Cinema of Albania

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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.[1][2]

Merita Sokoli is regarded as the first female actor in Albanian cinema.

Early Albanian films were introduced in Albania in 1909 by painter and photographer Kolë Idromeno in Shkodër.[3][4][5] Afterwards, the first public screening of foreign films took place over the years.

The motion pictures have won international and prestigious awards and each year new Albanian films are seen at film festivals around the globe.

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 and Turkish-Albanian Barish Arduç.

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.

Notable Albanian Films[edit]

Title Translation Year Genre
Bijtë e shqipës së Skënderbeut The sons of Skanderbeg's Albania 1941 Documentary short
Luftëtari i madh i Shqipërisë Skënderbeu The Great Albanian Warrior Skanderbeg 1953 Epic war
Fëmijët e saj Her Children 1957 Drama
Tana Tana 1958 Drama
Vitet e para The First Years 1965 Historic war
Prita The Trap 1968 War
I teti në bronx The Father in Bronze 1970
Mëngjese lufte Mornings of War 1971 Coming of age
Malet me blerim mbuluar The Mountains Covered in Tulips 1971
Yjet e netëve të gjata The Stars of the Long Nights 1972 Drama
Operacioni zjarri Operation Fire 1973 War comedy
Rrugicat që kërkonin diell The Alleys That Sought Sunlight 1975 Drama
Beni ecën vetë Beni Walks on His Own 1975 Comedy
Zonja nga qyteti The Lady from the City 1976 Comedy
Lulëkuqet mbi mure Red Poppies on Walls 1976 Coming of age drama
Përballimi The Confrontation 1976
Njeriu me top The Man with the Cannon 1977
Tomka dhe shokët e tij Tomka and His Friends 1977 Coming of age
Gjeneral Gramafoni The General Gramophone 1978 Drama
Liri a vdekje Freedom or Death 1979 Historic
Nëntori i Dytë The Second November 1983
Të paftuarit The Uninvited 1985 Psychological
Një jetë më shumë One More Life 1986
Përrallë nga e kaluara A Tale from the Past 1987 Comedy
Këmishët ne dyllë The Cloaks in Wax 1987
Rojet e mjegullës The Keepers of the Fog 1988 Psychological thriller
Muri i gjallë The Living Wall 1989 Medieval fantasy
Balada e Kurbinit Ballad of Kurbin 1990 Romantic drama
Vdekja e kalit The Death of the Horse 1992 Psychological drama
Plumbi prej plasteline The Clay Bullet 1994 Sci-fi psychological drama
Një ditë nga një jetë A Day from a Life 1994
Kolonel Bunker Colonel Bunker 1998 Historical
Tirana Viti Zero Tirana Year Zero 2001 Comedy
Trishtimi i zonjës Shnajder The Sorrow of Mrs. Schneider 2008 Romantic drama
Koha e Kometës Time of the Comet 2008 Historical drama
Lindje, Perëndim, Lindje East, West, East 2009 Comedy
Amnistia Amnesty 2011 Drama
Falja e gjakut The Forgiveness of Blood 2011 Drama
Farmakon Pharmakon 2012 Drama
Jeta mes ujërave Life Between the Waters 2017 Drama
Mali i harrum The Forgotten Mountain 2018 Drama
Takim në ajër Encounter in the Air 2019 Drama
Freestyle to Montenegro Freestyle to Montenegro 2021 Documentary
Alexander (2023 film) Alexander 2023 Documentary

International influence[edit]

During China's Cultural Revolution, many Chinese audience members were introduced to avant-garde and modernist storytelling techniques and aesthetics through Albanian film.[6]: 206–207 

See also[edit]

External links[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Natasha Lako. "THE GAME OF ALBANIAN FILM IMAGE 1895-1945". epa.oszk.hu.
  2. ^ Albanian Cinema Project. "Ndërthurja e Historisë Politike Me Historinë e Filmit - Një Përmbledhje E Historisë Së Filmit Shqiptar". thealbaniancinemaproject.org (in Albanian).
  3. ^ "A Short History of Albanian Cinema". nationalfilmcenter.wordpress.com. Archived from the original on 2020-01-25. Retrieved 2018-01-13.
  4. ^ Robert Elsie (2007). Writing in Light – Early Photography of Albania and the Southwestern Balkans / Dritëshkronja – Fotografia e hershme nga Shqipëria dhe Ballkani. Prishtina: ATV Media Company & Arbi. p. 9. ISBN 978-9951-8735-1-2.
  5. ^ Loïc Chauvin, Christian Raby. Albania, a photographic journey 1858-1945. Paris: Écrits de Lumière. ISBN 978-2-9538669-1-9.
  6. ^ Li, Jie (2023). Cinematic Guerillas: Propaganda, Projectionists, and Audiences in Socialist China. Columbia University Press. ISBN 9780231206273.