Profile of the actor Petrika Riza!

Petrika Riza
Actor of the “A. Z Cajupi” Theater, Korce and Albanian cinematography

Born in Bulgarec, Korce, on June 1, 1947, in a large patriarchal family of 17 people. In fact, large families never lack elements of art. His uncle, Rafel Riza, was a well-known popular singer. In addition, the Bulgarec country had a cinema and a good theater troupe. Since he was in elementary school, Petrika followed the theater troupe wherever it went to compete.

Finishes the first four years of primary school in the village, while he starts the fifth grade in Korçë, at the “Fuat Babani” school, near the “Pioneer House”. There were painting groups, harmonica groups, literary, violins, ballet groups, etc.

Petrika, in love with art, enrolled in the ballet group, and in the accordion group, maybe because there was no acting group at that time or. He stayed there until 1958, at the age of an 11-year-old boy. Then the later actors Minella Borova and Niko Kanxheri began to influence him and attract Petrika to the school’s theater troupe, at the time of the organization of Albanian Soviet evenings, in honor of this friendship.

Precisely at this time, around 1964, the first dilettante roles started, even parts such as “Prometheus” were staged. After finishing high school in his hometown, he left for studies in Tirana at the High Institute of Arts, for the dramaturgy department.

After competing twice, Riza wins and enters the beautiful path of performing arts. In the years when he was still a student, he took part in the film “The Bronze Bust”, in the role of Rustemi, his first role on the movie screen. Other roles would always come after him, and thanks to his teacher, Drita Agolli, she was the one who gave him the opportunity to become a well-known actor who is today fully appreciated for his professional qualities.

Thus, Riza completed his studies at the Academy of Arts in 1969 and immediately began working as an assistant director at the Kinostudio. Then he will become a professional actor at the “Andon Z. Çajupi” Theater of Korca. Many are his roles in the Theater with this troupe that included big names.

However, like we mention it before, his first interpretations in the cinematography will be in the role of Rustem in “The Bronze Bust” and the brigadier of the welder’s department in the film “The Fitter Girl”, both in the same year, 1970. They would continue on 20 performances in feature films and television.

In 2007, in the spectacle titled “Protagonist 2007”, organized by the Korça Municipality, to evaluate the best artists, the most outstanding personalities in the various spheres of art, figurative, music, stage and interpretation of Korça art, “Best Actor” Award will be given to Petrika Riza.

Petrika Riza, the well-known actor of dozens of prominent roles in theater and cinematography is decorated twice: with the “Naim Frashëri i Artë” Order, decorated by the President of the Republic and with the “Naim Frashëri III Order”.

In his private life, he is married to another actress, Klaudeta, and they have two daughters.

Filmography:
1970: The Bronze Bust … Rustemi
1970: The Fitter Girl …. Brigadier
1972: The stars of the long nights… Naim
1975: At the beginning of summer …Rrapi
1976: Coping…. Koço Sharko
1977: Flag in the waves…. captain Cox
1979: The middle age….Despoti
1979: With the step of friends… Rizaj
1981: Dawns of the great season….Rusta
1983: A name among people….Janushi
1984: Who dies on the foot…. Kamakani
1984: The Unforgotten… …
1984: Pupils of my class …
1986: Strange wedding …. Xezmi Tahiri
1990: White papers…Luan Stafa

Published for the first time on the Facebook page – Albanian Cinematography, May 2016 and revised in the following years.

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Albanian Cinematography in activity since 2013
The source of the information mainly excerpts from newspapers and online Albanian forums, as well as an interview with the actor himself.

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