As part of the French Week held in Albania from April 25 to 30, the D18 teams worked closely with the Albanian Ministry of Culture to celebrate French culture in the country.
French Week in Albania
Cinematic Heritage: Retrospective and Contemporary Screenings
A pioneer of the seventh art, France has had a significant impact on global film culture. We wanted to pay tribute to its filmmakers who enriched this heritage by organizing a retrospective of director Jacques Demy’s films, featuring The Young Girls of Rochefort, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, and Donkey Skin, as well as director Agnès Varda with a screening of Cléo from 5 to 7.
During the opening ceremony, we premiered the film Goliath, directed by Frédéric Tellier.
Culinary Heritage: Masterclass and Creation of the “Tirana”
During the week, we celebrated gastronomy, particularly the art of French pastry. Chef Christophe Rhedon, Best Craftsman of France, created for the French Week the “Tirana” cake, a unique creation blending the soul of the city of Tirana with the finesse of French pastry. This creation was presented during a masterclass at the pâtisserie La Belle Époque in the presence of Albanian pastry chefs, as well as during a live demonstration on Klan TV, the country’s leading channel.
Choreographic Modernity: Performance by the Zahrbat Troupe
Originating from Roubaix, the Zahrbat dance company, led by choreographer Brahim Bouchelaghem, presented its latest piece Usure on the Albanian stage.
Architecture and Design: Masterclass by Matali Crasset
Designer Matali Crasset held two masterclasses with students from Burleti University in Tirana, along with a presentation attended by Elva Margariti, Albanian Minister of Culture.
Musical Heritage
Classical
A collaboration between 16 children from the Petites Mains Symphoniques association and students from the Tirana Art High School string orchestra. These young musicians rehearsed for three days to create a shared repertoire honoring the greatest French and Albanian composers.
Modern
The DJ duo Ofenbach, with billions of views online, closed the French Week with an exceptional show at Skanderbeg Square in Tirana.
