Two international festivals postponed for September

TIRANA, June 23 – Two important international festivals scheduled to be held this summer have been postponed for next September due to lack of financial support by state institutions. The Butrint International Theatre Festival and the International Festival of Modern and Contemporary Dance have failed to get funds by the Ministry of Culture. The directors of the festivals, Alfred Bualoti and Gjergj Prevaz,i said the postponement was damaging Albania’s image in this tourist season, but felt confident about holding them next September.
According to them, the Ministry of Culture covers up to 40 percent of the funds needed for the festival while the remaining part is provided by the Saranda Municipality and private sponsors.
Last year, the Butrint International Theatre Festival was held from July 17 to 23 bringing theatrical troupes from Russia, Macedonia, Poland, Hungary and Romania.
Butrint 2000 is an annual theatre festival that takes place in the UNSECO World Heritage site of Butrinti, on the shore of Lake Butrint, in southern Albania.
Meanwhile, last year, the Albanian Dance Meeting, an international festival of modern and contemporary dance was held in Durres during May. Nine international dance companies participated in the festival.