Cinema of Albania


The film industry in Albania comprises the art of films and movies made within the country or by Albanian directors abroad. Albania has had an active cinema industry since 1897 and began strong activities in 1940 after the foundation of both the "Kinostudio Shqipëria e Re" and National Center of Cinematography in Tirana.
In consideration to the Albanian diaspora, there are several internationally renowned actors such as the Albanian-Americans Eliza Dushku, Klement Tinaj, Masiela Lusha, Jim and John Belushi, Kosovo-Albanians Bekim Fehmiu and Arta Dobroshi,Turkish-Albanian Barish Arduç and Albanian-German Aleksandër Moisiu
Albania annually hosts several International Film Festivals. The most important is certainly the Tirana International Film Festival, which takes place in the capital of Tirana. Born in 2008, the Durrës International Film Festival is also among the most prominent exhibitions held in summer at the Amphitheatre of Durrës.

History

Foundation

Films were first shown in Albania starting in 1897, as part of travelling shows and to aristocrats. Kolë Idromeno, a photographer, started showing films in 1908 or 1909, and is regarded as the first Albanian to do so by the National Center of Cinematography. The Charles Urban Trading Company shot films in Albania from between 1902 and the Balkan Wars. Albert Kahn's ethnographical footage from 1912 was among the first films shot in Albania.
On 10 September 1942, Benito Mussolini ordered the creation of the Tomorri Society, which would make films in Albania. Mihallaq Mone, who studied at the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia, was its director. One of the first Albanian films shot with an Albanian cast was the short film Encounter at the Lake '''' from 1943. Mone left Albania in 1945, and spent the remainder of his life in the United States.

Communist

The Central State Film Archive reported that 286 films were made in the communist period. stated that 103 films were produced between 1978 and 1984, and 86 films were produced between 1985 and 1991.
In 1946, Italian films accounted for a plurality of films shown in Albania and still accounted for one-third of foreign films shown in 1955. Albania started importing films from the Soviet Union in the 1950s. 21 feature films and 87 documentaries were imported in 1951, and 9 feature films and 77 documentaries were imported in 1952.
The National Filmmaking Enterprise was formed in 1947, and started producing newsreels and documentaries. The Great Warrior Skanderbeg, a Soviet-Albanian coproduction, was released in 1953, and won an International Prize at the 1954 Cannes Film Festival. In 1950, Jani Nano, Mihal Çarka, Koço Tollko, Petraq Lubonja, Endri Keko, and Xhanfise Keko were sent to study for two years at the Moscow Central Studio for Documentary Film. Keko was one of the few female directors in the communist period.
The New Albania Kinostudio was opened on 10 July 1952, and started producing newsreels and short films. It was Albania's only film studio under communist rule. Kristaq Dhamo's 1958 film Tana was Kinostudio's first feature-length film and is regarded as the first one in Albanian history.
In 1952, Daughters of China became the first Chinese film shown in Albania. The Sino-Albanian Cultural Cooperation Agreement was signed on 14 October 1954. Forward, Side by Side, the first Sino-Albanian coproduction, was directed by Endri Keko and Hao Yusheng in 1964. Jerry Lewis' films were some of the few foreign films allowed to be shown in Albania under Hoxha.
Filmmaker was imprisoned between 1956 and 1990.
The 1970s was a period of Albanian cinema in which the depiction of Italians and Fascist Italy's control of Albania were common.
, released in 1975, was the first animated feature film in Albania.
There were 33 cinemas in Albania in 1945, with around 7,000 seats. The number of cinemas rose from 35 in 1950, to 72 in 1960, and 105 in 1973. The Albanian National Film Festival was held eight times between 1976 and 2001.

Modern

Kinostudio closed in 1991, and was split into Albafilm, Albafilm Distribution, Albafilm Animation, and the Albanian State Film Archive. The Tirana International Film Festival was launched in 2003.
Kujtim Çashku established Academy of Film and Multimedia Marubi, the first private film school in the country, in 2004.
The Institute for the Study of Communist Crimes and Consequences proposed banning showings of Kinostudio films in 2017.
Erenik Beqiri's The Van was nominated for the Short Film Palme d'Or at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, the first time an Albanian production was represented at Cannes since 1954.

Notable Albanian Films

TitleTranslationYearGenre
Bijtë e shqipës së SkënderbeutThe sons of Skanderbeg's Albania1941Documentary short
Luftëtari i madh i Shqipërisë SkënderbeuThe Great Albanian Warrior Skanderbeg1953Epic war
Fëmijët e sajHer Children1957Drama
TanaTana1958Drama
Vitet e paraThe First Years1965Historic war
PritaThe Trap1968War
I teti në bronxThe Father in Bronze1970
Mëngjese lufte Mornings of War1971Coming of age
Malet me blerim mbuluarThe Mountains Covered in Tulips 1971
Yjet e netëve të gjataThe Stars of the Long Nights1972Drama
Operacioni zjarriOperation Fire1973War comedy
Rrugicat që kërkonin diellThe Alleys That Sought Sunlight1975Drama
Beni ecën vetëBeni Walks on His Own1975Comedy
Zonja nga qytetiThe Lady from the City1976Comedy
Lulëkuqet mbi mureRed Poppies on Walls1976Coming of age drama
PërballimiThe Confrontation1976
Njeriu me topThe Man with the Cannon1977
Tomka dhe shokët e tijTomka and His Friends1977Coming of age
Gjeneral GramafoniThe General Gramophone1978Drama
Liri a vdekjeFreedom or Death1979Historic
Nëntori i DytëThe Second November1983
Të paftuaritThe Uninvited1985Psychological
Një jetë më shumëOne More Life1986
Përrallë nga e kaluaraA Tale from the Past1987Comedy
Këmishët ne dyllëThe Cloaks in Wax1987
Rojet e mjegullësThe Keepers of the Fog1988Psychological thriller
Muri i gjallëThe Living Wall1989Medieval fantasy
Balada e Kurbinit Ballad of Kurbin1990Romantic drama
Vdekja e kalitThe Death of the Horse1992Psychological drama
Plumbi prej plastelineThe Clay Bullet1994Sci-fi psychological drama
Një ditë nga një jetëA Day from a Life1994
Kolonel BunkerColonel Bunker1998Historical
Tirana Viti ZeroTirana Year Zero2001Comedy
Trishtimi i zonjës ShnajderThe Sorrow of Mrs. Schneider2008Romantic drama
Koha e KometësTime of the Comet2008Historical drama
East, West, East: [The Final Sprint|Lindje, Perëndim, Lindje]East, West, East2009Comedy
AmnistiaAmnesty2011Drama
Falja e gjakutThe Forgiveness of Blood2011Drama
FarmakonPharmakon2012Drama
Jeta mes ujëraveLife Between the Waters2017Drama
Mali i harrumThe Forgotten Mountain2018Drama
Takim në ajërEncounter in the Air2019Drama
Freestyle to MontenegroFreestyle to Montenegro2021Documentary
Alexander (2023 film)Alexander2023Documentary

International influence

During China's Cultural Revolution, many Chinese audience members were introduced to avant-garde and modernist storytelling techniques and aesthetics through Albanian film.

Works cited

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