Collaboration for the benefit of film

Cooperation between Montenegro and Albania in the field of cinematography did not even exist until a few years ago, and now it is the complete opposite and is moving in a satisfactory direction, pointed out the director of the National Cinematography Center of Albania. Eduard Macri opening the "Days of Albanian Film in Montenegro" event yesterday, within the program "Film as a tool for intercultural dialogue".

At the conference held on that occasion at the Montenegrin Cinematheque in Podgorica, the director of the Film Center of Montenegro Aleksandra Bozovic she said that they hope for even better cooperation, joint work, creation and promotion of quality films, both Montenegrin and Albanian.

This belief is shared by Makri, who expressed his satisfaction with hosting and the start of the event, which foresees screenings of Albanian films in Tuzi, Gusinj and Ulcinj. This kind of exchange is also important for future cooperation.

"I have to point out one more thing that is important for this part of the Balkans, as well as for our two countries," he said and further explained:

"In Europe, there are large funds that are intended for this part of the Balkans, and it would be good if we used them together as much as possible. I must also mention that there is a crisis in the context of the creation of independent films, which arose because the authors focused on commercial works and on making money , while our tendency is for films to be of the highest quality possible and not to stray from the framework of art but to maintain that standard which is important. In this regard, I see a good future cooperation between FCCG and us, as well as all other countries in the region, and all for the benefit of the film," he said.

He greeted those present Pavle Simonović on behalf of the Montenegrin Cinematheque.

"We were brought together by the film, because it is also the theme of everything that will happen in the following days - Film as an intercultural dialogue. On behalf of the Montenegrin Cinematheque, I would say that we already have such a dialogue between institutions, and somehow it is also logical that this connection should start from the top of the institutional framework, so that it can later be implemented between the authors and the audience," Simonović said.

FCCG director Božović said that the implementation of the project began with the "Days of Montenegrin Film in Albania" in March, stating that the "Days of Albanian Film in Montenegro" are proof of cooperation and the possibility to work and create together.

Screenings of Albanian and Montenegrin films in the two countries are a segment of the activities carried out by the FCCG and the National Cinematography Center of Albania with the aim of strengthening bilateral cooperation in the field of film, affirmation of audiovisual activity and culture, the need for audience development, as well as encouraging film co-productions of the two countries.