The movie “Tomka and his friends” directed by Xhanfize Keko, was shown on American television.
Over 40 million viewers watched  the restored version of the movie “Tomka and his friends”, provided by the Albanian Cinema Project (ACP) and the Library of Congress.

This is what TCM American movie TV network says:

“A lot of kids are stuck inside right now, what they really wanna be having fun outside with their friends, exploring, playing sports or like some boys mastering the art of real life spying, fighting fascists in the name of fun. Capturing these real actions, is  what director Xhanfize Keko specializes in with her children’s films.One of the founding members of the New Albania Film Studio, Keko was the country’s first female film director at a time when the society was closed off from the rest of the world and creative expression was restricted. This didn’t deter Xhamfize however from bringing films like “Tomka and his friends” to the big screen. We root for the kids to pay back after their beloved soccer field is taken over by Nazis. Keko’s ability to convey children’s perspective was due to the personnel relationships she formed with the troupe of young non-professional actors. Aunt Xhana as she was called by the children is remembered for her warmth and great kindness as well as for her important role in the Albanian cinema. A truly pioneering woman in film. Xhamfize Keko”Tomka and his friends” part of “Women make film”.

36 years after its production, the much-loved film for the Albanian public “Tomka and his friends”, produced in 1977, by director Xhanfize Keko was the second film selected to be restored in the laboratory of the Conservation Center of Audiovisual Assets at the Library of Congress (LOC Audiovisual Conservation Center).

/Klara Ruci/