Kushtrim Koliqi (1984) is a professor, theater and film director, producer, publisher, and human rights activist. Born in Pristina, Kosovo, where he completed primary and secondary education. He studied theater directing at the Faculty of Arts, University of Pristina, where he also earned his Master’s degree. He completed his doctoral studies at the South East European University, Faculty of Languages, Cultures and Communication in Macedonia with the dissertation titled “Dramatization and Staging of Kadare in the Theater.” During his professional career, he has been involved in theater productions at the National Theatre of Kosovo as well as other local and private theaters.
His most successful performances include: “For Old Times” (Kushtrim Koliqi), “Underground Man” (Hristo Boytchev), “Open Couple” (Dario Fo), “Closer” and “After Ms. Julie” (Patrick Marber), “The Merchant of Venice” (Associate Director, William Shakespeare), “Caligula” (Albert Camus), “I Am My Own Wife” (Doug Wright), “La Rrem” (Arian Krasniqi), “Stiffler” (Doruntina Basha), “Father and Father” (Jeton Neziraj), “The Traitor’s Niche” (author Ismail Kadare, playwright Doruntina Basha), among others.
As a director, he is known for avant-garde, bold, provocative, creative, politically and socially engaged, and innovative approaches. His theater performances have received positive critical acclaim and have been well received by audiences in Kosovo and abroad. For his work, he has won several prestigious awards, including the Annual Award for Best Direction and Performance in Kosovo in 2013. He was also a member of the board of the National Theater and Chairman of the Council of the Pristina City Theater “Dodona.” Currently, he is a member of the Executive Board of the Association of Theater Artists of Kosovo, founder and director of the Barabar Center in Pristina, artistic director of the New Theater “Intent” (Kosovo and England), and co-founder and organizer of the festival “Mirëdita, dobar dan!”.
He has also worked as a director and producer of media and film productions, including television series, short films, documentaries, and marketing campaigns. Notable projects include the narrative documentary film series “People and Memories Talk”, featuring stories of civilian war victims from Kosovo and the former Yugoslavia, broadcast in six countries (producer and director); video exhibitions titled “Living with the Memories of the Missing” (producer and director); the television series “Spitaliks” (director); the feature film “A Story of Prishtina” (executive producer); the feature film “Hana” (executive producer), among others.
He is also author and publisher of several books, monographs, research studies, and articles, including “Monograph – Faruk Begolli”, “Monograph – Nexhmije Pagarusha”, “Shkelqim dhe Tmerr” by Bekim Fehmiu, “Muharrem Qena – Monograph”, “Mjeshtri, Abdurrahman Shala – Monograph”, etc. As a human rights activist, Koliqi has been the director of the organization Integra since 2003, focusing on transitional justice, dealing with the past, war legacy, human rights, art, culture, civic activism, and critical thinking and writing.
Koliqi has authored and published various scientific papers, including “Kadare and the Theater” (European Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 2018), “Dramatization of Kadare’s Work for Theater” (Albanologji 8, Albanological Institute of Pristina), and “Pre-service teachers’ attitudes and the factors influencing their formation regarding inclusive education in Kosovo” (Nases Journals). His work is recognized throughout the Balkans and Europe. He is also a professor at AAB College, teaching several subjects.
