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French Week in Albania

As part of the French Week organized in Albania from in 2022 & 2023, the teams of D18 collaborated closely with the Ministry of Culture of Albania to showcase French culture in the country.

Cinematic Heritage

Retroactive and Contemporary Screening

As a pioneer of the seventh art, France has had a significant impact on global cinematic culture. We wanted to pay tribute to its directors who have contributed to its enrichment by organizing a retrospective of director Jacques Demy’s films, including screenings of “The Young Girls of Rochefort,” “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg,” and “Donkey Skin,” as well as director Agnès Varda’s film “Cleo from 5 to 7.”

During the opening ceremony, we had the privilege of premiering the film “Goliath,” directed by Frédéric Tellier.

Culinary Heritage

Masterclass and creation of the "Tirana"

During this week, we wanted to celebrate gastronomy, and more specifically, the French pastry craftsmanship. Chef Christophe Rhedon, a Meilleur Ouvrier de France (Best Craftsman of France), created the “Tirana Cake” exclusively for the French Week, blending the essence of the city of Tirana with the finesse of French pastry. This creation was presented during a masterclass held at the La Belle Époque pastry shop, attended by Albanian pastry chefs. It was also showcased in a live demonstration on the TV Klan channel, the country’s premier television network.

Choreographic Modernity

Performance by the Zahrbat Troupe

Hailing from Roubaix, the dance troupe Zahrbat, under the direction of choreographer Brahim Bouchelaghem, presented their latest piece, “Usure,” on the Albanian stage.

Architecture and Design

MasterClass by Matali Crasset

Designer Matali Crasset had the opportunity to conduct two masterclasses in the presence of students at Burleti University in Tirana, as well as a presentation attended by Elva Margariti, the Albanian Minister of Culture.

Musical Heritage

Classical

Collaboration de 16 enfants de l’association des Petites Mains Symphoniques avec les étudiants de l’orchestre à cordes du lycée artistique de Tirana. Tous ces jeunes musiciens ont pu répété pendant 3 jours et créer un répertoire commun rendant hommage aux plus grands compositeurs Français et Albanais.

Modern

The DJ duo Ofenbach, with billions of views on the internet, was able to conclude this French Week with an exceptional show on Skanderberg Square in Tirana.

Collaboration between 16 children from the “Petites Mains Symphoniques” association and students from the string orchestra of the Tirana Artistic High School. All these young musicians had the opportunity to rehearse for 3 days and create a common repertoire paying tribute to the greatest French and Albanian composers.