosovo, Dua Lipa\’s breakthrough came in 2016 with her first global hit \”Hotter than Hell,\” which she followed with \”Blow Your Mind (Mwah),\” storming into the US Top 100 Billboard.

Lipa then broke out with her massive hit \”New Rules,\” from her 2017 self-titled debut album, which also features her platinum single \”IDGAF.\”

During her acceptance speech, Lipa made an emotional reference to her background during others to feel special when different from others.  

“My God I am so nervous, so excited and so grateful. One thing that I really want to say is for anyone who hasn’t realized how special they are to have a different story, a different background, a name that honors their roots because they want to be normal, whatever the hell that means, just know that no matter where you’re from, never let that get on the way of your dreams, because you deserve it.” Lipa concluded by making an emotional reference to her Albanian roots.

Dua Lipa was born on 22 August 1995 in Westminster, London, to Albanian parents. Her father, Dukagjin Lipa, is a marketing manager who had a side gig as a lead vocalist in a Kosovar rock band named Oda and her mother, Anesa Lipa (née Rexha), is a tourism executive. Her parents are from Kosovo and had left Pristina in 1992.

She attended Sylvia Young Theatre School part-time before moving to Kosovo with her family in 2006 when her father had graduated from his studies and been offered a job in Kosovo.

At the age of 14, she began posting covers of her favourite songs by artists such as Pink and Nelly Furtado on YouTube and at the age of 15, she moved back to London with aspirations of becoming a singer.

Lipa lived with a friend and studied at Parliament Hill School, where she finished A-levels in Politics, Psychology, English and Media, returning to the Sylvia Young Theatre School on Saturdays. She began working as a model for the online catalogue ASOS Marketplace when she was 16 and 17. She also worked as a hostess at a Mexican restaurant La Bodega Negra in Soho, and at a nightclub in Mayfair. In 2013, she starred in a television advertisement for The X Factor.

In 2015, Lipa began working on her debut album for Warner Music Group. In August 2015, she released her first single \”New Love\”, produced by Emile Haynie and Andrew Wyatt. She released her second single \”Be the One\”, in October 2015 achieving success across Europe, reaching number one in Belgium, Poland and Slovakia, as well as charting within the top 10 in over 11 European territories.

In January 2018, Lipa received nominations in five categories at the Brit Awards – more nominations than any other artist that year. She was nominated for British Female Solo Artist, British Breakthrough Act, MasterCard British Album of the Year for Dua Lipa, British Single of The Year and British Video of The Year for \”New Rules\”.

This was the first time that a female artist had received five nominations. She performed at the awards ceremony held on 21 February at the O2 Arena in London and won the awards for British Female Solo Artist and British Breakthrough Act.

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The movie directed by Albania’s Bujar Alimani and scripted by renowned Artan Minarolli who died in 2015, focuses on events in 1990 Albania, when the country’s iron fisted communist regime was starting to crumble. A European delegation comes to Tirana to monitor the implementation of new reforms by the government, which is trying to hold on to power at all cost .

The main character of the movie, is Leo, a political prisoner played by legendary Viktor Zhusti who refuses to play the regime’s theatrical game. His staged meeting with the delegation’s head Mr. Loherin played by another heavyweight Albanian actor Ndriçim Xhepa, prompts Leo to want to commit suicide, but the turn of events takes another path.

The Warsaw Grand Prix is hailed as a major achievement for Albanian cinema, which has suffered from financial restraints and lack of adequate production during its post communist days. Alimani dedicated this win to the late producer Artan Minarolli whi died in 2015.

Anca Damian of the Romanian/French film Moon Hotel Kabul, collected the prize for best director, while Martina Apostolova took home the Special Jury Award for her performance in the Bulgarian film Irina, directed by Nadejda Koseva. Special Mention went to Mexican director Sergio Umansky Brener for his film Ocho de cada diez (Eight Out of Ten).

The jury of the 1-2 competition, which presented directors\’ first and second feature efforts, gave its award to the Greece/France/Serbia co-production I doulia tis (Her Job), directed by Nikos Labôt.

Out by French filmmaker Denis Parrot was hailed as the winner of the Free Spirit Competition, which focused on independent cinema.

The Best Documentary Feature Award went to Att sminka en gris (Putting Lipstick on a Pig), directed by Johan Karrento and co-produced by Estonia and Finland.

The Short Grand Prix was awarded to the Ukraine/Poland effort Weightlifter, helmed by Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk.

 
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Additional Source: Hollywood Reporter

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The law will be sent back to parliament in September, however, the refusal suggests a new political rift between the small Balkan country’s President Ilir Meta and current Prime Minister Edi Rama, whose socialist MPs voted in favor of Meta to climb up to the highly ceremonial role last year.

The law, which was passed earlier this month in parliament by the votes of only majority ruling socialists, prompted harsh reactions by opposition democrats as well as nightly protests by civil society activists, actors and other interest groups on existing theater premises.

In his official letter, Mr. Meta argued the refusal to approve the controversial law on several points, of which he notes the law is in contradiction with the standards of the European Union, it threatens the autonomy of local governance, it lacks a thorough appraisal when changing the status of public property as well as highlighting the current lack of a functioning Constitutional Court.

“In the current circumstances when the Constitutional Court of Albania is not functional to treat such shortcomings, or to solve any constitutional disagreements deriving from the approval of such special legal initiative, I invite the Parliament of Albania to thoroughly reassess Law NR. 37/2018.” – read a statement on the President’s website.

Meta’s decision to turn the law back to parliament is a blow for his former social-democratic political ally Prime Minister Edi Rama as well as for Tirana’s popular young Mayor Erion Veliaj who has been strongly pushing for a new contemporary building instead of the old degraded structures built in 1939.

Veliaj who had previously hoped on Meta’s approval, called the decision disappointing and vowed to press ahead with plans to build the new theater.

“The return today by the President of a law which would grant Tirana with a new and modern theater was a disappointment. As we have been waiting 40 years for a new theater, we will wait another 40 days for the Parliament to vote again on the law which paves the way for a modern project – in its own premises and with the latest technology.” – said Veliaj on his Facebook account.

Earlier on this morning, opposition leader Lulzim Basha had warned that if the President decrees the law it would be taken as coup d’état, pointing out that the demolition of the current national theater building would be considered public property theft and as a destruction of cultural heritage of Tirana.

“If this law is approved or ignored by the President we are dealing with participation in a coup d’état. If this red line is crossed we are de facto in a civil war,” – warned Democratic Party chairman Basha.

Only two days ago, several renowned actors and activists called on the President and other authorities to not block the building of a new theater, prompting harsh criticism among the artistic and civil society community who have been protesting for weeks against plans to bring down the old historical building.

The government maintains the old structures are out of any acceptable standards and argue in favor of a new and contemporary performing arts complex which would provide the capital Tirana with a modern face lift. The project has been designed by Danish architect Bjarke Ingels who has also undertaken several recent high-profile commissions including New York’s Two World Trade Centers.

Despite the presidential refusal, the constitution guarantees parliamentary supremacy over a largely ceremonial role of the president, and the law is expected to be re-voted again at the start of the next parliamentary session in September.

Speaking for the Voice of America this evening, Albanian Foreign Minister and ruling socialists representative Ditmir Bushati said \”public interest would be protected and we will follow the constitutional logic in this process, with parliament having its voice heard again in September.\”

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The country’s President Ilir Meta is expected this week to express his official opinion on whether he will decree a controversial law recently passed by Albania’s parliament, which paves the way for the destruction of the old building.

Several known artists such as Robert Ndrenika, Luftar Paja, Alfred Trebicka, Leka Bungo, Albert Minga, Arben Derhemi and Zamira Kita have signed petition calling on Albania’s highest authorities as well as on the EU and OSCE Presences in Tirana to build new theater as soon as possible.

“We actors, producers and representatives of performing arts stand for the building of a new modern and contemporary national theatre which would serve the entire community and art lovers, without touching any existing cm of the existing property.” – says the petition sent to the President, Prime Minister, Speaker of Parliament, Mayor of Tirana and bizarrely copied to the EU and OSCE presences in Tirana which have stayed out of the scorching debates.

Other renowned actors who were allegedly part of a previous petition such as Viktor Zhusti, Petrit Malaj, Kastriot Çaushi, Elia Zaharia, Eva Alikaj and Pëllumb Kulla have stayed out of the latest initiative, confirming huge divisions among the community of artists in Albania.

The move has angered civil society activists who have engaged in a several week marathon style protest at the old theatre’s premises and has added further fuel to several months of a vicious stand-off between those in favor of preserving the old building and the government.

The petition is seen by many activists and artists as a betrayal to the performing arts community and accuse the government of having bought off the artists who signed it.

They argue that the old building which was erected by Italian architects in 1939, is hugely important to Tirana’s historical memory and as such it should be preserved and restored to its original shape and glory.

Speaking for Tirana Echo, Alida Karakushi one of the organizers of the protests at the theater\’s ground said that those in power are using division and propaganda to manipulate public opinion in order to sideline attention from the real deal.

“Standing across the 54 signatures in favor of destroying the theater, there are 150 artists, 130 architects, 5000 signatures of Tirana’s residents and over 300 articles which elaborate in depth over why the theater should not be destroyed. Our alliance will continue protesting as usual in front of the theater every night, and our actions could escalate if the law is not withdrawn.” – said Karakushi.

Other critics, including opposition repreentatives have said that out of the 54 signatures, there are also public administration employees who have nothing to do with performing arts.

The controversial case of the national theater building has dominated Albania’s news for the past few months through a fierce standoff between a group of civil society activists and artists demanding Edi Rama’s government to abandon plans to build a new modern theater at the place of the old historic building.

Activists accuse the government of privatizing the centrally located theatre’s plot of land in favor of a building contractor who plans to erect several skyscrapers behind the new modern theatre building.

According to critics, the project which has now been voted in parliament and awaits approval by the president, aims to divide over 7000 square meters centrally located in Tirana through a public-private partnership by leaving 3000 sq m for a new modern theatre and cunningly granting 4000 sq m to a private building contractor who plans to erect properties in the area.

The government denies allegations and says the PPP is needed in order to finance a modern and contemporary building for the new theatre as the old one is out of any acceptable standards of safety and performances.

“I am determined to move forward with the Theatre project. I have just been informed that all artists have signed a petition in favor,” – said Tirana’s popular and debatable mayor Erion Veliaj yesterday during a municipal council meeting which was boycotted by opposition councilors.

As the public debate has largely been dominated by confusion and lack of transparency over what exactly is planned over the plot of land currently hosting the old theater, earlier in the year several portals announced that Danish architect Bjarke Ingels was selected to design the new National Theater of Albania.

For Ingels, who’s the founder and creative partner of the internationally renowned firm Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), the news comes on the heels of several recent high-profile commissions (including New York’s Two World Trade Center). The Danish innovator will be the first high-profile architect to design a public structure in the country, if the destruction of the old building goes ahead as planned by the ruling socialist government.

The stand-off is expected to continue as parliament is in recess until September.

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James Goold, chairman of the Florida-based RPM Nautical Foundation, said the objects – dating from the 8th century B.C. through to World War II – would be a great tourist attraction if properly displayed in a museum.

Goold\’s RPM has mapped out the Ionian seabed from the Greek border all along to the Vlora Bay, finding at least 22 shipwrecks from the ancient times to World War II and hundreds of ancient amphorae. Those long, narrow terracotta vessels carried olive oil and wine along trade routes between North Africa and the Roman Empire, where Albania, then Illyria, was a crossroad.

\”The time has come to build a museum for Albanian and foreign tourists,\’\’ said Albanian archaeologist Neritan Ceka.

Some amphorae may have already been looted – they are not infrequently seen decorating restaurants along the Albanian coastline.

Albania is trying to protect and capitalise on its rich underwater heritage, long neglected by its former communist regime, but preservation still receives scarce funding from the government in one of Europe\’s poorest nations.

The arrival of RPM\’s Hercules research vessel 11 years ago was \”a real revolution,\’\’ Ceka said, praising its professional divers, high-tech sonar and remotely operated underwater vehicle.

RPM and a joint Albanian-Italian expedition are the only scientific underwater efforts in Albania so far, both with the government\’s approval.

Now RPM believes it\’s time for the not-for-profit Institute of Nautical Archaeology research organisation, which is based in Texas, US, to explore the possibilities of excavating shipwrecks, a financially expensive and scientifically delicate process.

\”There\’s a special environment in Albania, because the coast has been so protected for so many years,\’\’ said INA\’s David Ruff, a former commander of a nuclear-powered submarine.

Ruff said \”one of the real gems of Albania is the Butrint site\’\’ – a UNESCO-protected ancient Greek and Roman site in southernmost Albania close to the Greek border.

He said INA\’s Virazon II research vessel will stay for a month in Albanian waters \”to understand the coast of Albania and if we can run a large-scale excavation here.\’\’

Source: AP / Llazar Semini

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The 27 year old Brit-Albanian singer originally from Kosovo, gave a thrilling performance to her many fans gathered in Tirana’s main square, showing off her new red hair, in honor of the red color of the Albanian flag.

“Hey guys, look I’m back in Albania after 6 years and I have dyed my hair red” – said Ora to a cheerful crowd, which was fired up even more when she decided to perform an old traditional Albanian dance with her group of energetic dancers on stage.

Her short Tirana performance was not longer than one hour, leaving many ‘hungry’ fans disappointed. However, Tirana’s popular young mayor Erion Veliaj awarded her with the city’s symbol, a large key.

After leaving Tirana on her private jet for Verona in Italy, the top pop star twitted: “All 250,000 of you thank you for showing up tonight. You could be Anywhere in the world and you were there with me! Everyone who helped put this together The Major @erionveliaj and the sponsors! I had the best time ever! Verona you’re next! Shot by @Timmsy17”.

This was the second concert of Kosovan-born Rita Ora in Albania’s capital Tirana. Her first performance was in 2012. Ora has never hidden her Albanian heritage and has always been thankful to her many Albanian fans who have helped her climb the ladder of world fame.

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Set within the city centre, The Tirana Pyramid was first erected in 1988 but has since undergone a variety of uses. First opening as museum dedicated to Albania\’s long-serving communist leader, Enver Hoxha, it has also acted as a temporary base for NATO throughout the Balkan Wars, a nightclub and an event space.

Despite plans to turn it into a national theatre, the 11,800-square-metre space has now sat empty for more than 10 years.

Rotterdam-based firm MVRDV will now transform the pyramid into a technology education centre for young people, in an attempt to \”give the building back to the public\”.

\”It is a symbol for many Albanians. For the older generation, it is a memory to the cultural events during communist times, for the recent generation it became the place to celebrate the new era,\” said MVRDV co-founder Winy Maas in a statement.

The renovation will see the structure\’s series of concrete beams made into sets of stairs that ascend to a terrace on the roof. This became a key element of the design after they noticed that the city\’s kids climbed up to the roof and used it as hangout spot even while the building had been derelict.

Inside, the beams will be hollow and be able to serve as viewing platforms or temporary display spaces.

\”Essential to MVRDV\’s vision is the respect of the current informal use of the building mostly by young citizens of Tirana, and to strengthen this use by inviting all citizens to share this function,\” explained the practice.

Slices of glass will be inserted between the stairways on the building\’s facade to help fill its central atrium with natural light. Several doorways will also be added at ground level to help the centre seem more \”porous\” and accessible.

Tall trees will be dotted throughout the interiors to help counteract the building\’s lofty ceiling.

The project, which is due for completion in 2019, will join a group of major projects currently underway in Tirana – Danish practice BIG is constructing a bow tie-shaped theatre for the city, while Italian studio Stefano Boeri Architetti is creating three 24-hour schools that will double as community hubs.

Images are by MVRDV unless stated otherwise.

Project credits:

Design: MVRDV – Winy Maas, Jacob Van Rijs and Nathalie De Vries
Design team: Winy Maas, Stefan de Koning with Ronald Hoogeveen, Boris Tikvarski, Stavros Gargaretas, Leo Stuckardt and Guido Boeters
Youth centre management: TUMO

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Photo gallery: The ultimate Eurovision 2018 Grand Final gallery

It\’s a wrap! The Grand Final of the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest has come to an end and Israel\’s Netta takes home the trophy! Enjoy the countless moments to remember in our ultimate Grand Final photo gallery.

Eurovision

Do you want to hear your favourites from this year\’s Eurovision Song Contest? Listen here! Let us know which songs you will keep in your playlist in the comments. Also check out our Spott profile for interactive photos!

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Reactions flooded social networks and media across Albania as Tirana’s jury gave its top 12 points to Italy, only to find out that its Albanian song got zero points in return from Rome. Fan fury was further fueled also by the fact that Italy’s song was performed by an Albanian-born singer Ermal Meta, adding to Albania’s hopes for high points from the Italian jury.

Albania had placed its hopes on singer Eugent Bushpepa and his song “Mall” this year in Lisbon, after selecting the singer by a professional jury during the National Albanian Song Festival. The song was tipped as one of the favorites and it respectfully ended in 11^th place. Italy’s “Non mi avette fatto niente” sung by Ermal Meta and Fabrizio Moro got 5^th place,  higher than expected by most music critics.

Reacting to the vote after the Grand Final in Lisbon, Italy’s Ermal Meta twitted: “Honestly I didn’t get the 12 points of the Italian jury. I would have given them to Albania. Eugent’s voice and tone were impressing.”

Also reacting to the Italian vote, Albania’s singer Eugent Bushpepa said that “the biggest wonder this year was Italy. We thought that having had an Albanian singer in their team, they would have been a bit more generous to us.”

Fans were proud that three Albanian-born singers were representing three different countries at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, Albania, Cyprus and Italy.

Speaking after the Grand Final, Cyprus’ phenomenal Albanian-born singer Eleni Foureira who came up second, said she was extremely happy with the 10 points from the Albanian jury.

Next year’s Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Jerusalem after the Israeli song “Toy” sung by Netta won in Lisbon.

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Albanian fans were overjoyed last night as three Albanian born singers representing Albania, Cyprus and Italy have now been confirmed for the Grand Final taking place on Saturday night in Lisbon.

Favorite to win is Cyprus with Albanian-born singer Eleni Foureira who rocked the stage last night with her song “Fuego”. Her chances of winning the song contest have gone from 66-1 to 5-2 after the semi-final at Lisbon\’s Altice Arena.

For the first time in twelve years, Albania is sending a male solo artist to the contest, Eugent Bushpepa who was born in 1984 and started singing when he was only six years old. In December 2017, the Albanian national selection ‘Festivali i Këngës’ chose Bushpepa to represent his country at the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest with a rock song ‘Mall’ (Longing) , which he wrote and composed himself.

Eugent Bushpepa smashed the stage last night with his high rock voice showing strong vocal skills and a solid performance which gives Albania hope to be in the top ten at the Grand Final.

Italy’s Ermal Meta and Fabrizio Moro come with ‘Non Mi Avete Fatto Niente’ which in English translates as’ You Did Not Do Anything To Me’, and its subject matter is far more serious than you might expect from a Eurovision entry – with lyrics relating to war and terrorism across Europe and the Middle East.

Since ending their 14-year Eurovision exile in 2011, Italy have twice come close to winning the competition – coming second in 2011 and achieving a third place finish in 2015.

This time round they clearly have their sights set on doing even better, and have recruited one of the country’s most successful songwriters, Albanian-born Ermal Meta, to help achieve that goal. Ermal will take to the stage alongside fellow singer-songwriter Fabrizio Moro. Italy goes automatically to the Grand Final as part of the Big 5.

After a thrilling first Semi-Final, the ten ecstatic qualifiers gathered for a press conference to talk about their experience. They also drew from a bowl to find out whether they would perform in the first or second half of the Grand Final on Saturday, the 12th of May.

Cyprus’ Eleni Foureira thanked the audience for all the love and support, and was asked if she is going to make history as Cyprus’ best result in the Eurovision Song Contest – which they reached three times – was 5th place.

“I have no idea. I wish I could change that, so I’m going to try and make history. But if I don’t, I’m going to be happy too.” – Eleni said. Cyprus drew to perform in the second half in Saturday\’s Grand Final.

Talking about his performance on the big stage in Lisbon, Albania’s Eugent Bushpepa said: \”As long as you can convey emotions, it’s the same singing either in a small pub or in front of this enormous crowd.”

He went on to dedicate the song \”to all the people that I love, it’s about missing the people that you care for the most, so I dedicate it to all Albanians.”Albania drew to perform in the first half in Saturday\’s Grand Final.

The 63rd Eurovision Song Contest is about to take place, for the first time in its history, in Portugal, a country that had a reputation – until last year – as the competition\’s biggest loser.

The Grand Final will feature 26 participants including Portugal (host), the Big-5 (Germany, Spain, France, Italy and United Kingdom), the top 10 from the first semi-final and the top 10 from the second semi-final which takes place on Thursday night.

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