TIFF 2011, eighty movies in competition

TIRANA, Dec. 7 – More than 80 films from 63 countries are competing in this year’s edition of the Tirana International Film Festival (TIFF), the first and only international cinema festival of its kind in Albania.
The festival, scheduled for December 5 to 10 at the Imperial Cinemas, combines a calendar of feature and short films in all formats and genres, including fiction, documentary, animation and experimental.
Each year TIFF showcases new cinematic works by established directors with international reputations as well as works by talented students and young filmmakers.
As in past editions, this year’s competitions will be in the following categories: feature films, short films, the DIGIART television film competition and a special competition for Albanian movies.
This year’s Film Festival is organized in partnership with the Italian Institute of Culture.
TIFF has also extended its program to six days in this edition in order to encompass not only the competing shorts and features but also allow for retrospectives, seminars, classes, press events and special presentations at theatres all over the Albanian capital. “It is the intention of TIFF to bring filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts from all around the world to Tirana, Albania in the hopes of fostering future co-operation in this extraordinarily scenic area,” organizers say.
By bringing together these distinct voices and their work, the Tirana International Film Festival commits itself to introducing audiences to alternative visions of extraordinary diversity.
TIFF’s daily agenda also includes master classes with professionals in the motion picture industry geared for Albanian students of the cinema and emerging filmmakers.
Created in 2003, this extraordinary cultural event takes place under the auspices of the Albanian National Center for Cinematography (QKK).
The festival’s full programme can be accessed on its official website www.tiranafilmfest.com.