With the theme “A Window to the Future,” this year’s fair saw record participation, with 250 companies, 170 of which were international, representing more than 20 countries across Europe, the region, and the United States. The large presence of foreign businesses and institutional representatives further positioned the fair as a vital platform for dialogue and partnership for Albania.

Luel Muhametaj, General Manager of Klik Ekspo Group, praised the high level of interest and the international nature of this edition.

“Out of the 250 participating companies, 170 were foreign, from around 20 different countries. The key sectors this year were infrastructure, energy, tourism, culture, agriculture, and technology, including several new startups. We held daily conferences focused on Albania’s development and future, discussing strategies and projects that will integrate the country further into Europe by 2030,” said Muhametaj.

CEFA’s steering committee meets in Tirana – a milestone for the region

A key moment of the event was the meeting of the Central European Fair Alliance (CEFA) Steering Committee, which was held in Tirana for the first time. CEFA represents the largest trade fairs in Central Europe and the Balkans, and hosting this forum in Albania marked a significant milestone in affirming Tirana’s role as a regional hub for the events and exhibitions industry.

“For the first time, Tirana hosted the CEFA leaders, where we discussed strategies and joint projects to strengthen regional and European cooperation in the field of fair organization and the promotion of international markets,” Muhametaj added.

High-level participation and the debut of leading international companies

Another highlight of this year’s fair was the participation of several prestigious international companies for the first time, marking a growing interest in the Albanian market and the region as a whole.

“One of these was the Bonomi Group, a multinational Italian company operating in the railway, port, and electrification sectors since 1928. We also saw the first-time participation of Bostock London, a British company founded by George Busby and Lord Christopher Gage, specializing in cybersecurity and technological cooperation in the region,” Muhametaj noted.

A growing platform for development and European integration

The increasing international attention, the high level of representation, and the focus on European integration and innovation position the Tirana Fair as one of the most important events in the regional economic calendar.

At the conclusion of this year’s edition, Muhametaj emphasized the long-term mission of Klik Ekspo Group to strengthen the economic image of Albania and expand cooperation with European fair networks.

“We are building a tradition that strengthens Albania’s economic image and turns Tirana into a real window to the future,” he concluded.

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Domi highlighted the premieres, the new productions that come exclusively for TIFF and that the people fond of cinematography can only find there, the great directors who will be present physically and through the productions, and many other special things that make this festival one of the most complete in the programming structure.

Names like Milcho Manchevski, winner in Venice and candidate for Oscars or Andreas Dresen, one of the most prominent persons of German cinema, will be at the master classes organized this year by TIFF, to exchange ideas between Albanian directors and cinema fans.

In the focus of the 21st edition of the TIFF will be Swedish cinema, in the “Swedish stories” session, which includes the films: “Burn all my letters” produced in 2022, “I am Zlatan” (2022) and “The emigrants” of 2021.

While making a difference with the sister-like festivals in the country and in the world Agron Domi said that TIFF does not simply select the best script, but the partners of the festival select the best script ready to be produced, to be turned into a film.

According to the organizers, the best part remains the short film session, the winner of which wins the right to run for the Oscars. TIFF is the last of 94 global festivals to take its proposal to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Tirana International Film Festival is an independent festival which promotes original, non-commercial films that otherwise would find it difficult to enter into the cinema and distribution market. Also this year, ATA supports TIFF as an official media partner./p.s./