GROWING UP FAT & ALBANIAN Set for Tribeca Film Center Screening Room, 1/13

A story that's messy, complicated, violent. A movie about FAMILY. Rocky from Da Bronx Productions presents GROWING UP FAT & ALBANIAN, a new film by Elza Zagreda directed by award winning filmmaker Dhimitri Ismailaj (Cannes International Film Festival) and Elza Zagreda. A private screening will take place at Tribeca Film Center on Friday January 13th starting at 7PM.Featured in the cast are Elza Zagreda, Isabella Knight, Shpend Xani and Tony Naumovski .Cinematography is by Shawn Schaffer, film editing by Frank Reynolds (In The Bedroom), music by Aldo Shllaku (Kill 'em All with Jean Claude Van Damme, 2017 release, Spiderman 2&3) and casting by Liz Lewis, CSA.

Who exactly are Albanians and what does their culture look like to the outsider?
Meet Ella, a headstrong young American woman and fiery, outspoken eldest daughter growing up in a strict Albanian household where women's contributions are not only frowned upon, but practically non-existent! While coming of age Ella must also grapple with body image issues, acne, Albanians with bad mullets and having to hide shotguns in her underwear for special occasions. Weddings in Ella's family, are extravagant affairs with rowdy relatives who shoot off guns for sheer joy. Is this what SHE has to look forward to? And to boot, Ella is plagued by her nemesis, Aunt SHIRLEY, an old school expert at arranging marriages. Shirley would like nothing better than to arrange Ella's marriage to that toothless Sheepherder from the old country or one of those OTBs (Off The Boaters) looking for an American wife. Ella, however, is determined to defy her and hold out for true love. The problem is she's become SO FAT, who will marry her? Then one day Ella decides to unleash her inner Rocky and take charge of her life. But will she find true love? Or will she get burned in the process? Fate or 'bad luck'...no matter what life throws her---she knows her family has her back...if they don't stab her first!

Elza Zagreda has written and performed her critically acclaimed solo shows Dating, Depression and Dirtbags: A Love Story, Divorce Albanian Style! and Corn Bread and Feta Cheese: Growing Up Fat and Albanian to sold out audiences in New York, Los Angeles, Detroit and Boston. She recently appeared on Bravo TV's ODD MOM OUT playing Monoma, a Russian housekeeper with attitude. On Broadway she's been in Letters from Kosovo with Vanessa Redgrave and Tim Robbins at the Helen Hayes Theatre directed by Eve Ensler. Other play credits include The Vagina Monologues at the Globe Playhouse in L.A. and Trojan Women directed by Ellen Mc Laughlin. On television she co-starred in ABC's The Unusuals, 30 Rock, and Law and Order SVU (in the memorable role of Svetlana, the Slavic mail order bride).

Growing Up Fat and Albanian will be screened for a private audience on Friday January 13th in the Tribeca Screening Room at Tribeca Film Center (375 Greenwich Street) from 7-9PM. Film and television professionals are encouraged to attend. For reservations please call (212) 260-8052.

For more visit: GrowingUpFatAlbanianMovie.com