The seventh edition of the “Balkan Movie Market” opened at the Tirana Pyramid premises, bringing this year 150 moviemakers and producers from Europe.

The director of the Creative Industry Agency at the Tirana Municipality, Jonid Jorgji says that the Albanian capital has become the center of cinematography in the region. He emphasized that this event will bring together producers and moviemakers from many European countries, opening new avenues of cooperation with Albanian artists. “I come from a generation of the 1990s when the cinema life or the cinematographic life of Tirana was almost void. There were hardly any in the cinemas, the ones we had did not produce artistic things, on the contrary. Movies that were shot in Tirana were less and less. There were no foreign movies or foreign productions that were shot in Tirana at that time. Today that I am in front of you, I am very happy that not only have we created the Movie Agency in Tirana, we have also brought to Tirana about 17 different European movie productions, but today, in addition to the festival and the movies that are being added every day, we have turned Tirana into a the center for cinematography of the region. Today, among you are well-known producers not only from Europe, who come to Tirana to establish collaborations with each other, but also with regional producers,” stated Jorgji.

While, movie director, Ilir Butka said that “Balkan Movie Market” is an excellent opportunity for Albanian artists to meet foreign producers. “Albania is part of a region, it is a rich, diverse region, successful in the activities it does, maybe with significant financial shortages, but with extraordinary artistic wealth and energy and positivity that radiates. These projects, these people, need to be confronted through these events with the best producers in the world, those we often meet in Cannes, Berlin, Venice, to meet producers who want to create and collaborate with the Balkans. This is what we want to do and we have invited them here,” said Butka.

The Deputy Mayor of Tirana, Andi Seferi stated that this institution has placed a special attention on art and culture. Seferi underlined that “Balkan Movie Market” is more of a connecting bridge between art and the city. “I heartedly thank the organizers on behalf of the Municipality of Tirana for this seventh edition. It is a link of art, the city, beauty, youth, and experiences that will be held during these days in Tirana. “Balkan Movie Market” is a very dear event for our capital during these days. A lot is done in this city for the promotion of art, for the promotion of culture,” declared the Deputy Mayor of Tirana, Andi Seferi.

In addition to the opportunity for experts in the field, Tirana will be transformed into a strategic meeting point for movie producers, who will get to know the capital city more closely, seeing it also from the perspective of a possible movie location.

/a.p./