TIRANA, Aug. 5 – Due to lack of financial support, the Durres film festival will not be holding its eighth edition this year. The annual festival held every September has become the largest annual film event and also serves to promote tourism in Durres, a city which boasts 2,700 years of history.
Anila Varfi, the festival’s organizer, said the poor support for this year’s festival could not fulfill the festival’s ambitious goals and that’s why the organizing team decided to cancel it and work for next year’s edition.
“The 2016 edition will come with big surprises and new programs. The festival’s goal remains enriching cultural life in Albania and improving Albania’s international image,” Varfi was quoted as saying by local media.
The Durres film festival, which has been traditionally supported by the municipality of Durres and the ministry of culture, also suffered financial problems in 2013 when it held a non-competitive retrospective edition.
In last year’s edition, “Three windows and a hanging,” a feature film by Kosovo director Isa Qosja was awarded the top Golden Gladiator prize in the seventh edition of the Durres international film festival.
The festival is traditionally held at the end of tourist season in one of the country’s most popular summer destinations showcasing movies for six consecutive days in its two traditional venues, the Roman amphitheatre and the local cultural centre.
In its 2011 edition, famous U.S director Francis Ford Coppola was the festival’s special guest. Awards in this festival include the Golden Gladiator to the best film, the best director, best actor and actress, the film critic award, best Balkan film, and the Golden Gladiator – Career Achievement.
