Viktor Gjika was born on June 23, 1937, in Korçë.
He completed his higher studies in Moscow.
There, he studied cinematography with Dhimitër Anagnosti.
Together, they made their graduation film “Man Never Dies”, based on a story by Ernest Hemingway.
The film won the Grand Prize at the World Festival of Film Schools in 1961.

After returning to Albania, Gjika worked as a director and screenwriter.
He is remembered for several major Albanian films, including “The Eighth in Bronze”, “Stars of Long Nights”, “White Roads”, “General Gramophone”, “The Second November”, “The Man with the Cannon”, “The Commissioner of Light”, “The Confrontation”, and “In Every Season”.

He also created documentaries.
At times, he wrote the scripts or worked as a cinematographer.
Throughout his career, he made about 15 feature films and 25 documentaries.

In 1977, the government awarded him the title “Merited Artist.”
In 1985, he received the title “People’s Artist.”

He passed away on March 3, 2009.
In 2021, the President of Albania awarded him the high honor “Honor of the Nation,” posthumously.
The award praised his outstanding contributions to Albanian cinema as a cinematographer, screenwriter, director, and leader of the former Kinostudio “New Albania.”
The citation also recognized his artistic legacy and the inspiration he gave to future generations through his passion and mastery of film.

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