Author: Rudina Hoxha
Place: Albania
Date: 13 October 2010

The British comedian, Sir Norman Wisdom, who died on 4 October 2010, was a cult figure in Albania. His movies were some of the few Western films that the communist government permitted to be shown in the country, where he was affectionately known by the name of his most famous character – Norman Pitkin.

Author: Rudina Hoxha
Place: Albania
Date: 26 September 2010 

After a number of difficult years, Albanian cinema has apparently survived the worst and is now turning its eyes towards co-productions.  Yet, it continues to struggle with a lack of appropriate equipment and resources. “We have real talents. But the talents don’t necessarily have money. In most of the cases, the opposite is true,” film director and screenwriter Kujtim Çashku told Southeast Europe: People and Culture. He runs the “Marubi” Film Academy, a school which provides support and training to young artists in Albania.

Author: Rudina Hoxha
Place: Albania
Date: 8 February 2010

Kujtim Çashku is known not only for his films but also for the promotion of new generations of   professionals in the cinematic arts. He is the principal of the Marubi Film School, the first film university in Albania. The school is known also for fostering cultural connections between the countries of Southeast Europe. The “cultural yard” of the other countries is still an “unexplored area”, says Çashku.

Author: Elsa Demo
Place: Albania
Date: 3 February, 2009

The Tirana International Film Festival (TIFF) is an oasis in a film barren land. Held annually in December, it is today the only international cinematographic event in Albania that serves as a cultural window to the rest of the world. It is an event where people can meet and discuss with film makers, and get to know a festival that has not been influenced by mainstream foreign cultural currents/trends.