"Balkan Film and Culinary Festival"/ Milkani: Film production in Albania, on the right track

2024-06-26 14:41:00, Qyteti im CNA

"Balkan Film and Culinary Festival"/ Milkani: Film production in

Director and producer, Eno Milkani. Source, CNA

Yesterday evening, the "Balkan Film and Culinary Festival" started in Pogradec, in its 14th edition. This festival is one of the most special in the lake city, as it brings together for 4 consecutive days, directors, producers and cinematography students, who compete in two categories, that of short films and that of long films. The director and producer Eno Milkani expresses satisfaction as he points out that the production has entered the right path in Albania.

According to him, many films are being produced independently rather than by students graduating from school. In this festival, the themes contained in the films made are related to current problems, for young people and relationships with parents, for the third age, for mental health problems and many others.

"Balkan Film and Culinary Festival", source CNA

"This year the production of films has increased due to the fact that there are many independents working, the film school is very necessary, but let's not forget that there are people who are self-taught and learn the school from YouTube and make super films. And I notice that many quality films are not student films, but independent films, and even many long films are coming that are independent, and this makes you think that Albania has such films, they are commercial and not original, but I think that many soon we will also have author films because time goes on, you will no longer wait for the financing of the film center or the co-producer, because it is all a matter of money, so I think that when these authors find the necessary support, we will have more films such. As for the films that we have in competition these 4 days, they are films that deal with different themes, of young people, of the third age, social themes, of problems between fathers and children, sexual harassment, films that deal with issues of mental problems, so it's a very wide range.

Not only films in competition, but this year in cooperation with the State Film Archive, it is intended that the restored Albanian films will be shown subtitled in English for foreign tourists.

Gerta Qurku, source CNA

"The films that will be shown at 'Odeon' are restored Albanian films, subtitled in English for all vacationers who are not Albanian speakers, in this tourist season that has already started in Pogradec, for this we had the support of the Central Film Archive Albanian. We are very happy and we couldn't wait to start this 14th edition".

This festival already belongs to Pogradec and besides the films it is a very good promoter of the city, the cuisine and the cultural values ??that this city has. The deputy mayor of the municipality, Entela Gusho, says that at this moment, Pogradec is the epicenter of the Balkans.

The deputy mayor of the municipality, Entela Gusho. Source, CNA

"It is the 14th edition that the Balkan Film Festival takes place in Pogradec, it can now also be called the Pogradec festival because it is 14 years that this festival unfolds not only the artistic values ??of the films of the Balkans, but also the culture of everyone who participates in this festival. At this moment, we are the epicenter of the Balkans, where all eyes and minds are on Pogradec. So, Pogradec will be the Pogradec of film, tourists, flowers, freshness and everyone. The festival itself also has the continuity of the cuisine, the unfolding of these values ??is also a promotion for our city, to recognize as much as possible its values ??in art, culture, but also the people of Pogradec as art lovers."

The Film Festival will close on June 29, where the awards for the best feature film, short film and documentary will be awarded. The festival is also preferred by the citizens of Pogradec, together with local and foreign tourists, who have gathered in the "Odeon" square to watch the films made./ CNA TV