In the premises of the Pyramid in Tirana, the sixth edition of the “Balkan Film Market” has been inaugurated, bringing together 150 filmmakers and producers from Europe this year.

Jonid Jorgji, the director of the Creative Industry Agency in the Municipality of Tirana, said that the Albanian capital has become the hub of the region’s cinematography.

He emphasized that this event will bring producers and filmmakers from many European countries together, opening up new avenues for collaboration with Albanian artists.

“I come from a generation of the ‘90s where the film life or the cinematographic life of Tirana was almost silent, almost zero. There were almost no cinemas; those we had did not produce artistic things, quite the opposite. Films shot in Tirana were becoming fewer and fewer. Foreign films or foreign productions shot in Tirana at that time were zero. Today, I am very happy that not only have we created the Film Agency in Tirana, brought around 17 different European film productions to Tirana, but today, besides the festival and the films that are increasing every day, we have turned Tirana into a hub for the region’s cinematography. Among you are well-known producers not only from Europe, who come to Tirana to establish collaborations with each other but also with regional products,” stated Jorgji.

Director Ilir Butka expressed that the “Balkan Film Market” is an excellent opportunity for Albanian artists to engage with foreign producers.

“Albania is part of a region, is a rich, different, and successful region in its activities with perhaps pronounced financial shortcomings but with extraordinary artistic wealth and energy and positivity that radiates. These projects, these people, need to confront through these events with the best producers in the world, those we often meet in Cannes, Berlin, Venice, to meet producers who want to create and collaborate with the Balkans. This is what we want to do, and we have invited them here,” said Butka.

Deputy Mayor of Tirana, Andi Seferi, declared that the municipality has placed special emphasis on art and culture.

Seferi highlighted that the “Balkan Film Market” is another connecting bridge between art and the city.

“It is a connecting node between art, the city, beauty, youth, experiences that will be held during these days in Tirana. It is a beloved event for our capital during these days. A lot is being done in this city for the promotion of art, for the promotion of culture,” stated Seferi.

In addition to the opportunity for industry experts, through the market, Tirana will become a strategic meeting point for film producers, who will get to know the capital more closely, seeing it from the perspective of a potential filming location.