The Tirana International Film Festival (TIFF) proudly announces the program of its 24th edition, taking place from 21–27 September 2026 in Tirana.

Founded in 2003, TIFF has become one of the most important cultural events in Southeast Europe and is recognized among the world’s leading film festivals. The festival holds Oscar® Qualifying status for Best Short Film and Student Academy Award®. TIFF is also recognized by the European Film Academy as an eligible festival for the European Film Awards (EFA), placing Albania firmly on the international cinema map.

This year’s edition is presented under the theme “Bring It Back… Humanography”, inviting audiences to reflect on human stories, emotions, and experiences through the language of cinema.

A Diverse International Program

The competitive program features a rich selection of 230 feature-length and short films from around the world.

Full length films competition include:

• PerspecTIFF (Debut Feature Films)
• Documentary

The short film program includes:

• Live Action
• Animation
• Documentary
• Video Art & Experimental
• Student Films
• Balkan Shorts
• In Albanian Shorts

In addition, TIFF’s PANORAMA section offers thematic programs including Generations, New World, Divergent Minds, Parade, and a dedicated AI 3.0 Program exploring emerging forms of audiovisual storytelling.

Programs for Young Audiences – TIFF continues its commitment to film education through its KIDs & TEENs Program, offering specially curated screenings for children and teenagers and encouraging active participation through audience voting and educational activities.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS

A major highlight of TIFF 2026 is RetrospecTIFF: Tribute to Luchino Visconti, celebrating one of the most influential filmmakers in European cinema. Audiences will have the opportunity to revisit masterpieces such as Obsession (1943), Rocco and His Brothers (1960), and The Innocent (1976).

The festival also presents:

• Focus on North Macedonia, showcasing contemporary works by leading filmmakers including Teona Strugar Mitevska and Milcho Manchevski.
• LIFE IS SHORT Swiss Films, developed in collaboration with Swiss Films and featuring a curated selection of the best Swiss fiction and animation shorts from the last years.
• Dora García Video Arts 2001-2024 – Her works combine fiction and reality to the point of confusion, thus create unique situations that are both intellectual and playful, which rely on an active, and sometimes obligatory, participation of the public in the creation, activation or destruction of the work. She represented Spain at the 54th Venice Biennale in 2011.
• StudenTIFF, a premiere collection of the recent works and diplomas of students from the University of Arts Albania and the University of Pristina, Kosovo.

SPECIAL SCREENINGS

After the Opening Ceremony,  on 21 September, this 24th edition of TIFF will officially open with the National premiere of the film Mother by award-winning North Macedonian filmmaker Teona Strugar Mitevska, which had its world premiere at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival 2025.

The film is a fictionalised version of how a nun became the religious icon, a story about the real person behind the myth of Mother Teresa.

Other films will follow these world and national premieres special screenings such as:

• • Shame and Money by Visar Morina, Winner – Grand Jury Prize at Sundance Film Festival 2026
  • The Bow and the Brush by Raphaëlle Régnier, France, 2026, Documentary
  • Live a Little by Fanny Ovesen | Sweden, Norway, Denmark | 2024 | Drama
  • Made In ALBANIAn –  National premieres of the latest films produced in Albania and Kosovo in the Albanian language.

• Closing Film: Mimoza Llastica by Xhanfise Keko, Albania (1973) World Premiere Restored 4K in collaboration with AQSHF.

INDUSTRY EVENTS & Professional Development

Alongside screenings, TIFF 2026 offers a strong industry component aimed at supporting filmmakers and emerging talent.

Highlights include:

• 5th Screenplay ContesTIFF, a screenplay pitching and development platform connecting projects with production and distribution opportunities.
• Masterclasses with acclaimed filmmaker Teona Strugar Mitevska and producer Labina Mitevska.
• An Animation Workshop for kids and teens led by internationally recognized artists Ana Nedeljković and Nikola Majdak in collaboration with TUMO Center for Creative Technologies. 
• An open-air photography exhibition featuring archival cinema images from the Archivio dell’Immagine of the Centro Cinema di Cesena, Italy.
• TIFForum: Bring it back… HUMANOGRAPHY

JURY

We are honored to present the international and national juries of this edition, composed of prominent names in the fields of directing, production, distribution, acting, animation, teaching and film industry, such as:

Alina Gorlova documentary filmmaker, producer and  visual artist (Ucraine); Hoda Taheri filmmaker and  visual artist (Iran); Nayra Sanz Fuentes filmmaker, writer and producer  (Spain); More Raça writer, director, and film scholar (Kosovo); Thelyia Petraki director, screenwriter (Greece); Fatlume Bunjaku actress (Kosovo); John Canciani film curator, festival Artistic Director (Scotland, Italy, Swizerland); Nikola Majdak animator, director and lecturer (Serbia); Giacomo Abbruzzese director and screenwriter (Italy, France); Ivan Bakrač director and screenwriter (Montenegro); Jane Kortoshev producer (North Macedonia); Bruno Carnide filmmaker, festival director, member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, USA (Portugal); Adam Selo distributor, producer (Italy); Fani Zguro visual artist (Albania, Italy, Germany) Nik Xhelilaj actor (Albania, Turkey, Germany);  and from Albania Dritan Huqi producer; Dionis Papadhimitri filmmaker; Evi Gjoni, director; Renis Hyka filmmaker, writer; Dionis Prifti director, writer; Klaudia Pashnjari director, videographer; Kristina Rushiti director and scriptwriter; Ardian Isufi visual artist, curator; Merisa Hasrama visual artist; Noel Myrtezaj visual artist.

The Awards Closing Ceremony will be held on 27 September, at 20:00 at the Millenium Cinema.

VENUES

24th TIFF 2026 screenings and events will take place across Tirana, including:

• Millennium Cinema
• Agimi Art Center
• Kino Piramida
• Maks Velo cinema
• Vila 31 x Art Explora
• Tunèl Terrace

TIFF in Numbers

Today, TIFF attracts physically and online more than 30,000 visitors annually, receives approximately 3,500 film submissions from 120 countries, and screens over 250 films each year, making it one of the most significant cultural events in the region.

Submission projects

• 3,319 projects total 
• 3,228 films
• 91 scripts
• 120 countries

Competition

• 179 films in total
• 12 features
• 167 shorts
• 12 script projects

Non-Competition

• 50 films in total
• 15 features
• 35 shorts

This 24th edition will be screened 229 films, 27 feature films and 202 short films from 71 countries. All of them are world, international, regional or national premieres.

INFO

Anyone interested in attending the events and national premieres of the 24th edition of Tirana International Film Festival 2026 are requested to fill out the form at ACCREDITATION: http://tiranafilmfest.org/accreditation

For more information you can visit our website: tiranafilmfest.org, with more details about the Daily Program, Events, Jury, Awards and Press Kit.

• SOCIALS

• facebook.com/TiranaFilmFest
• instagram.com/tiranafilmfest 
• x (twitter)@TiranaFilmFest 
• youtube.com/user/TiranaFilmFestival1
• vimeo.com/ tiranafilmfest 
• linkedin.com/ company/1796049/admin
• tiktok.com/@tiranafilmfest

As TIFF enters its 24th edition, the festival continues its mission of promoting cinematic excellence, fostering cultural dialogue, supporting emerging talent, and positioning Albania as a key meeting point for international cinema.