The 70th anniversary of Albanian National Center of Cinematography gathered actors, directors, screenwriters, painters, engineers and technicians yesterday evening in a festive ceremony, who made the history of Albanian cinema.

At the ceremony organized in the premises of the Ministry of Culture, the former Kinostudio, minister Elva Margariti was also present, who said that “Kinostudio had not experienced such emotions for years”.

“We were part of a star-studded evening on Kinostudio’s 70th anniversary. A homage-evening for those who are no more and a thank you for filmmakers, actors, painters, engineers and technicians, who made the history of Albanian film. A warm atmosphere under the sounds of such beautiful soundtracks of our great composers, performed by the “Simfoart” orchestra,” said Margariti.

70 years ago Kinostudio “New Albania” was inaugurated, a unique and important cinema, which created hundreds of characters, illustrated thousands of places and events. Today it remains an important source of study to understand the history of Albania and Albanians of the last 70 years.

The film “Tana” is the first Albanian feature-length film, produced in 1958 by “Shqipëria Film”, then transformed into Kinostudio “Shqipëria e Re”. Its premiere was shown on August 17, 1958. The film was directed by Kristaq Dhamos, script by Fatmir Djata and Nasho Jorgaq and music by Çesk Zadeja.

In the main roles were actors Tinka Kurti, Naim Frashëri, Pjetër Gjoka and Kadri Roshi. The events take place in the 50s. At the center of the film is Tana, a smart and forward-thinking girl. She falls in love with Stefan, who lives in a poor mountain village. Tana faces her grandfather’s old mentality as well as Lefter’s jealousy. This is where the first kiss in Albanian films took place.
Kinostudio “New Albania” has produced and distributed many Albanian films. The period of the 1970s and 1980s was particularly intense, when 13-14 films were produced per year.

Kinostudio “New Albania”, returned in 1992 to Albafilm and finally closed in 1996, left a legacy of about 200 films, most of which were made under the propaganda of the time.

/Klara Ruci/