Shkodra ready to host first animation festival

TIRANA, Sep. 8 – The northern city of Shkodra is making its last preparations to host its first international animation festival. The festival’s organizers have already announced the short-listed films competing in the festival scheduled for October 4 to 9 at the local Millennium cinema.
Some 40 short-films from all over the world, among which three Albanian productions, will compete in the festival.
AniFestROZAFA, the first annual international festival of animated films for children and by children in Albania, will also serve as a meeting for local and foreign artists to set contacts. It will also promote Shkodra which boasts dozens of monumental buildings and legends.
The festival’s competition is divided into three main categories.
Albania is competing with three animated films by Ilir Kaso, Rikarda Nova and Vlash Dobroniku in the festival.
The first edition of this international festival is supported by the Culture Ministry, the Shkodra Municipality and the National Cinematography Centre.
The history of Albanian animation dates back to 1975. Some 200 animated films, most of which during the country’s communist regime, have been produced since then.