SpIFF film ‘Kthimi’ takes a prize at Sundance

I've mentioned the short film "Kthimi," the Kosova-made movie that will play during Saturday's program of World Shorts at the 14th-annual Spokane International Film Festival. Now I have reason to mention it yet again: Seems the film, which was chosen to screen at this year's Sundance Film Festival, has won a juried prize. Even though Sundance 2012 doesn't end until Sunday, "Kthimi" won the Jury Prize in Short Film, International Fiction. It couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of filmmakers, from director Blerta Zaqiri to producer Blerim Gjoci, screenwriter Shefqet Jgocaj to cinematographer Sevdije Kastrati, editor Kreshnik Berisha to actress Adriana Matoshi.

You can see "Kthimi" in the shorts program that begins at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the Magic Lantern. Click here to purchase tickets in advance. The festival's opening film, "Natural Selection," screens tomorrow night at 7 at AMC Theatres at River Park Square.

Below: The Kosovar report on the "Kthimi" win. It's mostly in Albanian, but some is in English and the joy of the winners is obvious no matter what the language.