Discoveries from Albania World Cinema

Atnan, a middle aged, Albanian family man with anger problems has an argument with his wife and leaves his home. An unexpected encounter will make Atnan realise what the most valuable aspects in life really are.

The story of a couple married for 10 years who decide to end their relationship without understanding the implications of this separation for their families. The decision to separate will make them know the limits of each other and their loved ones in situations full of humor and love. Because when love is still there, nothing is impossible.

A police officer steals some money from an international judge of a special court in Kosovo. The money was a bribe for the judge. Now the officer faces a dilemma – whether to keep the money and deny everything or figure out a way to return the money for his own family’s safety.

Film about the 5 Heroes of Vig, who died in a bloody battle during the National Liberation War.

Vlash Zaka is a poor villager who secures his living by capturing wild horses in the forest. His brother has killed an Italian spy, so Vlash is under surveillance and his life is in danger.

Math teacher Nora is transferred to work in the gymnasium of a coastal city. Edi, a pupil, openly wants an unmerited good mark in maths. Edi is the son of a director of the executive committee. Nora is worried and cannot agree with Edi and his parents.

During a political purge, the Albanian government orders the disbanding of a military unit whose horses are also considered traitors.

A comedy about a group of fans who cause mischief.

Story depicting the national liberation struggle of the Albanian people against the Italian and German invaders during World War II.

The movie is based on a Fatmir Gjata screenplay. Gjata had written a novel with the same title earlier. The events evolve in the 1950s. The main character, Tana, is a smart, outgoing and progressive young woman. She is in love with Stefan (Naim Frashëri) and they both live in an unnamed mountain village in Albania. Tana has to face the old mentality of her old grandfather and she also has to fight the jealousy of Lefter . It is a love game, while socialist progress is highlighted as is often in the socialist realism.

The committee led by Çerçiz Topulli, Mihal Grameno and Hajredin Tremishti return to their village and assassinate the Turkish officer of Gjirokastra. Afterwards, the Ottoman army starts a campaign against the province of Mashkullorë, which became a symbol of Albanian resistance and fight for freedom.

The film is based on and develops the subject of a well-known legend of a sacrifice in the Rozafa castle, as a free interpretation of what people have preserved for centuries. Three married brothers decide to sacrifice in the castle the wife of whom will bring the lunch, so that the wall will not collapse once again on the ground.

A lazy man wants to become a sportsman in order to have a normal 5-hour per day job. Many comical situations arise.

A historical drama focusing on the days leading up to Albania's declaration of independence from the Ottoman Empire in November 1912.

The year is 1943. At his last breath, partisan Gani asks his friends to make sure that his daughter Sherka is married on the date set in advance for her wedding. Once the wedding ceremony starts, they find out that the bridegroom is a collaborator of the invaders. Sherka decides to cancel her wedding and joins her father s friends in their struggle for the liberation of the country.

Life of my grandfather, an elderly man living with dignity in post-communist Albania despite his troubled past.

Mimoza is a haughty girl who only argues with her friends. However, through experiences and advice, she will change and become friendlier.

Invited to a simultaneous chess game, Ilo Pinci, the specialist of fish and oysters, as well as a well known chess player, arrives at the small coastal town fully convinced to be better than the local chess players. But what makes his coming to this town even more interesting is his hidden desire to discover some technical and practical data on the oyster cultivation.

A comedy about life during the 1970's. A father refuses to accept his son marrying a girl from a different religion, thus leading to several comical situations.

The story of "Falco Lacjani", Hawk, the famous character who lived robbing the homes of the wealthy Italians, one beautiful working night his phone rings and he is announced that he will become a deputy, because in the district of Lezha after resignation of 4 deputies on the list, his name is the successor in that list and automatically belongs to the mandate of the MP. This is where our hero's adventure begins, humorously and satirically depicting the entire Albanian social-political reality. By removing the work suit and hood, replacing it with the suit of a politician.

Vlog#13 follows a couple of vloggers who have found their way to fame walking the Albanian nature and analyzing the old legends of each specific place.

In the crew of the ship "Eagle" the debate about the zones of fish hunting continues. Petrit, a new marine officer, supports captain Borak, who insists on introducing new fishing methods.

World War II. Patriot Jonuz Bruga has troubles with his young son, Selim, who leads an immoral lifestyle and does not support the anti-fascist war, while his brothers fight in the city's guerrilla units.

An old gardener tends for the flowers during the war. Nazis ask him for flowers for their dead.

Besim does not like his stepfather Ahmet. He abandons school and commits some mistakes, but with help from his friends, he returns to living a normal and healthy life.

Aurora and Ben are newlyweds; they have a daughter, Fiona. This family belongs to the middle class of society, but live in harmony and are very happy. Their challenges begin when their nine-year-old daughter is diagnosed with cancer.

This movie is set at the start of World War II, with little shepherds on the green slopes of an Albanian mountain range featured as intrigued, distant observers of the Italian army and their prey, the partisan fighters who are hiding in the homes of the villagers. Even the Albanian police who are supposed to be helping the Italians do not betray the resistance fighters when they see them. The children watch as the hunter and hunted play out their drama below, not understanding that the scenes are more real than their own hunt for the five-legged rabbit that is supposed to be living in these hills. As the tragedies of war mount, the children start to become more involved - at one point they steal the weapons from some drunken Italian soldiers, nearly leading to a disaster on their part. Time and events rapidly unfold, and it soon becomes apparent that their innocence will not last for long because their own existence is threatened in a way they are just beginning to understand.

A teacher in a remote village gets hindered by zealot members of the community who still believe in old superstitions.

Zana and Bardhyl are two students in love with each other. Through the spiritual ups and downs of this love the film reveals their dreams and desires, likes and dislikes. With these characters more or less of the same age, which have their differences, the film delineates the portrait of the student youth.

An Albanian girl born with ‘the gift’ embarks on a dangerous quest to rescue her lover from a dark sorceress.

Little Bledy lives with his father in a small apartment in Tirana. The boy learns by accident that the father is going to marry a completely unfamiliar woman for him. This news causes him a shock. Nevertheless, when he meets Zana, his father's girlfriend from work, he is increasingly convinced of the need for changes in the family ...

Based on a true story, set during the drainage of the Maliq swamp.

Shpresa goes to the house of fascist collaborators to commit an assassination. After that, dressed as a bride, she becomes an illegal.

Film set in three different times. In the beginning, Miti is killed while defending his land. Then, the film focuses on his son Gjergji who fights against the Italian forces. In the end, the land is redistributed by the agrarian reform.

Three cloaked partisans are carrying out their duty in the harsh winter. During the way, they are disovered by the Germans.. The shepherd, Xhemo use a brave trick to save them, thus risking his life.

World War II. A group of kids try to sabotage the enemy whichever way they can.

2001 Albanian Film

Pandi has been recruited by foreign agents in order to collect information about a military plant where his friend Servet works. To achieve his goal, Pandi blackmails Servet with an old shell, used by Servet to accidentally injure a friend during the military service.

She Who Remains is an upcoming Bulgarian/Albanian/Italian co-production, directed by Kostadin Bonev, based on the award-winning novel by Rene Karabash. The film centers on 16-year-old Békia, who becomes a "sworn virgin" in the Albanian mountains to escape a forced marriage, triggering a chain of violent consequences. It explores patriarchal traditions.

Çesku's life changes forever when, in post-war Albania, communism comes to power, killing and persecuting the people he holds dearest. However, the pursuit of a final wish may be the only thing keeping Çesku alive, offering him a window of hope in a hopeless land.

Can heartbeats be “reactionary”? Yes, if they are the only sonic element on a montage-heavy documentary about the war dead. Made just before Enver Hoxha’s cultural purges in 1974, Dhimitër Anagnosti’s formalist, wonderfully edited affair will finally premiere in a restored version after its completion forty-two years ago.

A man hungry for power finds a new way to satisfy his appetite.

Two Albanian brothers migrate to Greece and try, each in his own way, to integrate into their host country by following two different lifestyles.

Film based on the life and patriotic activities of teacher Petro Nini Luarasi.

While a mute and lonely mother lives a life that is far from easy, she nevertheless bares her lot with dignity and courage. Her 15-year-old son is trying to stand on his own two feet, but in so doing he only complicates the grim situation in the family.

Documentary about Congres VI of the Women's Union.

A misogynistic old man goes to complain about "his rights" after a woman is elected as the leader of his village's cooperative.

Bardhi, a young doctor, is assigned to work in a remote mountainous village under difficult conditions.

Film inspired by the harsh winter of 1985. The film follows two storylines: the story of a young girl who studies to become a nurse and the story of some pilots who have to make a delivery.

Eve's Gate is the road to illusory happiness, on which two young Albanian girls run across the sea, so that there, even at the cost of body and soul, but to buy a little happiness. They will have to fight for love, resolve doubts that will force them to think about many things. Whether everything can be sacrificed, whether everything can be sold, how to fill the spiritual void, how to keep happiness...

World War II. The fascists kill a boy and invite his mother to identify the body, but she refuses.

An Albanian man partners with smugglers to reach Canada using a fake passport. He must pose as husband to unknown woman Vlera as part of a criminal arrangement.

"Mysafiri" is an intelligence agent who infiltrates a foreign agency operating in Albania.

Azem has retired after 30 years working as a truck driver. However, he still hasn't gotten used to this quiet lifestyle. His friends help him go through this important moment of his life.

Three best friends, sworn virgins, get into a fight with local boys. When things get rough, they are saved by a girl in the making.

No one knows why for certain, but from 1968 to 1973 communist Albania enjoyed a brief liberalisation in the arts. Banned books and Beatles records changed hands. Albania’s Nobel-nominated novelist Ismail Kadare wrote two of his most famed masterpieces, Kështjella (The Castle) (1970) and Kronikë në gur (Chronicle in Stone) (1971) during this period. The rock'n'roll and jazz arrangements featured in this concert documentary were the pretext that brought about the end to the artistic thaw. Several performers seen in the festival were sent to prison or internal exile. The portly, smiling music conductor, Gasper Çurçia, was later accused of forging bus tickets and executed.

Fusing documentary and fiction, the film depicts the lives of children trying to survive the aftermath of war in Kosovo by selling cigarettes on the street. Through monologues performed by the children against the eerie backdrops of Pristina, the film tells their gripping and sad story of memory, loss and fear.