On July 10, 1952, the Albanian film industry began operations with the inauguration of the “New Albania” building and the Kinostudio film studio complex on the outskirts of Tirana.

The first film produced was “Skanderbeg,” a collaboration with the Soviets in 1953. The film “Tana,” released in 1958, marked the first entirely Albanian production, followed by the creation of 270 feature films, 700 documentaries, and 150 animated films.

In the 1980s, Kinostudio “New Albania” produced up to 14 films annually. After the political system changed, it was transformed into “Albafilm,” which lasted until 1996. In 1996, this center was renamed the National Center of Cinematography. Since January 2015, this neoclassical building, considered unique by architects, has housed the Ministry of Culture, the National Center of Albanian Cinematography, the Institute of Cultural Monuments, and other institutions.

“New Albania” leaves behind a legacy of over 200 films. While many were state propaganda productions with significant technical shortcomings, and despite the ideological constraints and self-censorship of filmmakers, the heritage of Kinostudio “New Albania” remains deeply ingrained in the memories of many generations.

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