# Amsterdam Express

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**Amsterdam Express** is a 2014 Albanian [drama film](/source/Drama_film) directed by Fatmir Koçi and co-written by Koci and Jonathan Preece. The film was an international co-production between studios based in Albania, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.

## Plot

Bekim, a young Albanian immigrant in Amsterdam, is precariously caught between the promise and allure of the rich city, the threats of ruthless Albanian drug dealers & sex traffickers, and his white marriage to a Dutch girl. At the heart of it all is a true love in his poor and backward country. Bekim, will do anything to make a quick buck. Instead, he returns to his country empty-handed after spending his last Euros to save a young girl at the windows of the red light district.

## Cast

- [Blerim Destani](/source/Blerim_Destani) as Bekim
- [James Biberi](/source/James_Biberi) as Van Doom
- [Flonja Kodheli](/source/Flonja_Kodheli) as Marta
- [Bujar Lako](/source/Bujar_Lako) as Selim
- [Rajmonda Bulku](/source/Rajmonda_Bulku) as Vjollca
- Carolien Spoor as Suzanna
- Natasha Goulden as Anna
- Renne Gjoni as Grijs
- Victoria Mirovaya as Junkie Girl
- Gert Ferra as Roni
- Dritan Kastrati as Deki
- Olta Gixhari as Dora
- Irena Mecaj as Albana
- Laert Pasko as Tuki
- Lykele Muus as Johan
- Gjenovefa Redhi as Shqipe
- Vasian Lami as Elezi

## Production

*Amsterdam Express* was directed by Fatmir Koci and co-written by Koci and Jonathan Preece. Albania's Act Triangle Production, United Kingdom's [Film and Music Entertainment](/source/Film_and_Music_Entertainment), Netherlands' Popov Film, and Germany's Lara Film were involved in the production. This was the first time that a company from the United Kingdom was involved in an Albanian film production. Funding for the film was obtained from the international partners and the Albanian Film Centre.[1][2] [Mike Downey](/source/Mike_Downey_(producer)), the head of Film and Music Entertainment, first met Koci in France in 1995, and made documentaries together at the Imaginary Academy in [Grožnjan](/source/Gro%C5%BEnjan) in 1999.[2]

Six weeks of filming was done in [Amsterdam](/source/Amsterdam) and additional filming was conducted in [Tirana](/source/Tirana). Filming ended on 23 August 2013, and post-production was done in Amsterdam.[2] Max Vonk edited the film.[3]

## Release

*Amsterdam Express* was released in Albania on the 27 March 2014.[4]

## References

1. Ramachandran 2013.

1. Mitchell 2013.

1. British Council.

1. Lim, Katherine. ["NL-UK-Albania-Germany Film"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130816175011/http://www.nltimes.nl/2013/08/14/first-nl-uk-albania-germany-film-production/). *NL TIMES*. Archived from [the original](http://www.nltimes.nl/2013/08/14/first-nl-uk-albania-germany-film-production/) on 16 August 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2015.

## Works cited

- ["Amsterdam Express"](http://film-directory.britishcouncil.org/amsterdam-express). [British Council](/source/British_Council). [Archived](https://archive.today/20250405183422/http://film-directory.britishcouncil.org/amsterdam-express) 5 April 2025 at the Wayback Machine.
- Mitchell, Wendy (13 August 2013). ["First UK-Albania co-production now shooting"](https://www.screendaily.com/production/first-uk-albania-co-pro-shooting/5059179.article). *[Screen Daily](/source/Screen_International)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20250405182408/https://www.screendaily.com/production/first-uk-albania-co-pro-shooting/5059179.article) 5 April 2025 at the Wayback Machine.
- Ramachandran, Naman (20 August 2013). ["Fatmir Koci boards Amsterdam Express"](https://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/242849/). [Cineuropa](/source/Cineuropa). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20250405182033/https://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/242849/) 5 April 2025 at the Wayback Machine.

## External links

- [Amsterdam Express](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2496808/) at IMDb

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Amsterdam Express](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amsterdam_Express) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amsterdam_Express?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.