Italy joins celebrations on centenary of independence

TIRANA, Nov. 12 – Neighbouring Italy has also joined celebrations on Albania’s 100th anniversary of independence by organizing a series of cultural events. Activities organized by the Italian embassy in Tirana and Institute of Culture kicked off on Nov. 3 with the screening of a documentary by Albania’s Roland Sejko featuring the exodus of Albanians to Italy in the early 1990s just as the 45-year communist regime was collapsing. The La Nave degli Albanesi (The Ship) documentary was screened in the Albanian film festival which concluded last weekend.
Meanwhile, the Italian Institute of Culture is participating in the Tirana Book Fair from November 14 to 18 with its own stand and a programme of events dedicated to the Arberesh community in Italy. Settled in southern Italy since the late 15th century after Skanderbeg’s death. The programme of events paying cultural tribute to the Arberesh community will promote a number of publications. Arberesh writer Carmine Abate will also be present during the book fair promoting his latest “Le stagioni di Hora” trilogy translated into Albanian. Vivaldi’s Skanderbeg, an Italian-Albanian coproduction will also make its premiere at the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet on November 18. Italianesi, a theatrical performance featuring the unknown tragedy of Italians imprisoned in Albania under the communist regime and their difficult return to Italy 40 years later, will also be featured on Nov. 21 and 22 in Tirana and Elbasan. Italian movies are also competing in the Tirana International Film festival from Nov. 23 to Dec. 2. Events will conclude with a photo exhibition featuring Albanian landscapes by Italian geographers and travelers in the first half of the 20th century. The exhibition which will also be accompanied by a documentary will be held at the National Museum of History from December 7 to 14 featuring Albanian-Italian from the country’s independence in 1912 to collapse of the communist regime in the early 1990s.
Last October, a series of events were also held during the Italian Language Week around the world under the motto Italy of territories- Italy of the future.”
Back in 2011, a series of cultural events were held in Albania to mark Italy’s 150th anniversary of unification. The biggest event held last November was the Otello opera, a lyric tragic drama in four acts composed by Giuseppe Verdi.
Earlier in 2010, dozens of activities were held in Albania for more than three months in the frame of “Italy, Albania, Two Peoples, One Sea, One Friendship” season of cultural events.
A strategic partner and key contributor to Albania’s development, Italy is also Albania’s top trade partner. More than 400,000 Albanian migrants live and work in Italy.