TIRANA, Sept 14 /ATA/ The 21st edition of the International Human Rights Film Festival, organised by the Marubi Film and Multimedia Academy, will be held in Tirana from 14–19 September.
With the theme “War, peacebuilding, the rule of law and remembrance of victims”, the six‑day programme presents films exploring complex stories of ongoing conflicts, archival and spiritual memory, and the experiences of victims and the disappeared.
Kujtim Çashku emphasised that ethical and moral norms are colliding with exploitative interests in natural and human resources, shaping the relentless course of human history. He noted that the festival programme largely features European films, reflecting a continent once again facing war and jeopardising both its existence and the post‑World War II achievements.
Through the films, Russia, NATO and China are depicted alongside differing strategic interests, while the reshaped relations between Europe and America under President Trump become clearer in “Defending Europe.”
The shift of power towards artificial intelligence, conceived as a force of possibility beyond human control, could fundamentally alter social structures and redefine the nature of human relationships.
The festival programme features films addressing the role of the media and the level of propaganda inherent in journalism; the role of police in maintaining order during protests and within democracy; as well as the Kosovo war, through Blerta Basholli’s film “Dua”, scheduled for screening on 18 September at 19:30.
The opening film of the festival, scheduled for Monday evening at 19:00, is titled “SUNDAYS” (Spain/France, 2025, Fiction, 117 minutes). It has won four awards at the Goya Awards.
In the following days, screenings will be hosted at the Marubi Film and Multimedia Academy, the School of Magistrates, the Academy of Security, and the Authority for Information on the Files of the former State Security. Each institution will present thematic films addressing different dimensions of life and human rights.
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