Albania becomes part of “European cinema”

VILNIUS, June 6؏n July 2, 2009, after intensive communications, reports and negotiations over 18 months long, the Albanian delegation of the National Center of Cinematography (QKK) received the final approval from the “Eurimages” General Assembly to become a member of “Eurimages”. The meeting took place in Vilnius, Lithuania, elected the European capital of culture for 2009.
“The Assembly confirmed our engagement to complete all formal procedures by July 2009. It means that Albanian producers will have the chance to apply with their projects and be evaluated by December 2009, when the next meeting takes place,” said Xhevdet Ferri, head of QKK, who also led the Albanian delegation.
Albania will have to pay an annual membership fee of 105,000 euros, expected to be funded by the commercial gains of the Albanian projects financed by “Eurimages”. A project can benefit with up to 700,000 euros in financing from the fund.
“Eurimages” is an institution created by the European Council for the development and the political and financial support of production and distribution of European cinematic co-productions. It includes the European Council’s 33 member states and its main goal is to support movies that reflect the many values that characterize European society, but with roots in the culture of the originating country.
The second objective of the fund carries an economic aspect, based on the idea, that even though cinematography is very much dependent on commercial success, it is also art and should be treated as such. Based on such principles, “Eurimages” has developed four financing programs: assistance for European co-production, assistance in European distribution, assistance for the construction of movie theaters with European repertoire, and assistance for the digitalization of projects financed by “Eurimages itself.