State Film Archive to screen animated films in April

TIRANA, April 7 – The Central State Film Archive has dedicated April to the screening of animated films. The event kicked off on Thursday, April 7, with the some animated films directed by Bujar Kapexhiu who along with Vlash Droboniku are the founders of cartoon animation in Albania.
The programme of events will continue on April 13 with the screening of animated films by director Artan Maku, on April 20 creations by director Gjin Varfi and on April 27 it will be the turn of director Artur Dauti.
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.
Last October, the northern city of Shkodra hosted Albania’s first international animation festival. Some 40 short-films from all over the world, among which three Albanian productions, competed in the festival.
AniFestROZAFA, the first annual international festival of animated films for children and by children in Albania, also served as a meeting for local and foreign artists to set contacts.
The animation month comes after the month of Albanian women directors held in March at the Central State Film Archive cinema and the screening of French movies of the 1950s and 60s during February to commemorate the 70s and 80s in Albania during the communist regime when French films were some of the few foreign productions that were not banned.
Earlier in January, the Film Archive dedicated its Wednesday cinema to the screening of the best movies and documentaries by Albanian director Dhimiter Anagnosti.