The Central State Film Archive (AQSHF) and the Polytechnic University of Tirana (UPT) have launched a joint project aimed at preserving and rescuing Albanian film and photographic materials that are at risk of degradation due to unsuitable technical conditions.

The collaboration focuses on urgent intervention for the archiving, conservation, and digitization of thousands of films in 35mm and 16mm formats, as well as hundreds of thousands of historical photographs that have been stored outside proper standards and are in danger of being lost.

Akli Fundo, Rector of the Polytechnic University of Tirana, highlighted the importance of this project for preserving the history of the university’s film laboratory.

“The Polytechnic University had a film laboratory that documented our activities. This archive has been handed over to us, and we thank the Central State Film Archive for digitizing and preserving it under specialized conditions,” he said.

Meanwhile, Eljan Tanini, Director of AQSHF, underlined the value of this initiative not only for the preservation of Albania’s film heritage but also for enriching the national archival fund.

“This is a highly valuable agreement that, in addition to improving our archival condition, will serve Albanian society as a whole. The materials will be digitized, cleaned, and made available to the Polytechnic University. This cooperation will also continue with other archives,” Tanini stated.

The materials to be processed include important documentation of Albania’s social, cultural, and scientific life, which for decades had been stored under inadequate conditions, risking permanent loss.

This project marks an important step toward protecting Albania’s national visual memory.