Enver Petrovci in 2021. Photo: BIRN
Enver Petrovci, one of Kosovo’s most renowned actors and directors, who also had a significant carrier in ex-Yugoslavia, has died at the age of 71. Known for his roles at home and abroad, as well as for his contributions as an educator, Petrovci leaves behind an impressive legacy in the world of theatre and film.
The news of his death was confirmed today by the National Theatre of Kosovo, TKK.
“It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of the distinguished actor and professor Enver Petrovci. The National Theatre of Kosovo expresses its sincerest condolences to the Petrovci family, his colleagues, friends, and to the wider public who appreciated and loved his artistic and educational work,” read the statement.
Born on February 28, 1954, in Prishtina, Petrovci began his acting career in the late-1970s, becoming a leading figure in Albanian theatre and cinema. He began his acting education at the Higher Pedagogical School in Prishtina and later completed his studies at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts at the University of Belgrade.
After many years of living in Belgrade, he decided to return to Prishtina in the early-1990s, when he realised there was no longer a place for him and his family in the Serbian capital.
“I left Belgrade for many reasons. It was a very bad time, full of anti-Albanian tensions. There was no newspaper, television station or even any conversation over coffee that did not involve anti-Albanian rhetoric,” he said in an interview with BIRN in 2021.
Kosovo director Ben Apolloni described Petrovci as an extraordinary actor and a great master “whom we were lucky to have.
“His contribution as a professor was exceptional, whereas as an actor, I regret that we did not make use of him as much as we should have done and as much as we needed to – to learn from his extraordinary talent and mastery,” Apolloni told BIRN on Monday.
Kosovo’s Acting Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, said that with Petrovci’s demise, the country “has lost a national treasure. With his unforgettable roles and meticulous professionalism, he elevated our theatre and film on the local, regional and European stage,” Kurti said.
In October 2020, Enver Petrovci returned to Serbia, where he was given the prestigious Zoran Radmilovic Award for excellence in the dramatic arts.
Petrovci was also one of the co-founders of the Dodona Theatre in Prishtina, an institution that has played a huge role in promoting Albanian theatre and culture. In addition to his artistic work, he was an educator, serving as a professor at the Faculty of Arts at the University of Prishtina, where he mentored generations of young actors.
Among his most famous roles and plays are: Creoles of the Balkans, The Russian Consul, Kostana, The Bizarre Country and The Hornet.
One of his most debated roles came in the 2024 Serbian film The Russian Consul, in which he played a lead character. The film sparked controversy for its portrayal of events in Kosovo, drawing criticism for its alleged propagandistic content regarding the historic context at the time.