Between 17-19 September a new film event is coming to Tirana. Entitled “Queer Film Days” (QFD), the program consists of a number of films and events which highlight topics that refuse to be invisible and tell stories that “create a new cultural space”.
QFD has been organised by Open Mind Spectrum Albania (OMSA), headed by Arber Kodra, and in collaboration with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Tirana, the EU delegation, Stitching Art.1 and the International Human Rights Film Festival Albania (IHRFFA).
The events are also a part of the Youth Activists for Change (YAC) project which is supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands. YAC aims to empower filmmakers, storytellers, artists, and activists in creating art and performances focused on human rights/LGBTIQ+ rights and gender equality.
The festival is a great opportunity for members of the community and those from other parts of society to come together to watch, learn, enjoy, and discuss some of the finest art and independent film making of today.
The programme kicks off on Thursday 17 September at the Central State Film Archive on Rruga Aleksander Moisiu in the Kinostudio part of Tirana. Due to COVID-19, the screening will be held outside and social distancing measures will be respected.
‘No Hard Feeling’ is the first film on the schedule, created by Faraz Sharia and released in 2020. It tells the story of an Iranian man living in Germany who finds himself on the wrong side of the law for a minor offence. Sentenced to community service, he falls in love with immigrant Amon. The film won a Teddy Award for the best LGBTQ themed feature film at the Berlin Film Festival.
On Friday 18 September, ‘Welcome to Chechnya’ by director David France will be shown. Another 2020 release, it’s a powerful documentary about a group of LGBTQ activists who risk their lives to confront homophobia in the repressive Russian republic.
Then on Saturday 19 September, guests can watch ‘If it were Love’ by Marc Naule, an established producer and director with several thought-provoking titles under his belt.
This is the first of two sessions of the festival- the second will be held in 202. All screenings start at 19:30.
