The Círculo de Bellas Artes, one of Spain’s most prestigious cultural institutions, hosted Albanian cinema for two consecutive evenings on 18 and 19 June. The programme introduced Madrid audiences to four films representing different periods of Albanian filmmaking: Here Be Dragons by Mark Cousins, The Death of the Horse by Saimir Kumbaro, Leaving Eden by Genc Përmeti, and When a Film Was Being Shot by Xhanfise Keko.

The event, titled “Here Be Dragons. Five Decades of Albanian Cinema” (“Aquí hay dragones. Cinco décadas de cine albanés”), took place in cooperation with the Embassy of the Republic of Albania in Spain.

The programme opened with Here Be Dragons, a documentary by Irish filmmaker Mark Cousins. The film explores the history of Albanian cinema and highlights the importance of preserving national audiovisual heritage. Through archival material, Cousins reflects on cultural memory and its meaning.

Next, the audience watched The Death of the Horse by Saimir Kumbaro. This film represents one of the key works of late “New Albania Film Studio”. It captures the social and moral transformations of its time.

On the second day, the programme began with Leaving Eden by Genc Përmeti. Before the screening, the director presented the film and discussed his creative process with the audience. He also spoke about production challenges and new directions in Albanian cinema. The film explores themes of identity, displacement, memory, and self-discovery.

Finally, the screening of When a Film Was Being Shot by Xhanfise Keko closed the event. The audience received the film with strong emotion. Organizers placed it at the end as a tribute to Keko, one of the most important female figures in Albanian cinema. She directed eleven films that left a lasting mark on national culture and contributed significantly to its artistic development.

Manuel Asín, Director of Cinema at the Círculo de Bellas Artes, and Entela Gjika, Ambassador of Albania to Spain, coordinated the programme. Through a selection of films ranging from classics to contemporary works and international documentaries, they presented a broad overview of the evolution of Albanian cinema over the past five decades.

In conclusion, the event once again confirmed growing European interest in Albanian art and culture. It also opened a meaningful window into the country’s cinematic history, memory, and artistic development.