Tirana Times
TIRANA, August 4 – Some 26 films feature films will compete in the third edition of Durres International Film Summerfest, organizers have announced. The festival’s third edition will be held on the coastal city of Durres from August 29 to September 4 in two different venues at the ancient Roman amphitheatre and at the local “Aleksander Moisiu” theatre, just like the previous two editions.
This edition will promote important and innovative works of modern world cinema introducing them to the local audience. This year, the festival will also establish a section on International Documentary Programme and the Short Film. The official competition will consist of 26 feature films selected among the most significant recent productions. The festival will present a total of 120 films and documentaries.
“Durres is going once again, this year, to welcome many foreign artists and film makers, who will get to know Albania and this magnificent city through film,” said the organizers on their website.
Prizes awarded in this festival include the Golden Gladiator to the best film, the best director, actor and actress, the film critic award, best Balkan film, and the Golden Gladiator – Career Achievement.
Last year’s biggest prize, the Golden Gladiator, was won by “La Pivellina,” a movie directed by Italy’s Tizza Covi, Rainer Frimmel
The special Jury Award went to ALIVE! A movie directed by Albania’s Artan Minarolli The Short Film section will focus on the films produced in Albanian film schools aimed at searching for new Albanian talents. Thirty short films will be selected to participate.
The movies competing in all of the festival’s categories are expected to be announced later this month. The International Film Summerfest Durres was established in 2008 with the support of the National Center of Cinematography and of the Municipality of Durres.
The festival seeks to establish strong ties between Albania and its surrounding countries and Europe through an event that celebrates cinema in all its forms and supports the circulation of the visual culture of Europe and Balkans in both directions. The Festival will as well support the growth of professional relations in all fields of filmmaking.
The competition includes the Contemporary Visions category, a competitive section devoted to the European narrative long feature films. The section will include a maximum of 14 films coming from countries that are part of the European Union with the aim to underlining the plurality of sources and expressions of a filmmaker’s vision and the multifaceted aspects of contemporary European visual culture.
The Balkan World category, is another competitive section devoted to Narrative feature films coming from the Balkan region, Turkey included. The selection of a maximum of 12 films will strive to show to the international audience the creativity of the filmmakers of the area.
The “Out of competition” category will feature three of the best films of season, regardless of their origin
“Close encounters” category will bring a focus on a European country that will showcase the best films of the last three years with the aim to give to the audience gathered in Durres a deeper knowledge of the culture of the country and of the artistic trends of the filmmakers. In 2010 this country is France.
The festival will also feature “The Sound of Music,” a special program devoted to the pivotal role that the composer plays in giving life and emotions to a film. The program will, each year, pay a special homage to a composer that will be invited to hold a masterclass in Durres introducing the audience to one of the films that better represent his vision.
The “Film And Television Meetings” will explore the large range of possibilities of cooperation in production and distribution.
