Prime Minister Edi Rama shared the festival’s promotional message on Wednesday, saying the event, which runs through September 12, would celebrate the art, history and future of Albanian cinema.

The opening night will bring together filmmakers, actors and visual arts enthusiasts for an event dedicated to the country’s cinematic heritage and its future.

Returning after 14 years, the National Film Festival aims to build stronger links between Albanian cinema and audiences, bringing viewers closer to domestic film productions while inspiring and encouraging young people to join the industry and contribute actively to its future.

The festival will also present career achievement awards to 15 prominent figures in Albanian cinema in recognition of their artistic and professional contributions.

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Architect Dona Hasanaj, researcher Ilona Cenolli and dentist Ernest Llakaj spoke about their international experience and the reasons behind their decision to return home.

Hasanaj, born in Tirana, completed her architecture studies in Sofia on a scholarship before spending 15 years in London, where she built her professional career. During that time, she worked on major conservation and restoration projects, contributing to landmark buildings such as Old Sessions House and the restoration programme of the Palace of Westminster.

Alongside architecture, she pursued studies in astrology and launched her own perfume brand, “Perdon,” produced in the UK and sold online. After returning to Tirana in 2024, she now works at the Center for Openness and Dialogue, a contemporary cultural space focused on public dialogue, youth initiatives and social issues.

Ernest Llakaj moved to Moscow in 2010 on a scholarship to study dentistry. After completing his doctoral studies, he returned to Albania in 2024 to practise his profession.

Ilona Cenolli graduated from Harvard University in 2022 and went on to work at Harvard Medical School as a bioethics researcher, as well as serving as a health policy expert with the General Medical Council.

Cenolli said she believes Albania has the potential to become a pioneer in bioethics, an emerging field dealing with complex legal and policy issues in healthcare. Reflecting this vision, she has established the Institute of Bioethics and Health Policy in Tirana, collaborating with international partners, including Harvard Medical School.

The stories highlight a growing trend of skilled young Albanians returning home, bringing international experience and expertise to contribute to the country’s development.

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According to data from the 2024 National Migration Survey, conducted by INSTAT in collaboration with the World Bank, 22% of Albanian emigrants have returned home.

The data show that during the last 12 years alone, 109 thousand Albanians have returned to Albania. About 45% of these have returned between 2020 and 2024, indicating an accelerated pace during the recent years.

The majority of returnees are over 35 years old, while 29% are 25-34 years old. Only 9% are young people aged 15-24, indicating that the return of emigrants is mainly focused on adults who are ready to work.

Most returnees come from Italy and Greece, while emigrants living in more distant countries return less frequently.

In terms of employment, male returnees are employed at a rate of 67%, compared to a rate of 59% for non-migrant males.

While female returnees have a similar performance to non-migrant females (34% compared to 36%). /r.e/a.f/p.s./

Known for its research-focused voyages to remote destinations, the vessel offers travellers an opportunity to explore history, nature and cultures alongside scientists and experts.

The Durrës Port Authority said the repeat visit within the same season reflects growing interest in Albania as a rare Mediterranean destination.

Working with local tourism partners, the port has arranged cultural and natural discovery programs for visitors in the coastal city and beyond.

“Durrës is Albania’s first gateway to the world and to scientific adventure,” the port authority said.

The 102-meter long vessel features 50 cabins and a 70-member crew, catering to travelers focused on expedition-style and adventure tourism. Its maiden call to Albania is seen as a positive signal for the country’s efforts to expand its profile among premium and sustainable tourism markets.

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Prime Minister Edi Rama shared in the social media today the story of Panajot Falo, administrator of the “George” guesthouse in Voskopoja.

“From Voskopoja to Greece and after 30 years back to Voskopoja, where the magic village of bell towers, which was stripped of religion during communism and disfigured during the transition, has been reborn and becomes more and more beautiful day by day, as tourists throng its streets and all kinds of foreign languages ​​are heard,” Rama wrote in the social media.

Panajot Falo recalled the day he left Voskopoja. Then, he thought he would never set foot there again.

“I was wrong. Your home is very dear. In 1990-1991, the village of Voskopoja was in a difficult situation. Like everyone else, we went on emigration. Together with my wife, I went to Zakynthos, worked there for 30 years, the children were born, grew up, studied. The work was very difficult; we were young and worked day and night. I was in construction building stone villas, my wife was an assistant cook in a restaurant. The children grew up and one day we decided to return to Voskopoja”, he said.

“I saw that Voskopoja has developed. I thought that one day I would return and open my own business. We achieved our goal with many sacrifices. I am very happy that I am in my own home, no one orders me. When you are young, you like emigration, to go out, to work, to earn as much money as possible, than back in our country. They go to Germany, work in difficult jobs, pay rent, food, when it comes to work they don’t have as much as here in Albania”, emphasized Falo.

Falo said that, “In the last 4-5 years, Voskopoja has undergone a very big change. My decision was the right one in the right place. When I invested in my house, everything I touch and look at reminds me of my parents, my childhood, my mother, my father and I feel pleasure”.

Agro-tourism is increasingly developing in various tourist areas of the country through established guesthouses. The transformation of rural areas into attractive landscapes has encouraged the creation of agro-tourism, as a new model of rural development in Albania, while incentive policies aim to return emigrants to their homeland, to invest in family properties.

The government’s agricultural program focuses on developing the countryside and rural tourism through support mechanisms, to increase agro-tourism activities and guesthouses, which have become attractions of particular interest for the many visitors and tourists who frequent them in every season of the year. /k.s/j.p/p.s./

“The connections with the Albanian Diaspora, this cooperation has been structured through a series of initiatives and programs that aim to increase the role of the Diaspora in the economic, social and cultural development of Albania.

The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs supports the Diaspora organizations by offering opportunities to connect Albanian communities outside Albania with our country through cultural activities, education and promotion of the Albanian language,” said Hasani.

Hasani emphasized that another priority of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs is to explore opportunities for the return of young Albanians to their homeland, to contribute to the Foreign Service, but also to the country.

“Another priority of this ministry is exploring opportunities for young Albanians to return to their homeland and become part of the Foreign Service and contribute, not only to our Foreign Service, but also to the country, creating good opportunities through the return of qualified and experienced people from abroad,” said Hasani. /a.f/r.e/p.s./

Addressing an event on the managerial autonomy granted to the Mother Teresa University Hospital Centre in Tirana and four other regional hospitals, the government head expressed confidence that the coming years will mark a turning point in transformation of the country’s health system and doctors and nurses currently working abroad would want to come back and join Albania’s health care system.

“During a recent visit to Munich a few days ago, I met several doctors.  I won’t name them since I am not authorized to speak on their behalf, but they are Albanian doctors working in Germany, not as trainee physicians, but as well-positioned doctors, who expressed desire and voiced readiness to return home and take up jobs in Albanian health care system. And there are certainly many reasons for them to do so,” PM Rama said.

According to Rama, transformation of hospitals and health care centres  and the working conditions are some of the reasons for them to return to Albania.

The Premier also announced that efforts are underway to purchase state-of-the-art equipment, including medical robots to perform various surgery procedures.

“Latest technology equipment have been procured and we will continue equipping our hospitals, but, in the meantime, together with the Health Minister we are working to purchase robots to perform surgery procedures,” he said.

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“Pursuant to the Constitution, these amendments should be adopted by qualified majority, namely 84 votes, but they did not receive the required number of votes and cannot be considered approved,” President Begaj said in the reasons behind his decree to send the law on citizenship to parliament for reconsideration.

According to him, in the process of constitutional review, the procedural violations, which run counter to a constitutional provision, are a sufficient reason for returning the law for review.

The head of state acknowledged that the new provisions do not violate the Constitution’s substantial provisions.

“The new law’s provisions actually simplify the procedures for applicants to obtain the Albanian citizenship,” Begaj said.

Four amendments to the law were approved in Parliament by 77, 78 and 79 respectively, failing to secure the required majority of votes.

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“Dr. Eva is a young foreign-trained physician who returned back home to serve citizens in her homeland and the public health service after graduating from Rome’s Tor Vergata University,” Manastirliu said.

“Dr. Eva, who is s the daughter of honoured doctor Qamil Furriku, who served as paediatrician at Puka hospital for over 40 years, earning respect of entire local community and his daughter, Eva is seeking to preserve her father’s reputation by delivering care to local residents with same commitment and professionalism,” she added.

Health Minister said that Eva’s ambition is also to pursue on the specialisation degree program, while she is offered the opportunity to apply for a position as a family doctor via the Doctors for Albania portal.

“With doctor Eva, who has decided to return back to Albania after graduating in Rome and after having obtained the doctor’s license, she has been hired to serve at the health care centre in Spille during the summer tourist season. She will soon apply to attend specialization degree program and be hired as a family doctor via the Doctors for Albania portal,” Manastirliu said.

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KFOR Commander, Major General Angelo Michele Ristuccia, greeted the 15 Italian soldiers at Pristina airport before their departure for Italy and wished them a speedy and full recovery.

“Today, 15 of 19 troops returned to Italy and were transferred to the Italian ‘Celio’ military hospital for further medical treatment. The others will recover at KFOR medical infirmary  at KFOR Headquarters and are scheduled to return to their duties soon,” KFOR said in a press release a day ago.

KFOR said in its release that in addition to 11 Italian soldiers, who were injured in the unprovoked attacks against KFOR units against KFOR units deployed to Zveçan municipality on May 29, 8 more soldiers from the Italian contingent of the Regional Command West stationed in Peje were referred for minor injuries.

Serbs are staging protests in front of three municipality buildings in Leposavic, Zubin Potok, and Zveçan, north of Kosovo, to prevent the new mayors from entering the municipal facilities.

The April 23 local elections in the Serb-dominated northern municipalities were boycotted by Kosovo’s biggest Serbian party Srpska lista (Serb List), supported by official Belgrade.

The previous mayors have resigned to express dissatisfaction with the Kosovo Government’s decision to re-register illegal Serbian cars under the Republic of Kosovo.

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